NEIGHBORHOOD REVITALIZATION OPPORTUNITIES

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Thursday, November 6, 2014Blumberg Community Center1516 Judson WayPhiladelphia, 19121

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Welcome & Introductions

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Council President

Darrell L. Clarke

Why Sharswood/Blumberg, Why Now?

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PHA President & CEO

Kelvin Jeremiah

Why Sharswood/Blumberg, Why Now?

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The Blumberg site:• Has reputation for being unsafe and many families routinely

request transfers out and family’s refuse to transfer in • The family buildings are outdated• Superblock site isolates and is out of character with

traditional 2 and 3 story row-homes

Neighborhood Distress: • Over 180 vacant buildings and 1,200 vacant lots• Neighborhood lacking amenities – no grocery stores; Two

public schools closed• Alarming poverty and unemployment rate• 51% of the children in the community live in poverty• Neighborhood income below $21,000 per year

THE URGENCY IS NOW

What will this neighborhood look and feel like?

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Community-supported Vision:“The Sharswood/Blumberg Neighborhood is a safe, peaceful, loving, family-oriented and dignified community where residents take pride in its unique history, attractive housing, quality schools, cleanliness, and thriving commercial corridor of local businesses.”

Land Acquisition There are over 1,200 Vacant Lots

(which equates to 33 Acres or 24 football fields)

Many of those properties are tax delinquent and are used for trash, dumping causing neighborhood blight and safety issues

Some of that land is in public ownership, PHA does not own the majority of the land

Through a condemnation process, that vacant land will be consolidated for housing and other community-supported uses

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Housing Development Opportunities1. One-for-one replacement of the Blumberg family site

2. Rehab of Blumberg senior building

3. Infill housing and rehab to rebuild neighborhood fabric

4. Support to existing residents and homeowners

5. A range of Housing Opportunities (Affordable/Mixed-income and new homeownership) that builds the critical mass of people needed to support additional neighborhood amenities

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Preliminary Housing Strategy

Description Number of Units

Phase I 57 New Rental Units

Blumberg Senior 96 Existing Rental Units w/ Building Rehab

Phase II & Later 630 Rental Units (Approximate) • 530 Affordable• 100 Market Rate

Phase II & Later 420 Homeownership (Approximate)• 320 Affordable • 100 Market Rate

1,203 Total New Units (65% rental/35% homeownership)

Turner Street

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Preliminary Housing Strategy

Image Source: PHA

W. Oxford Street

W. Jefferson Street

Master St.

Cecil B. Moore Avenue

W. Thompson Street

N. 2

4thSt

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N. 2

2ndSt

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N. 2

3rdSt

reet

N. 2

5thSt

reet

N. 2

6thSt

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N. 2

1st S

tree

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N. 2

0thSt

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N. 1

9thSt

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Planning Area Boundary

Vaux School

SharswoodI & II

SharswoodI & IIAthletic

RecreationCenter

Project HOME Stephen Klein

Wellness Center

MLK Rec Center

Blumberg Phase I

Rendering of Planned Phase I Townhouses(40 on-site and 17 off site units on 24th Street)

Image Source: KSK

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Infill Housing Strategy for Later Phases

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Oxford Street - The buildings are designed to be more traditional in

keeping with the existing character

Jefferson Street - The buildings are designed to be more contemporary in keeping with the existing character

Elevations by: KSK

Redevelopment of Blumberg SiteOn-site 208 new housing unitsPlus existing 96-unit senior tower

Image Source: PHA

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What will new development look like?

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Right now only Phase I has been designed.

Example of similar PHA development includes: Ludlow Scattered Site HOPE VI

Location:1300 block of North Franklin

Construction dates: March 2007-August 2008

Program: 192 scattered site infill units (103 homeownership/89 rental)

Design: 1, 2, 3 and 4 bedroom twins with brick, vinyl and stucco facades based on the history and neighborhood context

Accessibility: 5% of the units are handicap accessible

Unit amenities include:

• Central air conditioning

• Vinyl tile and carpeting

• Modern kitchen with electric stove and garbage disposal

• 1 ½ - 2 bathrooms

• Washer/dryer room with hook-ups

Some units have parking and a private rear yard

Targeted to families earning:

$21,480 to $57,280

1300 block of North Franklin

Image Source: PHA

What will new development look like?

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New PHA Housing

Existing Neighborhood

Housing

Right now only Phase I has been designed.

Example of similar PHA development includes: Ludlow Scattered Site HOPE VI

Housing designed to fit within existing context and neighborhood character

1300 block of North Franklin

Image Source: PHA

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Blumberg Senior Building RehabThe Senior Tower will remain Phase 1 – First Floor Upgrades

• New Entrance • Enlargement and Reconfiguration of

Community Room, including expansion of the kitchen

Future Phases • New Elevators • New Roof • Masonry Repairs • Major Systems Upgrade• Install Air Conditioning in each unit • Unit Upgrades as necessary

Image Source: Kitchen & Associates

Proposed Entrance

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Blumberg Senior Building Rehab

Image Source: PHA

Image Source: PHA

Image Source: PHA

Existing Masonry Wall

Phase 1 – First Floor Upgrades • New Entrance • Enlargement and Reconfiguration of Community

Room, including expansion of the kitchen

Existing Community Room

Existing Entry Area

Proposed First Floor ExpansionProposed Entry Area

Proposed Community Room

Image Source: Kitchen & Associates

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Housing Affordability• Family of 4 making $39,400 or under will be able to live in this new housing• Public Housing residents in good standing will be able to return• People who meet public housing eligibility requirements

