PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — City officials and Habitat for Humanity broke ground Wednesday on the start of the Coltrane Commons, an affordable housing community in Strawberry Mansion. The project looks back on Philly history and also creates a vision for the future.
The 21-unit development is located along North 33rd Street, down the street from the former home of jazz legend John Coltrane. Neighbors even helped name the complex.
Tonnetta Graham, president of Strawberry Mansion CDC, demanded affordable homes be built so families won’t be forced out by rising home prices.
“We know we want our neighborhood to be revitalized, but we want to be here when it’s revitalized,” she said.
“We’re standing here because 21 new families will buy their home and own a home in Strawberry Mansion,” added Corinne O’Connell, Habitat for Humanity Philadelphia CEO.
The complex should be complete by February 2024. This project will mark the 1,000th home built by Habitat for Humanity in Philadelphia.