(Philadelphia, PA - November 18,
2014) - The Philadelphia Housing Authority (PHA)
will convert a vacant piece of land on the 3000 block of West
Gordon Street into a quality, affordable housing development.
The agency, joined by elected officials, formally broke ground for
the construction of Gordon Street Apartments today.
The site is bounded by 30th, Arizona, 31st, and Gordon Streets
in the Strawberry Mansion area of the City. The modest new
development will feature 21 units in a mixture of walkup units and
townhomes. Fourteen units will be located on the north side
of the 3000 block of West Gordon Street while seven other units
will be located on the 2300 block of North 30th Street. The area
behind those units will have off-street parking and green space,
filling out the area to Arizona Street.
Gordon Street Apartments will contain 5 three-bedroom townhomes,
2 three-bedroom flats, 12 two-bedroom townhomes and 2 two-bedroom
flats. Two of the units will be handicapped accessible and conform
to Uniform Federal Accessibility Standards (UFAS) and section 504
requirements. One unit will be for the hearing/visually
impaired.
All homes at the site will be built to Energy Star standards. By
using less energy for heating, cooling, and water heating, Energy
Star certified homes deliver approximately 20 percent savings on
annual utility bills. They also help to prevent air pollution.
"Each time the City has an opportunity to support the
development of affordable housing, we take a step forward in making
Philadelphia a better city for everyone," said Mayor Michael A.
Nutter. "The Strawberry Mansion neighborhood is on the rise
and I am sure there will be many more developments like this one in
the future. It is my sincere hope that the construction
phase of the new Gordon Street Apartments will attract business
owners and residents who will also want to live and work in this
revitalized section of the city."
"It's a plus whenever the housing authority can improve a
neighborhood with quality, affordable housing," said PHA President
and CEO Kelvin A. Jeremiah. "This is the second of three
projects planned for the Strawberry Mansion community, representing
a total investment of over $25 million by PHA. We hope that
our commitment to the Strawberry Mansion neighborhood will
encourage others to develop here as well, whether through new
construction or renewal."
PHA's redevelopment of three sites in the Strawberry Mansion
neighborhood is something City Council President Darrell Clarke has
long sought. His district covers this historic area and he has
promoted an increase in various forms of affordable housing
throughout the City, especially as older neighborhoods become
attractive once again.
"The start of construction on this long-vacant land is part of
the continued revitalization of Strawberry Mansion," Council
President Clarke said. "The addition of quality housing units in
this community is consistent with City Council's comprehensive
strategy to increase quality, affordable housing across
Philadelphia to ensure balanced neighborhood growth and targeted
investment in struggling communities."
Gordon Street Apartments is the second of three PHA developments
planned for the Strawberry Mansion neighborhood. Construction of
the first development on Oakdale Street began in August. When all
the developments are complete, 100 new housing units will have been
added to the neighborhood.
Construction of the Gordon Street Apartments will create Section
3 job opportunities for low and very low-income persons,
particularly for public and assisted housing residents. PHA
expects to complete construction of the new, $8.4 million
development next May.