$50 Million Loan to Rebuild West Philly Senior Complex Amidst Decades of Neglect
A historic deal has been struck between the City of Philadelphia and a coalition of building trades unions to fund the renovation of the dilapidated Brith Sholom House in West Philadelphia. The $50 million loan, fully guaranteed by the city, will be repaid over 15 years at an interest rate of 4.5%.
The project is part of Mayor Cherelle Parker's ambitious H.O.M.E initiative, which aims to create or preserve 30,000 housing units across the city. Brith Sholom House, built in 1955, has been plagued by decades of neglect, leaving its residents in dire conditions. The building's owners, who are serving time for mortgage fraud related to dozens of troubled affordable housing properties, sold it to the Philadelphia Housing Authority (PHA) for $24 million.
"We're changing lives here," said Ryan Boyer, business manager of the Philadelphia Building Trades. "This isn't an investment for the Building Trades; this is a downpayment on our city's future." The renovation project will create hundreds of union jobs and provide renovated one- and two-bedroom units to low-income seniors over 55.
The complex, which had been without lights or air conditioning in some areas, was described as "deplorable" by PHA CEO Kelvin Jeremiah during a tour. Residents were forced to evacuate using their cellphones' flashlights due to the poor conditions. The renovation plan includes a new healthcare center and aims to restore dignity to the building's residents.
While the project is a significant undertaking, it represents a first for the city in terms of public-private partnerships. City Councilmember Curtis Jones Jr. echoed Mayor Parker's sentiment, stating that veterans and disabled individuals should not have to endure such conditions at any stage of their lives.
The agreement marks one of several initiatives by PHA to acquire private apartment buildings across the city, with over 4,000 units acquired in the past two years. The agency claims this approach is more cost-effective than new construction and offers a quicker path to expanding public housing options.
As work is expected to start later this year with completion scheduled for 2028, officials are optimistic about the project's impact on the community. "This is the type of work that helps individuals, those most in need," said City Council President Kenyatta Johnson, highlighting the importance of collaboration between the city and building trades unions.
A historic deal has been struck between the City of Philadelphia and a coalition of building trades unions to fund the renovation of the dilapidated Brith Sholom House in West Philadelphia. The $50 million loan, fully guaranteed by the city, will be repaid over 15 years at an interest rate of 4.5%.
The project is part of Mayor Cherelle Parker's ambitious H.O.M.E initiative, which aims to create or preserve 30,000 housing units across the city. Brith Sholom House, built in 1955, has been plagued by decades of neglect, leaving its residents in dire conditions. The building's owners, who are serving time for mortgage fraud related to dozens of troubled affordable housing properties, sold it to the Philadelphia Housing Authority (PHA) for $24 million.
"We're changing lives here," said Ryan Boyer, business manager of the Philadelphia Building Trades. "This isn't an investment for the Building Trades; this is a downpayment on our city's future." The renovation project will create hundreds of union jobs and provide renovated one- and two-bedroom units to low-income seniors over 55.
The complex, which had been without lights or air conditioning in some areas, was described as "deplorable" by PHA CEO Kelvin Jeremiah during a tour. Residents were forced to evacuate using their cellphones' flashlights due to the poor conditions. The renovation plan includes a new healthcare center and aims to restore dignity to the building's residents.
While the project is a significant undertaking, it represents a first for the city in terms of public-private partnerships. City Councilmember Curtis Jones Jr. echoed Mayor Parker's sentiment, stating that veterans and disabled individuals should not have to endure such conditions at any stage of their lives.
The agreement marks one of several initiatives by PHA to acquire private apartment buildings across the city, with over 4,000 units acquired in the past two years. The agency claims this approach is more cost-effective than new construction and offers a quicker path to expanding public housing options.
As work is expected to start later this year with completion scheduled for 2028, officials are optimistic about the project's impact on the community. "This is the type of work that helps individuals, those most in need," said City Council President Kenyatta Johnson, highlighting the importance of collaboration between the city and building trades unions.
can you believe it took this long for some ppl to take action on west philly's senior complex? 50 million bucks is a decent amount but we gotta think about how many ppl are livin in those conditions right now 
and they're bein forced to evacuate b/c of no lights or AC its like a war zone over there. and the worst part is, ppl are gettin paid b/c of mortgage fraud lol what kinda justice is that? 
anyway, i'm glad the city's takin steps but 15 years is a lotta time for seniors who need care now. and let's be real, this project's not just about buildin' more units, its about the ppl who are gonna live in 'em & take care of 'em when they need it most 
that they're finally gonna fix up Brith Sholom House! Those seniors had to evacuate using their phone's flashlight 
it's crazy how bad it was. I'm all for the public-private partnership tho, it's like a win-win for everyone involved 
especially with the city and trades unions working together. It's about time we prioritize our most vulnerable neighbors 
let's hope it sets a new standard for affordable housing in Philly! 
I mean, it's been neglected for decades, but now they're going to restore dignity to its residents by adding a new healthcare center and renovating one- and two-bedroom units. The fact that hundreds of union jobs will be created during the renovation process is a total win-win 
. And I love how City Councilmember Curtis Jones Jr. brought up the importance of prioritizing veterans and disabled individuals - it's so crucial that we're investing in their care and well-being 
. And what about the owners who sold the building for $24 million? Did they really "sell" it to the PHA or was it more like a sweetheart deal? 
The fact that residents were forced to evacuate using their cellphones' flashlights is just sad... we should be doing better than this. I'm all for creating jobs and affordable housing, but let's make sure we're not just throwing money at the problem without thinking it through 
.
. I mean, $50 million for a senior complex in Philly? That's like, crazy 
.
.
. Can't wait to see how it all shakes out and what kind of impact it'll have on our community 
. can't wait to see the finished result in 2028! 
. $50 million is a huge deal to get their complex back on track 
. I've seen some pics of that place and it's a nightmare 
. No aircon or lights? How are they supposed to live like that? 
It's great to see the city stepping up and helping out these folks 
. I'm all for public-private partnerships too 
The fact that this will create hundreds of union jobs and provide decent housing to people who need it most? That's a win in my book. Can't wait to see the finished product - fingers crossed they don't mess it up.
15 years to repay $50 million? That's just ridiculous 
. I mean, who wouldn't want a place with lights and AC? It's crazy what some people will do for a profit 
. Can't wait to see the finished product!
. It's awesome that the city and building trades unions are teaming up to fix this up and create hundreds of jobs at the same time 
. And let's be real, seniors shouldn't have to live in deplorable conditions just because they can't afford better housing 
. The fact that this project is part of Mayor Parker's H.O.M.E initiative is a huge win for the community