Meadows to Homes in North Philadelphia

Few people would think of a meadow when they imagine 8th and Norris Streets in Central North Philadelphia. Just two years ago this block contained a mix of boarded-up abandoned buildings, trash-strewn vacant lots, and a motley assortment of corner-dwelling entrepreneurs selling their wares to passing drivers.

Things have changed. Today, construction workers are hustling, putting the finishing touches on 50 new single family homes in a development called the "Pradera" or "the Meadows" in Spanish. Scheduled for completion in the Spring of 2003, this project is the most recent phase of the Association de Puertorquenos en Marcha's (APM) ambitious revitalization plan for this area.

Located adjacent to Temple University, and a ten minute drive from Center City, APM's neighborhood seems an unlikely area to be suffering from significant blight area, yet more than 70% of the property on some blocks was abandoned and deteriorated before APM got started. Dr. Jesus Sierra, the founder and Executive Director of APM, started his organization providing critical social services to his community. In 1992 he turned his attention to the physical conditions of the community.

Since APM began their community development activities, they have built more than 210 units of affordable rental housing and 8 units for homeownership, along with a new commercial center that has one of the first new grocery stores that inner city Philadelphia has seen in the past twenty years. A drive through the neighborhood today leaves the impression of a growing community, with new development and rehabbed homes closely mixed together in a critical mass. Even the remaining vacant lots are clean and well tended, with community gardens, trees, grass, and murals covering these former eyesores.

The Pradera development represents a new approach to development for APM, according to Rose Gray, Director of Real Estate Development. "This is our first large scale development for homeownership, and we're already 30% sold before we've completed a single building." The homes are being developed for families with incomes up to $50,650.00 for a family of four, and several of the homes were especially adapted for people with physical disabilities.

No detail goes unnoticed by Rose Gray and her development team. During a recent visit trenches surrounded the entire site. A moat? "No, we just wanted to bury the utility lines and get the ugly wires away from the streetscapes." Explained Mr. Manuel Delgado, APMs development specialist. When finished, each home will have off-street parking, and yards on three sides. These are some of the amenities that have made a nearby development in West Poplar so well liked.

What's next for Dr. Sierra and his crack development team? Quite a full plate. APM is planning to build a 28,000 square foot building as headquarters for APM's social service programs. Two more 50-unit developments are in the works, one for middle-income homeowners and the other for low and moderate-income renters. APM is also working on an open space development for a playground and greenway and an additional 40,000 square feet of retail space.

Funding for the Pradera project is coming from a number of sources, including $1.7 million from the Pennsylvania Housing Homeownership Choice Program, $2.3 million in HOME and CDBG funds from the Redevelopment Authority City of Philadelphia, $500,000 from the Targeted Neighborhood Initiative of the Pew Charitable Trusts, $50,000 from Nationwide Insurance, $500,000 from the Federal Home Loan Bank of Pittsburgh, and the remainder from the sales proceeds of the development.

For more information, contact Rose Gray (rgray@apmhousing.org).

Content Archived: February 25, 2011