Media Contacts:
Kirk Dorn, General Manager, Media Services
Office: (215) 684-4112; Cell: (215) 704-3653
Pager: 888-645-0924
Dana Wormer, Director of Communications
Office: (215) 684-4106; Cell: (215) 913-4628
Pager: 888-645-0339
PHILADELPHIA, PA, USA (September 17,
2002) - Lives are about to change dramatically for the
people of Southwest Philadelphia.
The Philadelphia Housing Authority (PHA) announced a $170
Million plan today to build more than 550 new homes at its Tasker
property just off the Schuylkill Expressway.
The announcement by PHA Executive Director Carl R. Greene marks
the latest and most dramatic step yet in PHA's goal of
revolutionizing conditions in public housing and the communities
that surround it.
"Gone are the days of building a wall around a public housing
area. Now, we're weaving our developments of beautiful new homes
into neighborhoods and we're raising the quality of life for both
public and private housing residents," said Greene.
Even the funding for the massive Tasker revitalization is
historic. PHA is the first housing authority in the nation to
utilize a combination of funding from general-purpose government
bonds ($85 million), private activity tax exempt bonds ($33
million), and equity raised from the sale of the low-income housing
tax credits associated with the private activity bond issues
($20-25 million). The bonds will be backed by PHA's annual capital
funds allocation.
"This funding clears the way for demolition, reconstruction and
reconfiguration of the site to provide a modern, lower density
housing plan that is compatible with the surrounding neighborhood,"
said Greene.
The new housing at Tasker will include rental, home ownership,
and senior living. The revitalization also includes a
workforce-training center for residents, plus a community center,
senior center and retail space for not only the residents of the
Tasker Homes but the surrounding community as well.
The revitalization of 153 units of nearby Wilson Park and
alternative developments is also part of the plan.
Today's groundbreaking also is another huge sign of how PHA is
supporting Mayor John F. Street's vision for transforming
neighborhoods.
"The Tasker Homes/ Grays Ferry development is another major step
in the city's efforts to improve its neighborhoods and eliminate
blight," Mayor Street said. "Residents of South Philadelphia and
the Grays Ferry neighborhood are working hard to rebuild their
community - and this will be a significant addition in that
effort."
PHA has been changing the face of housing throughout the city,
investing nearly $850 million in construction, and raising the
quality of life in neighborhood after neighborhood. New homes are
being built at 10 developments. Homes are being renovated at five
other PHA properties and new homes are being built at numerous
scattered sites throughout the city, bringing new life to the areas
in which they are located.
The Tasker Homes development was buit in 1940, making it one of
the oldest PHA properties. The development currently consists of
clusters of two and three-story brick row houses located on 40
acres at 30th and Tasker streets in the Grays Ferry section of
South Philadelphia. It originally contained 1,077 units, of which
925 are still in use. Both the site itself and the housing units
are in a general state of disrepair.
Demolition of the existing structures and resident relocation
will occur in phases, allowing residents to remain in some of the
units while other units are being demolished.
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About PHA
PHA is the nation's fourth largest public housing agency serving
more than 70,000 residents. Nationally recognized for its
innovations in public housing, PHA is also the first housing
authority in the United States to be designated by the Institute of
Real Estate Management (IREM) of the National Association of
Realtors as an "Accredited Management Organization." This
designation is awarded to firms engaged in property management,
which have met IREM's high standards in the areas of education,
experience, integrity and financial stability.