PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — The Philadelphia Housing Authority is growing in capacity, thanks to some recent property acquisitions, and it is increasingly becoming a landlord of choice in the city.
When the private owner of Brith Shalom apartments let the building deteriorate until it was uninhabitable, the tenants turned to PHA to rescue them. And PHA obliged, pledging millions of dollars for a rehab that is estimated to take three years. Neighbors who were initially skeptical of having public housing nearby now say conditions have already improved.
“We needed to make sure it wasn’t an eyesore. The trees were overgrown, external conditions were not particularly attractive and we immediately addressed all of those concerns,” said PHA president Kelvin Jeremiah.
And he promises conditions will get even better.
“I think what you’ll see there will be a beautiful property, where anyone, regardless of their income, would choose to live, where seniors will have a comfortable place to age.”
Jeremiah has brought the Authority a long way from federal receivership 12 years ago. Few would have predicted back then that it would become sought after as a landlord and welcomed as a neighbor, but demand is up — not only for affordable housing but for PHA housing specifically.
“This has been intentional,” Jeremiah said.
He says being a good landlord and neighbor was always his goal.
“We wanted to be a part of the community where our residents live and work and so, strategically, it meant that we would reflect a level of property management where we were responsive to the needs not only of the residents but to the broader community.”
PHA is in the process of adding 2,000 units to its inventory by early next year, a boost for affordable housing in Philadelphia.
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City Councilmember Jaime Gauthier chose PHA to build affordable units on the site of the former University City Townhomes. Last week, Mayor Cherelle Parker signed a bill giving PHA 24,000 square feet at the site.
“I see PHA as a really critical partner to me in building affordable housing in the most desirable parts of the city,” Gauthier said.
And just this month, PHA purchased two more University City properties and another Wynnfield apartment house, adding 300 housing units to its inventory.