Number of Units

24

Year Developed

1998

Development Costs

$ 2,737,058

Goal

New construction. Critical to revitalization of this North Philadelphia neighborhood.

Description

In the 1990s, this lot on the 1900 block of North 4th Street was a source of blight in this eastern North Philadelphia neighborhood. Vacant and abandoned, the lot served as the perfect breeding ground for a host of drug-related activities.

 

In 1998, Mission First Housing partnered with Asociación de Puertorriqueños en Marcha, Inc. (APM) and the City of Philadelphia in an effort to transform the neighborhood. Only the second allocation of low income housing tax credits in company history, Mission First constructed twenty-four one-bedroom apartments on the site.

 

Through Mission First Housing’s ongoing partnership APM, this building provides subsidized housing and supportive services for 24 formerly homeless residents. The residents take great pride in their homes and even assist with landscaping the grounds. This project was the beginning of a complete neighborhood transformation. There is now a major grocery shopping plaza as well as a number of newer housing developments in the area.

 

Financing for the project included equity from low income housing tax credits, Homeless Initiative funding and CDBG funding from the City of Philadelphia and an Affordable Housing Program grant from the Federal Home Loan Bank of Pittsburgh.