The Philadelphia Housing Authority plans to build 85 affordable homes in the Strawberry Mansion section of North Philadelphia, near 27th and York streets. The project will add subsidized rentals and for-sale houses to blocks the agency describes as long blighted and largely vacant.
The project calls for 55 rental units and 30 single-family homes sold through the city’s Turn the Key program. A 15-space parking lot and a large PHA-run park with open lawn space, a picnic area, and a stage are also part of the plan.
Subsidized rentals and $280,000 starter homes
The rental portion includes 19 townhomes and a 36-unit apartment building along the 2400 block of North Dover Street. All rentals will be completely subsidized, meaning tenants will spend no more than 30 percent of their monthly income on rent. The apartment building will have a mix of one- and two-bedroom units, a community room, and a PHA management office. The townhomes will all have three bedrooms.
The 30 Turn the Key homes are planned for North Newkirk, North Dover, and North 29th streets. Homes built through the program start at $280,000. Buyers can obtain up to $75,000 in mortgage buydown assistance, often paired with funding from Philly First Home to further reduce the sale price. Turn the Key participants typically pay around $1,400 a month for a three-bedroom house, considerably less than the median rent for a similar apartment.
Zoning board clears the way despite community friction
PHA had to secure variances from the Zoning Board of Adjustment for the rental side of the project, including permission to build a multifamily development on land zoned for single-family homes. The board granted those requests during hearings in late July and early August.
The development is backed by Local 332 of the Laborers’ International Union of North America and has support from state Sen. Sharif Street, state Rep. Keith Harris, and City Councilmember Jeffery Young.
“There is a dire need for affordable housing in our community. The need for the continuation and support of the project far outweighs any small issues that are being stated that need to be resolved.”
That was Rev. Warren Marshall, speaking at the July zoning hearing.
Odessa Tate, a member of All In The Family, the registered community organization for the area, told the board her group does not oppose the development. She said PHA has not been a good community partner.
“PHA should not be able to get away with not coming to the table with us and ironing out these issues, and ensuring that we have stability in our communities.”
Young said in a statement that while he supports the project, he is “disappointed” that PHA has “decided not to honor its commitments to partner with the All in the Family CDC on the proposed park at 27th and York Streets.”
“Community organizations that help shape neighborhood projects deserve to be treated as meaningful partners as those projects move forward.”
Construction timeline stretches into 2028
Construction on the Turn the Key homes is expected to start in late fall. The rental portion will come later, potentially in the first quarter of 2028. PHA plans to use Low-Income Housing Tax Credits to offset construction costs and expects applications for that subsidy to be due in February.
PHA President Kelvin Jeremiah said the agency received “overwhelming support from the community” for both the rentals and the homeownership component.
“They were not only supporting the affordable rentals but the affordable homeownership on city blocks that have been long blighted and primarily vacant.”