Ralph Falbo: Lifelong Pittsburgher and Low Income Housing Advocate

By Olivia Miller

Downtown resident Ralph Falbo has been involved in real estate development in Pittsburgh for over 50 years. He got his start as an accountant but became interested in real estate after working with a client who specialized in subsidized housing. In 1973, he started his own company and entered into a 25 year joint venture with Pennrose Properties to construct low income housing. 

Producing low income housing is important to Falbo because of the “tremendous need” for it. Over the years, he spearheaded projects such as the remodeling of Western Restoration Manor into housing for elderly Pittsburghers with other amenities such as medical support and food services. He calls this project “a crowning achievement on the low income side.” 

He has also worked on luxury residential buildings. In 2005, he started construction on the 151 Fort Pitt Boulevard condominium. At the time, this was the first residential building constructed in Pittsburgh in 70 years and “jump started the residential real estate development in downtown Pittsburgh” that we see today. 

One of his more recent ventures was opening Market Street Grocery, a small grocery store and deli in Market Square, in 2015. The shop is meant to serve as a one-stop-shop for Downtown residents to buy groceries throughout the week. Falbo chose Market Square for the location because it “has become a destination to have some fun” and it is “nice to be a part of that.” 

Now 86, Falbo has lived in and around Pittsburgh his whole life, saying, “I’m a city boy.” He has stayed in Pittsburgh largely “just because of the people”. He finds that Pittsburghers are uniquely “friendly, helpful [and] hardworking.” 

As for the future of Downtown, Falbo is very optimistic and simply says, “Pittsburgh survives.” He has been impressed by Pittsburgh’s resilience to overcome hardship over the years and believes there is no reason why this cannot happen again. He owes this to the city’s “great foundation community, great banking community, and great population” as well as the local universities and innovative startups. He proudly says, “When they get together, they tackle a problem.”