|
Seeing is believing. The HOPE VI program has already transformed public housing in Philadelphia. The Richard Allen Homes, Martin Luther King, Jr. Plaza, and Schuylkill Falls are prime examples of the effectiveness of this program.
Richard Allen Homes
Richard Allen Homes in North Philadelphia was the first PHA development to benefit from the HOPE VI program. The 80-unit Gladys B. Jacobs Senior Building was completed in March 1998 within budget. The rest of the site redevelopment is scheduled for completion in 2004. The community will eventually hold 408 housing units, less than one-third of its original density, with residents ranging from young families to senior citizens. The community will have an onsite program to emphasize self-sufficiency and economic development. Program initiatives will stress the following:
- Full-time employment opportunities at above minimum wage
- Self-employment and entrepreneurial ventures
- High school graduation and General Equivalency Diplomas (GED)
- Outreach to local businesses to stimulate economic development
The goals of the renovation are simple, but challenging:
- Build residential units that meet the needs of the modern family.
- Replace multi-family buildings with townhouse style living that gives residents and their children private yards and play spaces encouraging pride and community ownership.
- Enhance public safety by opening interior courtyards with good lighting and creating city streets that provide access for residents.
Martin Luther King, Jr. Plaza
Martin Luther King, Jr. Plaza (MLK) is located in the 700-block of South 13th Street in the shadows of Philadelphia’s City Hall and the high-rise towers of Center City. The complex was opened in 1960 and renamed in 1970 in honor of the slain civil rights leader.
MLK’s four high-rise towers were demolished on October 17, 1999. The new construction, which builds on the progress made in Center City and the Avenue of the Arts, began in April 2000. The new MLK will meld nicely with the established neighborhoods of South Philadelphia and others along Broad Street.
The complex will eventually have 314 units, cutting density by over 200 units. It will feature a mix of townhouses, duplexes, and one apartment building for mixed income families. Residents will have unprecedented access to opportunity and jobs in Center City.
Schuylkill Falls
The HOPE VI grant to revitalize Schuylkill Falls is a wonderful example of how public housing can improve a community. This development nestled in a pocket within Northwest Philadelphia will be the impetus for retail development on Ridge Avenue.
Schuylkill Falls will have new streets and underground utilities as well as surface parking lots. These improvements are aimed at making Schuylkill Falls an integral and important community in Northwest Philadelphia.
The new Schuylkill Falls contains 304 mixed-income units and is comprised evenly of residents who own their homes and renters. The community has 17,500 feet of new retail space and a health center. The townhouses have front and rear yards, as well as porches. Schuylkill Falls has comprehensive self-sufficiency and economic development programming. By taking advantage of the Schuylkill Falls' location, residents will be able to work and play in Center City and our suburbs.
|
