Before and after photos show the North Central Choice Neighborhood transformation in Philadelphia. One of PHA’s most recent housing developments, North Central Five (pictured on the right) has won a national Award of Excellence from the National Association of Housing and Redevelopment Officials (NAHRO) for project design. The original Norris Apartments  (pictured on the left) were torn down to make way for the Choice Neighborhood revitalization. The City of Philadelphia, through the Division of Housing & Community Development (DHCD), PHA, Temple University, Asociación Puertorriqueños en Marcha (APM), community residents and other stakeholders have been working together to implement the planned Housing, People, and Neighborhood activities to create a sustainable North Central Philadelphia.

 

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

(Philadelphia – April 4, 2023) — The Philadelphia Housing Authority (PHA) recently received two NAHRO Awards of Excellence in a national competition among housing and community development organizations. 

 The National Association of Housing and Redevelopment Officials (NAHRO) presented 20 prestigious Awards of Excellence to 16 organizations during a ceremony in Washington DC.

NAHRO honored PHA for North Central Five in the project design category. The mixed-income community offers 133 units of housing on a full-block site. The $51.6 million, 152,000 GSF property includes 3 buildings; a multifamily building with 117 units around a lushly landscaped courtyard, and two townhome buildings with 16 units that have large 3 BR units with private outdoor space. All residents have access to a fitness room, community room with kitchenette, computer room and library, an outdoor courtyard and community gardens, as well as on-site management staff, package lockers, and bike storage. It was developed as part of a larger $30 million Choice Neighborhood Grant that sought to strengthen and improve this community.

PHA also received an award in the Resident and Client Services category for the CCP/PHA Shared Housing Program, a partnership that transformed six scattered-site apartments units into dorm-like units for Community College of Philadelphia (CCP) students. Residents in the apartments receive services from both CCP and from PHA. 

The apartments are situated in two renovated rowhomes within walking distance from the College’s Main Campus. They are the first income-based housing managed and maintained by a local housing authority to serve community college students exclusively

In addition to having access to safe, quality, and affordable housing, eligible students selected by CCP enter a stability plan and are paired with a College program coordinator to aid their transition out of shared housing and into a stable, permanent residence.  The housing is within walking distance of CCP’s main campus allowing the residents to participate fully in campus life. CCP students also receive special wraparound support services to ensure that they succeed at the College including: support for students with experience in the foster care system; free assistance with health insurance, food resources, cash and other subsidies; academic advising and academic-related counseling services; and assistance with scholarships and career readiness supports. Students have also received one-time stipends from the Berwind Foundation for household items such as pots and pans, as well as technology needs such as laptops. 

The Awards of Excellence winners were selected by regional juries from an initial pool of 178 Awards of Merit recipients.  Each of the winning programs improves resident outcomes, resolves problems, is replicable by similarly sized organizations and produces tangible results such as cost savings and improved client services.

“NAHRO members provide vital housing and support in their communities, and do so through economic downturns, pandemics and natural disasters, declining federal investment and other challenges,” said NAHRO CEO Mark Thiele. “These 20 programs exemplify their creativity and determination in providing local solutions that others can learn from and replicate, and we’re thrilled to honor their work.” 

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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. 

 

Partnership among City agencies and the federal government reinforces the City’s commitment to expand housing opportunities for vulnerable communities

For immediate release: March 30, 2023

Contact: 
For the City of Philadelphia, [email protected]
For the Philadelphia Housing Authority, Nichole Tillman, [email protected]

Philadelphia – Philadelphia announced today that it will receive $630,977 in federal funding from a Housing and Urban Development (HUD) grant. The award comes from the Foster Youth to Independence Initiative. The program invests in local, cross-system collaborative efforts to assist young people aging out of foster care and who are at risk of experiencing homelessness.

The Philadelphia Housing Authority (PHA), Department of Human Services (DHS), and Office of Homeless Services (OHS) will work in partnership to administer the program. The funding will provide 50 housing vouchers, available in late spring. The vouchers will cover a maximum of 36 months of rental assistance.

Additionally, youth will be connected to services to support their path to self-sufficiency through community-based organization, Methodist Services. This includes mental and behavioral health services, money management, job preparation, and educational counseling. Supportive housing services include landlord outreach, pre- and post-move counseling, and lease compliance.

All eligible applicants must meet all the following criteria:

• have lived experience in the child welfare system at 16 or older.
• left foster care or will leave foster care within 90 days.
• between the ages of 18-24.
• homeless or at risk of homelessness.

Advocates and providers that work with young adults who meet the criteria can make referrals by emailing the youth’s name, DHS Number, and contact information to [email protected]. Any eligible youth on PHA’s Housing Choice Voucher Waiting List will be assisted in order of their position on the waiting list.

