The $50 million Award for Bartram Village was made after a competitive review process by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)

Media Contact:
Nichole Tillman, 215-888-2869

(Philadelphia, PA – July 27, 2023) –

For the third time, The Philadelphia Housing Authority (PHA) and the City of Philadelphia have received a coveted Choice Neighborhoods Implementation (CNI) Grant, this one to transform Bartram Village in Southwest Philadelphia.  The $50 million grant  will be used to leverage more financing as the Authority rebuilds and invigorates the community.

“We are beyond thrilled,” PHA President and CEO Kelvin A. Jeremiah said. “This will provide high-quality affordable housing, along with expanded opportunities for economic mobility for lower-income families in Southwest Philadelphia. PHA believes that housing is an inalienable right. Every Philadelphian deserves stable housing in walkable neighborhoods with good schools and transportation, nearby shopping, and green space. The CNI grant enables us to build and maintain affordable housing, and simultaneously revitalize underserved communities so they emerge as our newest neighborhoods of choice.”

Jeremiah continued: “I’d like to thank HUD Secretary Fudge and her staff for this important grant that, when completed, will raise over $300 million for a once redlined and neglected neighborhood.”

PHA is the first Housing Authority in the country to receive three CNI Implementation Grants from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), which are awarded after a highly competitive selection process. To date, PHA has been chosen to receive $110 million in implementation grants: In 2014, HUD awarded a $30 million Choice Neighborhoods grant to the City and its partners to implement the North Central Philadelphia Transformation Plan; PHA and the City of Philadelphia then received a $30 million CNI Grant in 2020 to implement the Sharswood-Blumberg Choice Neighborhoods Transformation Plan.

“The Choice Neighborhoods Implementation Grant will have a transformative impact in southwest Philadelphia for generations to come,” said Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney. “The $50 million in federal funding, alongside millions of dollars additionally committed by PHA and the City of Philadelphia, will be used to realize the Transformation Plan developed with Bartram Village and Kingsessing residents.  We are excited to redevelop Bartram Village to better serve current residents and attract new households by expanding quality affordable housing and investing in programs, services, and enhanced public spaces to benefit the entire community.”

With the additional funds for Bartram Village, PHA can transform another strategically located neighborhood into a resource-rich area community that provides new housing, along with crucial supportive services like career training and enrichment programs that support mobility. While planning still is underway, the ultimate goal is to provide 608 new housing units including 500 affordable rent, 30 affordable homeownership and 78 market rate rentals.

This approach leverages community assets, engages neighborhood organizations and institutions, and gives lower-income residents a prominent voice in development plans. It has been referred nationally to as “The Philadelphia Model,” based in part on the successes so far in North Central and Sharswood.

“I’m pleased that this federal funding is coming to PHA to transform another Philadelphia neighborhood,” said Congressman Dwight Evans (D-PA-3). “I previously helped PHA to secure $30 million in federal funding, leveraging over $225 million in investment, to revitalize the Sharswood-Blumberg neighborhood. This is an important way that we can rebuild Philadelphia, block by block!”

“This $50 million investment in Bartram Village will not only add more than 200 additional housing units, but contribute to the rejuvenation of our entire community,” said Speaker of the Pennsylvania House Joanna McClinton (D-PA-191). “It will bring new parks, industry and community spaces that will improve the overall quality of life for our neighbors.”

“The Choice Neighborhoods Implementation grant will provide a crucial opportunity for the city of Philadelphia to revitalize our distressed housing and neighborhoods while prioritizing the well-being and potential of our residents,” said State Sen. Anthony H. Williams (D-PA-8). “With a commitment to community-driven collaboration, we will redevelop our neighborhoods and foster impactful changes that uplift our communities in need.”

“I am thrilled to see HUD make such a substantial investment toward the revitalization of Bartram Village,” State Rep. Regina Young (D-PA-185) said. “Replacing 500 old units at Bartram Village with more than 600 new mixed-income units will not only increase housing options; it will also bolster our local economy, increase our energy efficiency and climate resilience, and highlight the jewel that is Bartram Garden. We know here in Philadelphia that direct and considered investment is what it takes to grow a community without leaving anyone behind.”