Accessibility• A minimum of 5% of new units will be accessible • An additional 3% for hearing and vision impaired

Visitable UnitsNew plan calls for visitability (housing units will be designed so that it can be lived in or visited by people who have trouble with steps or who use wheelchairs or walkers)Features include:• at least one “no-step” entrance • a powder room on the first floor • wide doorways and a clear path of travel on the main floor

A number of considerations for next steps:

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The final plan will need to balance between: PHA’s mission “to provide quality housing for Philadelphia’s low and

moderate income families” Community priorities What is doable/physically viable What the market can support Securing funding/financing Securing land for development

Lower North District PlanRidge Avenue Focus Area

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Image Source: City of Philadelphia

Support District Plan Goals to: Redevelop the Norman Blumberg

Apartments Repurpose vacant land with infill

development Identify reuse opportunities for closed

schools Create new passive open space for

the community Support existing businesses where the

corridor is strong Beautify the corridor to enhance its

role as an important gateway Repurpose vacant land with mixed

use development

Rear Parking Areas

Neighborhood Development OpportunitiesRebuild the Ridge Avenue Commercial Corridor by attracting new investment and supporting existing small businesses

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Ridge Avenue and 22nd Street (BEFORE)

Neighborhood Development OpportunitiesRebuild the Ridge Avenue Commercial Corridor by attracting new investment and supporting existing small businesses

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Ridge Avenue and 22nd Street (After)

Neighborhood Development OpportunitiesOpportunity to repurpose vacant land on Ridge Avenue with mixed use development

Proposed mixed-use development :

◦ PHA headquarters (160,000sf PHA Office)

◦ Large format grocery store (40,000sf)

◦ Parking

◦ Other retail/commercial – bank, laundry/dry cleaners, pharmacy…

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Image Source: L+G

Rendering of proposed supermarket and office redevelopment on Ridge Avenue

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Opportunity to create attractive and linked open spaces along Ridge

Image Source: WRT

Community led beautification efforts

Image Source: WRT

Ridge Avenue Opportunities

Develop a business incubator to support existing businesses and ensure that there is a balance between larger chain and smaller locally-owned/operated businesses

Repurpose vacant land along the corridor with contemporary retail space with residential above

Beautify the corridor to enhance its role as an important gateway and create a unique sense of place and neighborhood identity

Streetscape improvements may include: street trees, special paving, art, signage, banners, lighting, green stormwatermanagement infrastructure

Develop attractive and linked open spaces which may include: Small gardens, parks, plazas and intergenerational spaces

Work with residents, neighborhood organizations, merchants and the business community to implement clean and safe strategies to :• “Address blight - PHS LandCare model• Address nuisance businesses• Promote community supported open spaces (Urban agriculture and Community gardens)

Community-supported Vision:

What will this neighborhood look and feel like?

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“Through the collaboration of residents and stakeholders and the removal of physical and social barriers, the neighborhood will evolve to be a thriving, prosperous, self-reliant community grounded in health and wellness, alternative resources, quality education, career planning, recreation, and employment for generations to come.”

Photo: Peace ParkPhoto: Neighborhood Garden on Master StreetImage Source: WRT

Photo: (BSCCA) Brewerytown Sharswood Community Civic Association Unity Day, August 2014Image Source: WRT

People Plans – Overview PHA in partnership with Youth Advocate Programs will develop a Comprehensive Service Strategy to support and connect youth and families in the community. The strategy will focus on, but not be limited to, three primary services:

1. Youth Connection To and Success In School

2. Adult Connections To Education tied Job Training and Placement

3. Family Based Support Services to ensure sustained connection to

support and programs

The Core Services will weave together and target the main issues raised by residents during the community meetings of: 1. Youth Education; 2. Adult Job Training and Placement; 3. Support for families, not just individuals, to achieve success.

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People Plans – Overview The Comprehensive Core Services Strategy will look to integrate the following services in partnership with a long list of community partners to remove barriers to success:

1. Health and Wellness (Mental and Physical)

2. Childcare Programs

3. Transportation

4. Substance Abuse

5. Financial and Credit Counseling

6. Home Repairs and Improvement

7. Homeownership Programs

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Short – term Goals/ Doing While Planning Activities:

1. Increase communication and outreach (Including door-to-door)

2. Host a Housing Education & Financial Counseling Workshop for current residents

3. Address blighted and unsafe structures

Resources Available Today:Housing Support = Beech Interplex (Housing Counseling Services)

Home Repair for Existing Homeowners = Habitat for Humanity

Financial and Credit Counseling = Clarifi

Health & Wellness = Project HOME

Health Services = Public Health Management Corporation (PHMC)

Social Services = Youth Advocate Programs (YAP)

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If you have not already completed one please take a survey.

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Final Survey Dates: Monday, November 10th Blumberg Community Room 1:00-5:00pm Friday, November 14th 10:00am-1:00pm Blumberg Senior Community Room

Questions?

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Thank you for coming!Please continue to stay engaged.

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Next steps:• Complete surveys, analyze results and incorporate findings into Draft Plan• Meet with plan partners to get input on draft plan (SEPTA, Streets Dept,

L&I, Parks and Rec, OHCD, Non-profit partners…)• Meet with residents, stakeholders and partners to develop

specific/targeted strategies• Present Draft Plan for public comment (Spring 2015)• Refine Draft Plan based on input• Identify resources to implement the vision for neighborhood

revitalization

• Present Final Plan for public comment (Summer 2015)

• Secure implementation resources