Recent Groundbreakings & Grand Openings

Gloria Casarez Residence
Project HOME
Philadelphia, PA

RHLS attorneys provided  Project HOME with legal and technical assistance on their Gloria Casarez Residence, which includes 30 units of housing for LGBTQ young adults at risk of homelessness. This residence is the first of its kind in Pennsylvania and one of the first in the entire United States. In addition to affordable, permanent housing, residents will receive supportive services to assist them in obtaining employment/education, medical care, and other services to prevent homelessness as identified.

Roberto Clemente Middle School
Esperanza
Philadelphia, PA

The former Roberto Clemente Middle School, located in the Hunting Park Section of Philadelphia, is currently being converted to provide 38 units of affordable rental housing and 5,000 square feet of commercial space by RHLS client Esperanza. In addition to providing critically needed affordable housing to a gentrifying neighborhood, the development rehabilitated the previously abandoned school building.

SteelTown Village
Petra Community Housing
Phoenixville, PA

SteelTown village will include 48 units of affordable housing for low-income individuals and families, seniors, and veterans in the Phoenixville section of Chester County, Pennsylvania.  Petra Community Housing remediated the site for the housing development, successfully converting a designated “brownfield” to a “greenfield.” Further, the additional affordable housing in the Phoenixville area will meet a key community need, as recent housing development has largely catered to higher income renters.

The Eastern Tower Community
Philadelphia Chinatown Development Corporation
Philadelphia, PA

Philadelphia Chinatown Development Corporation secured the assistance of RHLS to develop The Eastern Tower Community, a $75 million, 20-story building located at 10th and Arch Streets in the Center City section of Philadelphia. The development will include 150 units of affordable housing for and 30,000 square feet of commercial space. The building will house the Chinatown Learning Center, a bilingual preschool program. Planning for this significant development began in 2011.

 

Witherspoon Senior Apartments  and Cantrell Place
Presby’s Inspired Life
Philadelphia, PA

Presby’s Inspired Life broke ground on their Witherspoon Senior Apartments and Cantrell Place developments in September of 2017.  The Witherspoon Senior Apartments, located in Southwest Philadelphia, will provide 60 units of affordable housing for low-income individuals age 62 and over. The building will be the fourth development on the Presby’s Inspired Life “58th Street Campus,” which already serves 240 seniors. According to Presby’s Inspired Life, the community has a waiting list of approximately 500 individuals that are interested in the affordable housing on the campus.

Cantrell Place will also provide units for seniors and is located in South Philadelphia. The development will transform blighted vacant lots at 5th & Cantrell Streets.

Seymoure and Corinne Krause Commons
ACTION-Housing, Inc. and Jewish Residential Services
Pittsburgh, PA

RHLS assisted long time clients ACTION-Housing, Inc. and Jewish Residential Services with the development of the Seymour and Corinne Krause Commons located near Murray and Forward Avenues in the Squirrel Hill section of Pittsburgh. The building will include 33 units of housing, half of which are designated for individuals living with psychiatric or intellectual disabilities. The development will also include supportive services provided through Jewish Residential Services. Construction began on the Commons in July of 2017.