“I am thrilled that a HUD Choice Neighborhoods Implementation Grant is coming to Bartram Village! This is a big win for Southwest Philadelphia,” said Council Member Jamie R. Gauthier. “I know Bartram Village residents and the community have wondered how long it would take for improvements to come to this site. I’m so glad we can now definitively say that they are on the way! This grant is about equity, not just housing. This is a rapidly changing area of Southwest, with tens of millions of dollars being spent on new construction and public space improvements. Through this Choice Neighborhoods Implementation Grant, we are showing existing residents that they deserve to remain in this community and that we are willing to invest in what they need to thrive here! I look forward to working with PHA and the City to actualize our vision for Bartram Village. Thank you to HUD and the Biden Administration for investing in Southwest Philadelphia!”

“We are honored to work with PHA on two transformative CNI developments, Sharswood and now Bartram Village,” said Mark Dambly, chief executive officer with Pennrose. “We look forward to collaborating with project partners and the local community to ensure plans for the site improve resident and neighborhood quality of life for many years to come.”

The CNI grant proposal is for the Kingsessing/Bartram Village neighborhood, which was previously the focus of a $1.6 million CNI Planning and Early Implementation Grant. The CNI Planning grant resulted in a Transformation Plan, developed in consultation with the community and accepted by HUD. The Early Implementation Action Activities are currently underway and will be finished by September of 2024. Of the $50 million grant, $30.9 million will fund Housing Plan activities, $7.5 million will fund Neighborhood Critical Community Improvements (CCI) and $10 million will fund People Plan activities. Approximately $1.6 million will be for grant evaluation and administrative costs.

###

The Philadelphia Housing Authority is the nation’s 4th largest housing authority, serving nearly 80,000 residents.  PHA is also a major real estate developer.  Learn more at www.pha.phila.gov.

 

 

Read the new versions here

Media Contact:

Nichole Tillman, 215-888-2869; [email protected]

 

 

Find Summer Food, Fun or a Purpose at a Nearby PHA Housing Location  

Healthy Eating and Healthy Living Are as Important for Youth as ever in 2023

 

 (Philadelphia, PA – June 12, 2023) – The Philadelphia Housing Authority’s (PHA) children and those in surrounding neighborhoods will have access to healthy breakfasts and lunches as well as fun, recreational activities this summer.

“Access to good, nutritional hot meals is critical to the overall development of young people, in addition to maintaining their health,” said PHA President and CEO Kelvin A. Jeremiah.  “PHA will offer free meals and free summer camps where youth can engage in educational and recreational enrichment activities. In addition, PHA again has youth entrepreneurship programs and career-readiness workshops planned to connect youth with their passions.”

The Summer Camps, which will run from July 26 to August 18 from 9 am to 3 pm, will operate Mondays – Fridays at the following 10 sites: Abbottsford Community Center, Richard Allen/Cambridge, Bartram Village, Johnson Homes, Mantua Community Center, Norris Apartments, Lucien E. Blackwell Center, Spring Garden Apartments, Wilson Park, and Vaux Big Picture High School. The camps are facilitated by the Boys and Girls Club of Philadelphia, PHA, Dream Inc. and Mighty Writers. Camp Activities include recreational, sports, literacy, arts and crafts. Programs are free and open to PHA residents ages 5-17.

The PHA Summer Food Service Program, which will be held June 26, 2023, offers breakfasts and lunches for youth until August 18, 2023. Hours of operation are 9:00 a.m. to 11 a.m. Mondays-Fridays for breakfast and 12-2 pm for lunch. There is no charge for the meals.

The food program is offered at 10 locations: Abbottsford Community Center, Bartram Village Community Center, Hill Creek Apartments Community Center, Johnson Homes Community Center, Norris Community Center, Lucien E. Blackwell Center, Raymond Rosen Community Center, John F. Street Community Center, Spring Garden Apartments and Wilson Park Community Center.

