Philadelphia Housing Authority and Frankel Enterprises cut the ribbon on Bucknell Square and Girard Commons, two workforce housing communities totaling 73 affordable homes. (L to R Aren Platt , City of Philadelphia Chief Deputy Mayor of Planning and Strategic Initiatives, PHA Board Member Darrell Clarke, City Council President Kenyatta Johnson, Zach and Max Frankel, Councilman Jeffery Young, Jr., 5th District, HUD Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary Richard J. Monoccohio, Lynette Brown-Sow, PHA Board Chair, Kelvin A. Jeremiah, PHA President and CEO¸ Christopher Johnson Regional Representative, U.S. Senator Bob Casey)
Contacts: PHA Nichole Tillman, [email protected], (215) 888-2869
Frankel Enterprises and PHA Host a Ribbon Cutting for Bucknell Square and Girard Commons
73 Affordable Homes Are Revitalizing the Site of the Former Norman Blumberg Apartments
Philadelphia, PA (Sept. 27, 2024) – Philadelphia Housing Authority and Frankel Enterprises today cut the ribbon on Bucknell Square and Girard Commons, two workforce housing communities totaling 73 affordable homes located in the Sharswood neighborhood.
The new homes at Bucknell Square are on the site of the former Norman Blumberg Apartments, a half-century-old public housing complex demolished in 2016 that for years was the epicenter of crime and poverty in the area. The new workforce housing helps revitalize the neighborhood and represents part of a $30 million Sharswood Blumberg Choice Neighborhood Implementation Grant (CNI) that was awarded to the City of Philadelphia and the PHA in 2020.
“Sharswood has become a neighborhood of choice due to the high-quality homes and amenities that PHA and likeminded partners like Frankel Enterprises have brought to this community,” said Kelvin A. Jeremiah, President and CEO of PHA. “This mixed-income community currently has the building blocks to foster a vibrant community – an expanding commercial corridor, sustainable, award-winning housing developments, community venues where people can connect and grow, and now these workforce homes that offer lifestyle options. This type of neighborhood revitalization is only possible with alignment of resources. I would like to thank HUD, Mayor Parker and the Frankels for investing with PHA into Sharswood. ”
“HUD is committed to empowering residents, investing in communities, and increasing the supply of affordable housing for hard-working Americans,” said Richard J. Monocchio, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for the Office of Public and Indian Housing at the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. “With the support of Sharswood neighborhood stakeholders and our trusted partners at the Philadelphia Housing Authority and Frankel Enterprises, we are proud to celebrate the addition of new affordable workforce housing made possible in part through HUD’s Choice Neighborhoods program.”
“It is tremendous to see Sharswood continue to improve and blossom in front of our eyes,” said Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle L. Parker. “This latest addition of 73 affordable and beautiful homes at Bucknell Square and Girard Commons will not only make homeownership a possibility for so many families, but it will enhance what is steadily becoming an attractive area to live and work. I applaud Kelvin Jeremiah, PHA and Frankel Enterprises, along with HUD and other city agencies, for working together to bring this unique project to fruition for Philadelphians. There is a great deal of work that goes into a transformation like this, and the power of partnership is a big part of its success.”
“When families have safe, affordable housing, communities are stronger and neighborhoods thrive,” said Senator Casey. “Investing in our housing and our neighborhoods helps improve safety and well-being for residents while also supporting the growth of local businesses. I am grateful to HUD and the Philadelphia Housing Authority team for their commitment to providing quality housing in Sharswood, revitalizing the neighborhood, and uplifting the community.”
“Far too many Philadelphians struggle to find and maintain housing, resulting in a housing famine caused by lack of affordable housing and an increasing number of unhoused in the city,” said State Senator Sharif Street. “This project will help Philadelphians secure housing, build stronger communities, and increase community safety. Homeownership not only builds wealth, it helps families create equity to establish businesses, provide opportunities for higher education, and improves health and wellness. A home is where the heart is but is also where the heart lives longer. Benefits of homeownership include building savings, financial stability, lowering stress, and increasing wellbeing in children. I applaud Frankel Enterprises and the Philadelphia Housing Authority for bringing affordable homeownership to Sharswood.”
“Today’s celebration speaks to the power of innovative and collaborative real estate development,” said Philadelphia City Council President Kenyatta Johnson (Second District). He continued, “The Bucknell Square and Girard Commons represent what is possible when public and private entities work together with a shared vision to ensure long-term stability and affordably priced housing in Philadelphia.”
“The transformation of the Blumberg Apartments into high-quality, affordable housing at Bucknell Square and Girard Commons reflects our commitment to making sought-after communities like Sharswood more accessible by expanding opportunities for homeownership,” said Councilman Jeffery Young, Jr., 5th District.
“We’re thrilled to do another transformative development in partnership with the Philadelphia Housing Authority,” said Max Frankel, Principal of Frankel Enterprises. “Homeownership is a key factor in stabilizing neighborhoods and creating intergenerational wealth for residents. We look forward to supporting continued community revitalization through high-quality housing for families in Sharswood.”
“This project is a great example of interagency cooperation and partnership,” said Angel Rodriguez, Senior Vice President of Land Services, PHDC and Executive Director, Philadelphia Land Bank. “We have all heard about Mayor Parker’s strategy for creating more units of #affordableluxury for Philadelphia residents, and this project definitely meets those criteria. The units are beautiful, and a direct outcome of when the city, strategic partners and developers work together to create the best possible housing options for potential homebuyers.”
Bucknell Square and Girard Commons workforce housing developments are a collection of new construction of single-family houses and condominium units, each consisting of 3-bedroom, 2-bathroom floorplans. Bucknell Square has 36 single family homes with private backyards, assigned private parking, a roof deck, and a rear patio. Girard Commons features a collection of 37 single-family homes and condominium-type units with private outdoor space. Prices start at $250,000 and go up to $300,000.
The city offers several homeowner assistance grants for homebuyers.
Interested parties can learn more about the projects and virtually tour a home at PhillyWorkforceHomes.com. Individuals and families who meet qualifications can apply online at PhillyWorkForceHomes.com/apply or call directly at (267) 571-8519. Philadelphia Housing Authority residents can reach out to the homeownership department at (215) 684-8926.
As part of the transformation, PHA invested $45 million and brought its headquarters to the commercial corridor in 2019. A $51 million shopping center called Sharswood Ridge is directly across from the PHA headquarters that houses the Grocery Outlet, Everest Urgent Care, Santander Bank, a parking garage and 98 mixed-income housing units.
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About Philadelphia Housing Authority
The Philadelphia Housing Authority’s mission is to open doors to affordable housing, economic opportunity, and safe sustainable communities to benefit Philadelphia residents with low incomes. To learn more visit www.pha.phila.gov.
About Frankel Enterprises
Founded in 1936 by E.J. Frankel, Frankel Enterprises is a fourth-generation, family-owned real estate development company incorporating planning, financing and construction into an efficient development process. The company’s portfolio includes affordable, market rate and luxury housing communities in Philadelphia, Delaware, New Jersey, Ohio and South Florida. In Philadelphia, Frankel Enterprises commitment to affordable housing includes transformative projects such as West Poplar Homes, The Residences at Diamond Villages, Bucknell Square and Girard Commons. For more information visit www.frankelre.com.
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