Mission First Housing Group, Enterprise Community Investment, Capital One and the City of Philadelphia Revitalize MPB School Apartments in Strawberry Mansion neighborhood

PHILADELPHIA–City Council President Darrell Clarke was joined today by residents, business and civic leaders in celebration of the grand re-opening of MPB School Apartments, following substantial renovations by Mission First Housing Group, which preserved the nationally registered historical landmark as green, affordable housing in an effort to help revitalize the Strawberry Mansion neighborhood in North Philadelphia. 

 

Council President Clarke was joined in making remarks by Kevin Dow, Chief Operating Officer and Deputy Commerce Director, City of Philadelphia; Walt Kubiak, CEO, Mission First Housing Group, which owns and manages the property; Holly Glauser, Director of Development, Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency (PHFA); Ali Solis, Senior Vice President and Public Policy and Corporate Affairs Executive, Enterprise Community Partners, Inc. (Enterprise); and Tom Houlihan, Vice President, Community Development Finance, Capital One.

 

“Having grown up in the neighborhood, I remember when this building was a school,” said Council President Clarke. “I’m excited to see it repurposed into something beneficial to the community, particularly amid the ongoing conversation about strategies for vacant school buildings across the City of Philadelphia.”

 

The equity generated by the Low Income Housing Tax Credits allocated by PHFA and syndicated by Enterprise Community Investment, Inc. on behalf of Capital One, enabled Mission First to preserve MPB School Apartments as a vital affordable housing resource and create a tangible symbol of community revitalization.

 

“The MPB School Apartments is a great historic preservation project that has allowed us to both rehabilitate 28 units of affordable housing for families in Philadelphia and create a tangible symbol of community revitalization in the area surrounding the development,” said Mr. Kubiak.

 

MPB School Apartments was originally a parochial school built in 1908 in the Italian Renaissance style on The Most Precious Blood Roman Catholic parish campus, one of the principal architectural and social landmarks of North Philadelphia. The entire campus was listed on the National Registry of Historic Places in 1992. The school on the campus was converted into 28 units of affordable housing in 1993. Mission First Housing Group acquired the apartments in 2008, and secured financing in 2012 to capitalize and rehabilitate the property.

 

As part of the rehabilitation, MPB School Apartments’ interiors were completely renovated including new kitchens, bathrooms and flooring. All apartments received new hot water heaters and HVAC systems, and a new solar-powered hot water system helps to meet the hot water needs of the apartments. In addition to exterior brick improvements, a new roof, front door, and handicapped ramp was installed, along with new windows and fencing. The first floor features a lobby and laundry facility, and a community room is available for use on the lower level.

 

“The LIHTC equity Enterprise and our partners provided for the green rehab of MPB School Apartments is helping to support the revitalization of the Strawberry Mansion neighborhood,” said Solis. “We look forward to continuing to work with Mission First and our developer partners to strengthen Philadelphia’s communities.”

 

The rehabilitated property meets Enterprise Green Communities Criteria, the first national framework for creating and preserving green affordable housing, part of Enterprise’s Call to Action to green all affordable housing by 2020. The sustainable design features of this project directly impact the sustainability of the surrounding community. The energy savings the tenants realize in their energy-efficient units, with Energy Star appliances and high-efficiency plumbing, will allow for more discretionary income to be spent in the community. In addition, the no-VOC interiors and extra day-lighting provide immeasurable health benefits to the residents and their children.

 

 

Mission First Housing Group is a nonprofit organization with a mission to develop and manage affordable, safe and sustainable homes for people in need, with a focus on the vulnerable. We ensure our residents have access to resources to help them live independently. We deliver housing that provides long-term benefits to residents and neighborhoods alike.

 

Mission First was founded in Philadelphia in 1988 as a joint venture between the City of Philadelphia, HUD and Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (at the time, Mission First was known as 1260 Housing Development Corporation).  Its original purpose was to provide for the housing needs of adults living with chronic mental illness.

 

Over time Mission First developed an effective model for providing housing and services to a vulnerable population.  Mission First sought to take its model to new geographies, serving others in need.  Mission First’s footprint is now the Mid-Atlantic region, and its residents include a diverse mix of low-income individuals and families, including seniors, veterans, the homeless, and individuals with special needs.

 

Mission First currently provides safe, affordable, sustainable homes to nearly 3,000 people in over 2,500 units.

 

Enterprise works with partners nationwide to build opportunity. We create and advocate for affordable homes in thriving communities linked to jobs, good schools, health care and transportation. We lend funds, finance development and manage and build affordable housing, while shaping new strategies, solutions and policy. Over more than 30 years, Enterprise has created 300,000 homes, invested nearly $14 billion and touched millions of lives. Join us at www.EnterpriseCommunity.com or www.EnterpriseCommunity.org.

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