At a Glance
- City, building trades, and the Philadelphia Housing Authority to restore 340+ senior units in Wynnefield Heights.
- Brith Sholom House receives a $50 million loan, repayable over 15 years.
- Project will create 545 union jobs and support the city’s $2 billion H.O.M.E plan.
Why it matters: The partnership tackles decades of neglect, provides safe housing for seniors, and injects jobs into a historically underserved community.
A historic partnership among the building trades, the city, and the Philadelphia Housing Authority (PHA) has announced a plan to renovate and reopen hundreds of affordable housing units in the Wynnefield Heights neighborhood. The centerpiece of the effort is the Brith Sholom House, a former senior-living complex that closed over a year ago due to unsafe conditions.
Historic Partnership to Revitalize Wynnefield Heights
City leaders unveiled the initiative on Tuesday, outlining how the collaboration will bring 340+ units of senior housing back to the neighborhood. Mayor Cherelle Parker emphasized the unity of the effort, saying, “We’ve married the building trades, PHA and administration together and ain’t nobody getting divorced anytime soon.”
The PHA acquired the West Philadelphia housing complex for $24 million in 2024 after years of neglect by previous owners that led to unsafe living conditions for more than a hundred elderly residents. The complex’s deterioration forced residents to move out, a fact highlighted by photos obtained by News Of Philadelphia.
Brith Sholom House: A Case Study
The Brith Sholom House had been closed for over a year. PHA executive Kelvin Jeremiah explained the urgency: “I thought we would be able to go in and do the renovations with the residence stay in place, but the conditions didn’t afford us that opportunity. No one, in my view, and absolutely no one should live in those conditions.”
The building trades are now stepping in with a significant financial commitment. They are loaning $50 million to the PHA, which will be repaid over a 15-year period. This infusion of capital will fund extensive repairs, upgrades, and modernization of the complex.
| Item | Amount | Repayment Terms |
|---|---|---|
| Loan to PHA | $50 million | 15 years |
| PHA acquisition | $24 million | N/A |
Funding and Investment
The $50 million loan is a cornerstone of the project’s financial strategy. It allows the PHA to address critical infrastructure needs-such as plumbing, electrical, and structural repairs-without immediately displacing residents. The repayment plan spreads the cost across a 15-year horizon, aligning with the expected life of the renovated building.
Union leaders note that the investment will create 545 union jobs through renovation work. These positions range from carpenters and electricians to project managers and safety inspectors, providing a boost to local employment.
Council and Mayor’s Housing Plan
The announcement arrives the same week the city council is expected to vote on legislation linked to Mayor Parker’s $2 billion H.O.M.E plan. Despite disagreements over spending priorities, Parker reiterated the city’s commitment to building and preserving 30,000 housing units.
“Yes, we’re working together. We’re building consensus, and council is committed to housing and supporting the $2 billion H.O.M.E plan that I introduced, and I’m really proud of it, Philadelphia,” said Parker.
The H.O.M.E plan represents a broader strategy to expand affordable housing across the city. The Brith Sholom House project aligns with that strategy by adding hundreds of units and generating employment, thereby reinforcing the city’s long-term housing goals.
Key Takeaways
- The partnership among the building trades, the city, and the PHA will restore 340+ senior units in Wynnefield Heights.
- The Brith Sholom House receives a $50 million loan, repayable over 15 years, enabling comprehensive renovations.
- The project will create 545 union jobs and supports the city’s $2 billion H.O.M.E plan to build 30,000 housing units.
- Mayor Parker and the council remain united in pursuing affordable housing despite budgetary disagreements.
The initiative marks a significant step toward reversing decades of neglect in Wynnefield Heights, ensuring that seniors have safe, modern housing and that the community benefits from new employment opportunities.
