Congressman Dwight Evans, HUD
Regional Administrator Joe DeFelice,Council President Darrell
Clarke, Aissia Richardson Senior Advisor for Senator Sharif Street,
PHA President &CEO Kelvin A. Jeremiah, Councilwoman
Jannie Blackwell, State Rep. Donna Bullock, PHA Board
Commissioners Ethel Wise and Rev. Bonnie Camarda, PHA
Board Commissioner Sam Stanton, and William Bailey, Senior
Development Officer, Pennsylvania Housing Finance
Agency broke ground at the former Blumberg Hi-rise site will
now be home to 83-new units for the former residents of the
site.

PHA's Blumberg 83 will consist of 83 new rental
units spread across a mix of townhomes and multi-unit
walk-up buildings in the 2200 Blocks of West Oxford Street,
Jefferson Street, and Bolton Street, as well as the 1500 Blocks of
22nd and 23rd Streets.
(Philadelphia, PA - December 4, 2018) -
The Philadelphia Housing Authority (PHA) formally broke ground
today for the Blumberg 83 apartments.
The development is part of PHA's Blumberg/Sharswood
Transformation Plan and a key component of the Choice Neighborhood
Initiative planning grant awarded by HUD in 2013. The development
will cover the 2200 Blocks of West Oxford Street, Jefferson Street,
and Bolton Street, as well as the 1500 Blocks of 22nd and 23rd
Streets, with 23rd Street being reconnected through the former
superblock as part of a redesigned street pattern.
"We are transforming a superblock into a walkable, green
community with the start of this development," said PHA President
and CEO Kelvin Jeremiah. "The reconnected 23rd Street will be wide
enough to accommodate bus service. The redesign and reconnection of
streets in this neighborhood is essential to the development of a
neighborhood that promotes safety, walkability, beauty,
transportation access, and improved water quality."
The redesign of the street pattern in Sharswood follows "Green
City, Clean Waters," Philadelphia's plan to reduce storm water
pollution from entering the city's combined sewer system through
the use of green infrastructure. The plan resulted from a 25-year
agreement with the Environmental Protection Agency that was begun
in 2011.
The Blumberg 83 will consist of 83 new rental units spread across
a mix of townhomes and multi-unit walk-up buildings. All units will
be leased to families and individuals earning 60% of the area
median income or less, including some families or individuals
earning 20% of the AMI or less.
"It's exciting to see this transformation plan take shape in a
neighborhood that's close to Center City," said Mayor Jim Kenney.
"Residents of this community will enjoy a better quality of life
with easy access to all the attractions that the heart of
Philadelphia has to offer."
"The City of Philadelphia is making strategic investments that
will renew older neighborhoods and make them communities of
choice," City Council President Darrell L. Clarke said. "I'm
grateful to PHA and all of their partners who are working with
Sharswood/Blumberg residents to help them create an attractive,
affordable, walkable, and sustainable community they want for
themselves and for future generations."
All units at the new development will be under HUD's Rental
Assistance Demonstration Program (RAD). As part of RAD, the
Development will include a 20-year Project Based Voucher Housing
Assistance Payment contract. The new units will range in size from
616 square feet to 1,641 square feet. Residents of the development
will have access to a community center, landscaped green space, and
PHA management office.
"It all started with the $500,000 Choice Neighborhoods Planning
Grant awarded in 2013," said Joe DeFelice, Regional Administrator
of HUD's Mid-Atlantic region.
"HUD's grant paved the way to a robust neighborhood
transformation plan, with the Rental Assistance Demonstration
program leveraging public and private dollars to support the
redevelopment. The end result is today's groundbreaking and
high-quality affordable housing that families can be proud to call
home."
The Blumberg 83 will exceed federal, state, and local
accessibility requirements. There will be 10 accessible units and 3
units for the hearing/visually impaired. All townhomes and ground
floor units in the walkup buildings will meet 'VisitAbility'
requirements.
The new development will serve as an example of high quality,
sustainable design. It will feature modular wood frame
construction, and will include sustainable design elements guided
by two green rating programs; Enterprise Green Communities and
Energy Star Certified Homes. The modular manufacturing process will
significantly reduce the amount of construction waste and energy
use.