Sharswood: Proposed Transformation Of Struggling Neighborhood Raises Concerns, Hope
Talmadge Belo narrowed his eyes under the shadow of his baseball cap, his gaze zeroed in on something across the street. “That used to be the nicest house on the block,” said Belo, the vice president of the Brewerytown-Sharswood Civic Association. But that house is boarded up now. A torn mattress tumbled out the back […]
City Hall: PHA Receives Grant to Plan Revitalization of Area Around Blumberg Apartments
The Philadelphia Housing Authority announced last month that it will receive a $500,000 grant to plan redevelopment at the Norman Blumberg Apartments in North Philadelphia. The grant was part of $4.37 million that was awarded by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development in the form of Choice Neighborhoods Planning Grants to nine cities. […]
Point Breeze: Philadelphia Youth Music Partnership Presents Opportunities to Youths
On the exterior, Wilson Park Apartments may not look any different than the dozens of other project housing units owned by the Philadelphia Housing Authority but as the saying goes, looks can be deceiving. During after-school hours, from three to six, sounds of sung harmonies and rhythmic raps being composed can be heard coming from […]
Germantown: Future of Queen Lane Apartments Concerns Residents
A community meeting was held last night at Mount Moriah Baptist Church on 5333 W. Pulaski Ave with the Philadelphia Housing Authority officials and Germantown residents to address concerns about the future of the Queen Lane Apartments. Residents came to get answers about the demolition of the apartments as well as limited parking, property safety […]
Hunting Park: Abandoned Buildings Plague the Neighborhood While City Organizations Work Toward Improvement
Residents of the 4000 block of North Darien Street are like a family. Whether it’s giving the kids a safe place to play after school or forcing thugs and drug dealers off the block, the residents are constantly battling negative elements to improve the quality of life in their area. Yet for all their efforts, […]
Germantown: Organization Offers Future for Addicts, Homeless
In The State of Homelessness in America 2012, The National Alliance to End Homelessness reported that in Philadelphia, Pa. and surrounding metropolitan areas, there are more than 11,000 homeless living on the streets and in shelters. Dignity Housing is a nonprofit organization staffing 17 employees located in the Germantown neighborhood that helps homeless Philadelphia residents […]
West Philadelphia: Housing Authority Makes $4 Million on Second Property Auction
The Philadelphia Housing Authority sold 100 properties and brought in more than $4 million at this week’s vacant property auction with both positive and negative reaction to the sales. In November, PHA held its first vacant property auction, which sold 400 vacant properties and brought in $7 million. The auctions are part of PHA’s attempt […]
North Philadelphia: Residents Wonder If PHA Auction Will Have an Impact
The Philadelphia Housing Authority plans an auction today for 100 vacant, scattered-site properties throughout the city. Eva Gaymon, who has lived in North Philadelphia for 43 years, said she would like to see houses built on the many vacant lots in her neighborhood and hopes more houses and fewer vacant lots will make the neighborhood […]
Center City: Housing Authority Makes Money on Auction; Critics Complain Neighborhood Buyers Left Out
The Philadelphia Housing Authority brought in $7 million this week at its first auction of blighted properties, but critics disliked what they described as a process that favored real estate developers over neighborhood buyers. With the help of Max Spann Real Estate and Auction Co., PHA auctioned nearly 400 vacant, scattered-site properties throughout the city […]
North Philadelphia: Philadelphia Housing Authority Auction Upsets Residents
Betsy Esteves was surprised to see the empty lot next to her home on North Third Street–a lot she fenced off, planted grass on, did some minor gardening in and has been struggling to purchase from the Philadelphia Housing Authority for years–among 400 properties listed for auction on Nov. 16. She was even more surprised […]