Statements:

PHA President & CEO Kelvin A. Jeremiah

Decent housing is the framework for building success in life. Safe and stable housing put foster youth on more equal footing as they enter the workforce and enroll in college and career training programs. PHA is working on various fronts to provide housing assistance, shared housing, vouchers, and other innovative options for this population.

DHS Commissioner Kimberly Ali

Too many young people who were placed in foster care, later experience homelessness, and this must stop! Securing stable housing can be an obstacle for them. Therefore, we welcome this opportunity to work together to help these young adults find a place to call home, and to eliminate barriers that hinder their pursuit of college and career opportunities as they transition to adulthood and independent life. With this joint effort, these vulnerable young people can focus on their goals and dreams without worrying about where they are going to lay their heads at night.

OHS Director Liz Hersh

We never want a young adult to age out of foster care into homelessness. These vouchers and our continued collaboration with PHA and DHS will help improve the lives of Philly youth who are at risk of homelessness.

 

 

Shovels Up in Sharswood: With Spring comes more housing development in Sharswood as The Michaels Organization, in conjunction with the Philadelphia Housing Authority (PHA), broke ground on a new development this week and announced plans to renovate existing townhouses. From left are: From left are Jannie Blackwell, Milton Pratt Jr., Michaels Organization Executive Vice President of Development; PHA President and CEO Kelvin A Jeremiah; Michaels Organization CEO John O’Donnell; John Paone PHFA Board Member, State Rep. Donna Bullock; City Council President Darrell L Clarke; Aissia Richardson; and Michaels Vice President Andrew Davenport.

Michaels Organization and Philadelphia Housing Authority Expand Affordable Housing

Sharswood Townhouses Will Undergo Major Rehabilitation, While a New Affordable Rental Community Will Be Built Nearby

Contacts: 
For The Michaels Organization:

Laura Zaner: [email protected]; 856-988-5083; 856-630-1540

For PHA:

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

Philadelphia, March 22 — The Michaels Organization, in conjunction with the Philadelphia Housing Authority (PHA), announced today that it is set to break ground on a new affordable rental housing community in the Sharswood neighborhood of Philadelphia. At the same time, Michaels is rehabilitating an affordable housing community in Sharswood that it has owned and managed since developing the community 23 years ago.

Both efforts are part of the PHA Sharswood Blumberg Choice Neighborhoods Transformation Plan.

“We are excited to reinvest in our Sharswood Townhouse community, preserving this critical affordable housing resource for Philadelphia families while creating new affordable housing opportunities in this rapidly changing community,” said Michaels Vice President Andrew Davenport, who is serving as the lead developer on both the renovation as well as the new development. “We are also grateful to the Philadelphia Housing Authority (PHA) and the Philadelphia Housing Finance Agency (PHFA) for their support in bringing new additional affordable housing to this neighborhood.”

“Sharswood is taking yet another important step forward,” said Kelvin A. Jeremiah, President and CEO of PHA. “To remain affordable, Philadelphia will need comprehensive plans to repair and renovate existing housing units and communities. This plan preserves affordable housing while adding contemporary units that provide residents seeking to live in Sharswood with desirable housing options. I want to thank Michaels for their commitment to affordable housing and to this community.”

“We’re proud to celebrate and support the rehabilitation of existing affordable homes in the Sharswood, and the construction of dozens of new affordable homes as well,” said Council President Darrell L. Clarke, whose 5th Council district includes Sharswood. “With every development, every groundbreaking and ribbon cutting, PHA and all our committed partners, we are reinvesting in a proud, historic neighborhood community in Sharswood in the heart of North Philly. It’s a terrific day.”

Project details: Sharswood Townhouses, located at 1450 N 21st Street in North Philadelphia, was first developed by Michaels in 2000. The community features 71 apartment homes affordable to households earning 60 percent or less of the Area Median Income. The community will be completely renovated, with major building upgrades for long-term sustainability, as well as interior and exterior improvements. These units will be preserved as affordable housing for the residents for decades to come.

In conjunction with the renovation work, Michaels will develop a new community offering 43 affordable rental units on vacant land next door to Sharswood Townhouses. The new community will offer two- and three-bedroom apartments to be developed across 24 stacked flat and townhome-style buildings. A total of 12 fully accessible units will be created  — four at Sharswood Townhouses and eight in the new community. The new development will also feature a community room, offices for on-site management, and an expanded common laundry facility, which residents of both communities can use.

Construction is expected to be completed in March 2024.

Financing: Completing the rehabilitation and new construction work in one development phase allowed for innovative financing for this $33 million project. The majority of the funding is sourced from federal Low-Income Housing Tax Credits, allocated by PHFA, which raised more than $13 million in private equity. In addition to the tax credits, PHFA provided $5.8 million in permanent debt and the PHA provided a $3.5 million soft loan. The development also benefits from nearly $6.2 million in funding from the City of Philadelphia.

