New Development ensures
affordability in a desirable neighborhood
The
Philadelphia Housing Authority celebrated the completion of the
Strawberry Mansion Apartments, a 55-home development in a section
of North Philadelphia currently experiencing a major change as a
result of private investment and other capital improvements. State
Rep. Donna Bullock (center) led the ribbon cutting. She was joined
(from left) by Tonnetta Graham of Strawberry Mansion CDC, PHA
Commissioner Bonnie Camarda, Nancy Twyman of PHFA, HUD Regional
Administrator Joe DeFelice, City Council President Darrell Clarke,
State Sen. Sharif Street, PHA President and CEO Kelvin Jeremiah,
PHA Board Chair Lynette Brown-Sow, and State Sen. Vincent
Hughes.
Danielle
Supplee, one of the new residents at Strawberry Mansion Apartments,
and her children are all smiles as they prepare to move into their
new home. Ms. Supplee works in home healthcare and wants to go back
to school to receive her bachelor's degree in
psychology.
(Philadelphia, PA - April 13, 2018)- The Philadelphia Housing
Authority (PHA) today celebrated the completion of the Strawberry
Mansion Apartments, a 55-home development in a section of North
Philadelphia currently experiencing a major change as a result of
private investment and other capital improvements.
The property covers three blocks in an area bounded by 33rd
Street to the West, Arlington Street to the North, 32nd Street to
the East, and Berks Street to the South. The affordable apartments
and houses will complement the revitalization of the community,
helping to ensure that quality housing remains available for
lower-income residents.
"We are thrilled to see this long-awaited development come to
fruition," said PHA President and CEO Kelvin A. Jeremiah. "These
homes are in an ideal location next to Fairmount Park. We believe
that this will prompt more people to consider buying homes in the
neighborhood. Current residents will appreciate the brighter look
of the community. PHA has worked closely with area residents
to make Strawberry Mansion Apartments a reality."
"I want to congratulate PHA, Council President Clarke and the
residents of this community on working together to create this
development," said Mayor Jim Kenney. "Strawberry Mansion is on its
way back, and I believe these new homes can serve as a catalyst to
attract more private investment into this neighborhood."
"Everybody deserves quality, affordable housing with amenities
such as reliable and convenient transportation options. The
Strawberry Mansion Apartments mark the progress Philadelphia
continues to make toward enhancing diversity and quality of life in
our neighborhoods," Council President Darrell L. Clarke said. "I am
grateful, as always, for our partnership with the Philadelphia
Housing Authority, and for the innovative, compassionate leadership
of Kelvin Jeremiah."
The development includes one, two, three and four-bedroom homes,
ranging in size from 685 square feet to 1,734 square feet in a mix
of walk-up apartments and townhomes. Six of the 55 units are fully
handicap accessible and 38 units have features that at a minimum
accommodate visitors with disabilities such as a zero-step
entrances and ground-floor bathrooms.
The Strawberry Mansion Apartments are designed to conserve
energy. The development will exceed the threshold 2015 Enterprise
Green Communities Criteria, the leading U.S. standard for the
design, construction and operation of healthy, energy efficient and
environmentally responsible affordable housing. Streetscape
improvements include trees, lighting, curbs, and sidewalks.
The new homes have easy access to the Girard Avenue commercial
corridor, educational institutions, such as Temple University, and
transportation, including the recently expanded and modernized 33rd
Street transportation hub. PHA is investing $23 million in
making neighborhood upgrades and in the homes themselves. Thirteen
million of those dollars came from private investors via the sale
of Low Income Housing Tax Credits. The balance of funding came from
public housing funds plus private financing through the Rental
Assistance Demonstration Program.
In addition to being awarded tax credits toward developing
Strawberry Mansion Apartments, PHA is financially supporting three
other affordable housing developers in other neighborhoods who were
also awarded tax credits this year. This financial backing reflects
PHA's philosophy of encouraging other organizations in the
development of quality housing for low-income seniors, disabled
citizens and families.