The PHA Summer food program is open to both youth in public housing and in the community. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will provide partial reimbursement to PHA.

Children who do not live near a participating PHA site can still go to a neighboring site or one of sites operated by the City’s Department of Parks and Recreation, which plans to offer similar meals. Residents, including those who were formerly served at sites that are not hosting the program this summer, can go online to the USDA website at

 https://www.fns.usda.gov/meals4kids to locate the Summer Food locations closest to them.

Residents can also look for the site nearest to them at http://www.hungercoalition.org/summermeals/map or call the coalition’s hotline at 1-855-252-MEAL. SFSP is a reimbursement-based grant program funded by the United States Department of Agriculture, through Pennsylvania’s Department of Education.  The intent of this program is to provide free breakfast, lunch, and/or snacks to children 18-years-old and under. For more information about participating in PHA’s Summer Food Service Program or summer camp program, PHA residents can email [email protected] or call: 215-684-8109

###

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. Learn more at www.pha.phila.gov.

To provide additional opportunities for public review and comment, the Philadelphia Housing Authority (PHA) is extending the public comment period for the following until June 12, 2023 at 12 noon.

Click to read:

Proposed ACOP

Proposed Admin Plan

Proposed MTW Plan FY 2024

PHA residents, Housing Choice Voucher participants and the public may provide oral comments by attending the virtual public hearing described below and/or by submitting written comments during the comment period.    A public hearing will be conducted at the following time and location:

Wednesday, May 24, 2023 at 3:00 PM

Join by web by link: 

https://pha.webex.com/pha/j.php?MTID=mb11a56ef2418a7f4416d11882e1e466b

Join by web manually via WebEx:

Meeting number: 2343 283 2428/Password: MTW24

Call in: 

1-844-621-3956 – Access code: 2343 283 2428

 

 

The public comment period begins on May 3, 2023 at 12 noon

and ends on June 2, 2023 at 12 noon.

Comments must be received by the end of the comment period.

Please send written comments to:

The Philadelphia Housing Authority

Attention: Jennifer Ragen – Public Comments

Office of the General Counsel

2013 Ridge Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19121

or

[email protected]

A Place to Call Home in Sharswood: The Philadelphia Housing Authority and Frankel Enterprises broke ground yesterday on 73 new construction homes and condos in Sharswood. From left are US Congressman Dwight Evans; Zachary Frankel; Lynette Brown-Sow; Cherelle Parker; Darrell L. Clarke; Max Frankel, Kelvin Jeremiah, President and CEO of PHA, and  Ryan Schlegel from Mid Penn Bank. Photo: Maurice Browne

73 Affordable Homes Will Revitalize the Site of the Former Norman Blumberg Apartments in Brewerytown/Sharswood Neighborhood

Bucknell Square and Girard Commons Now Accepting Applications

 Philadelphia, PA (May 22, 2023) – Frankel Enterprises celebrated the groundbreaking of Bucknell Square and Girard Commons, two workforce housing communities totaling 73 affordable homes located in the Brewerytown / Sharswood neighborhood of Philadelphia. The $17 million projects are a partnership between Frankel Enterprises, Philadelphia Housing Authority (PHA), Mid Penn Bank, and the City of Philadelphia to create quality affordable housing opportunities for Philadelphia residents.

The new housing at Bucknell Square is located on the site of the former Norman Blumberg Apartments, a half century old public-housing complex demolished in 2016 that for years were the epicenter of crime and poverty in the area. The new workforce housing developments – located just projects will help revitalize the neighborhood and represent 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.

This development comes on the heels of another successful workforce housing partnership completed by Frankel Enterprises and PHA at The Residences at Diamond Village, a community of 30 affordable single-family homes in North Philadelphia.

“We’re thrilled to kick-off this much needed project and look forward to another transformative 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 Brewerytown.”

“The construction of these new homes enhances Sharswood’s reputation as an up-and-coming neighborhood,” 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.”