 

Urban Practice is serving as the Architect and Michaels Construction is serving as the General Contractor. Berkadia syndicated the tax credits. Michaels Management will provide property management services, ensuring that both communities remain long-term neighborhood assets.

About The Michaels Organization:

The Michaels Organization is a national leader in residential real estate, offering full service capabilities in development, property management, construction, and investment management. Serving more than 175,000 residents in more than 450 communities across 37 states, the District of Columbia, and the U.S. Virgin Islands, Michaels is committed to crafting housing solutions that jumpstart education, civic engagement and neighborhood prosperity and to creating Communities That Lift Lives.

About the 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.

A Golden Opportunity: On February 28, 2023, the Philadelphia Housing Authority held a grand opening for Harrison Plaza Senior Tower, a newly renovated building of affordable housing for seniors. From left, PHA Board Chair Lynette Brown-Sow; Gwendolyn Boyd-White, daughter of PHA honoree Christine Boyd; Darrell L. Clarke, City Council President, Cynthia Boyd; Adrianne Todman, Deputy Secretary of HUD, and far right, Kelvin A. Jeremiah, President and CEO of PHA.

Harrison Plaza Senior Tower is Remade, Bringing a Promising Future, And Transforming a Tower of Aging Public Housing

 

 

Media Contact:
Nichole Tillman, 215-888-2869
[email protected]

(Philadelphia, PA – February 28, 2023) – The Philadelphia Housing Authority (PHA) today celebrated the preservation and renovation of Harrison Plaza Senior Tower, a 15-story high rise that offers seniors an affordable, comfortable and secure living experience.

The building, located at 10th & Master Streets, features energy-efficient appliances, and units with grab bars and other life safety features that offer older residents peace of mind. In addition to the complete redesign of the residential units and ground floor, the exterior of the building has been significantly renovated, including repointing of the entire building, selective brick and sill replacement, and new insulated aluminum and glass awning windows.

“This newly renovated building allows Philly seniors to age well, and, with dignity. PHA preserved a 67-year-old landmark and, in doing so, transformed an aging tower of public housing in urgent need of costly repairs,” said Kelvin A. Jeremiah, President and CEO of PHA. “Low-Income Housing Tax Credits were crucial for this transformation. They are critical to address preservation, development and redevelopment goals.”

“Harrison Plaza is a wonderful example of how federal, state, and local leaders can create high-quality and affordable homes,” said Adrianne Todman, HUD’s Deputy Secretary. “Through HUD’s Rental Assistance Demonstration process, Philadelphia’s local housing authority was able to modernize and preserve an elemental property in the heart of the city. The impact of our collective work will certainly be felt by the seniors who live here and for those seniors seeking an affordable place to live in the future.”

The new Harrison Plaza Senior Tower, a 4 percent Low-Income Housing Tax Credit gut renovation, has a total of 116 units, consisting of 104 one-bedroom and 12 two-bedroom units, a community room with an outdoor patio, health screening room, management and maintenance offices, a common laundry, and a 15-space parking lot.

Congressman Dwight Evans (D-PA-3) said, “I’m pleased to see this 116-unit building preserved and renovated, and I’m optimistic that the major affordable-housing investments we passed in the last two years under President Biden’s leadership will result in more progress for Philadelphia!”

“We’re proud to support the preservation and renovation of the Harrison Plaza Senior Tower for our senior citizens who need safe, modern and affordable housing,” said Council President Darrell L. Clarke. “This is also a project that makes sense – renovating existing housing stock where possible, as opposed to always relying on new construction, which is more costly. We’re delighted to work with our strong partners at the Philadelphia Housing Authority and Kelvin Jeremiah in support of this renovation for senior citizens.”

PHA converted the Harrison Plaza to Project Based Voucher (PBV) assistance under the Rental Assistance Demonstration (RAD) Program. One of the major benefits of RAD conversion is that it enables leveraging of new financial resources to improve living conditions and address the long-term capital needs of public housing developments either through renovations to existing buildings or the development of new replacement housing units.

The total development costs are approximately $48 million, which includes a $6 million acquisition cost of the building, and construction costs of approximately $37 million. Perryman Shoemaker was awarded the construction management contract.

Angelo Perryman, President and CEO 
of Perryman Construction, and Maura Hesdon, General Manager of Shoemaker Construction Co. said, “Perryman Shoemaker is proud of our work with PHA to transform the Harrison Plaza tower into a safe, modern, and comfortable home for senior residents in North Philadelphia.”

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 About the 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 Perryman Shoemaker:
Perryman Shoemaker has proudly served the Greater Philadelphia Area since 2004. Both founding firms are multi-generational family businesses, with a combined 140+ in the construction industry. Their areas of building construction expertise include apartments and multi-family, K-12 schools, retail, parking garages, hospitals and healthcare facilities. Perryman Shoemaker is a nationally certified MBE firm.