“The community of Sharswood continues to rise, and adding new, affordable workforce housing is crucial to all of this positive momentum in North Philadelphia,” said Council President Darrell L. Clarke (5^th District). “The partnership between PHA, the City of Philadelphia, City Council, Frankel Enterprises and the financial lenders is improving housing opportunities and the overall quality of life for the people of Sharswood. We could not be more pleased.”

“We want to thank Council President Clarke and Senator Street for their leadership in addressing the housing crisis and creating opportunities for much needed affordable housing,” said Zachary Frankel, Principal, Frankel Enterprises. “Frankel has a rich history of building high-quality homes to last generations, and we are thrilled to partner with PHA and the City of Philadelphia to ensure working families have access to affordable home ownership.”

Bucknell Square and Girard Commons workforce housing developments are a collection of new construction, single-family houses and condominium units, each consisting of 3 bedroom, 2 bathroom floorplans. Bucknell Square will boast 36-single family homes with private backyards, assigned private parking, a roof deck, and rear patio. Girard Commons will feature a collection of 37 single-family homes and condominium-type units with private outdoor space no more than $299,000.

The city offers several 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.

 

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.

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.

 

 

Media Contact:

Nichole Tillman, 215-888-2869; [email protected]

 

PHA Appoints Robert W. Clark as VP of Public Safety, an Inaugural Position Emphasizing Crime Prevention and Well-Being

The agency has reimagined public safety into a collaborative unit

 

(Philadelphia – April 11, 2023) — Robert W. Clark has been named Vice President of Public Safety at the Philadelphia Housing Authority, an inaugural position that emphasizes crime prevention, social justice, and community well-being.

Reporting to the Senior Executive Vice President, Public Safety, Audit and Compliance, and an advisor to the President & CEO, Clark will lead the transformation of PHA’s reimagined public safety initiative from the current policing model, to a new public safety structure focused on crime prevention, diversion, social justice, and creating and sustaining secure, safe PHA neighborhoods through collaboration with myriad stakeholders, especially residents.

“With help and assistance from our resident leaders, PHA has undertaken an effort to reimagine public safety as a way to serve residents and improve their overall well-being,” said Kelvin A. Jeremiah, President and CEO of PHA. “We intend to do this by prioritizing their most urgent safety needs and concerns, and by finding ways to prevent crimes, enhance collaborations between the community and officers, and ensure neighborhoods are safe and secure for everyone, especially our youth.”

Clark formerly served as director of the Columbus, Ohio, Department of Public Safety. He brings an impressive track record as a leader in innovative and service-oriented policing, building upon several decades of local, federal and international law enforcement experiences.

Moreover, his own background enables him to understand the challenges and barriers faced by PHA residents. At 13 years old, he lost his father to gun violence. That tragedy and his lived experience have driven his desire to serve others.

“I’m from the inner city, from public housing, from foster care. And having those experiences really allows me to directly relate to our community. I have a servant’s heart and because of where I’m from and where I have been in my career, I have the ability and the passion to listen to the community, and understand their needs and concerns,” he said.

The new VP of Public Safety at PHA is a civilian, managerial position responsible for leadership, coordinating the administrative and operational functions of the office, and guiding the public safety office team to achieve results. PHA has 19 public safety officers, 9 supervisors and 22 civilian personnel who engage with residents on public safety matters and address their concerns.

In 1989, Clark began his career at the Youngstown Police Department where he was assigned to the Special Investigation Unit as a Vice and Narcotics Officer and the Community Police Unit downtown. He trained officers in identifying and investigating gang activity, often collaborating with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).

Next, he went to U.S. Department of Justice FBI field office in Los Angeles, CA, where he served as Assistant Special Agent in Charge. He managed an annual budget of more than $25 million and led more than 350 agents and task force officers from 10 agencies, focusing on gangs, violent crime, drug cartels and crimes against children. He also has worked as the Senior Superintendent for the Trinidad & Tobago Police Service.

Clark received both his Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice and his Master of Science in Criminal Justice Administration from Youngstown State University. He currently is enrolled at Capital Technology University, in the PhD Cyberpsychology Program.

###

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.