Two New York developers are pushing ahead with the first phase of their plan to renovate and build a 1,000 residential units in West Philadelphia, writes Paul Schwedelson for the Philadelphia Business Journal.
The plan would create a major mixed-income housing development on a long blighted and vacant 12-acre site next to Drexel University’s Vidas Athletic Complex.
The first phase of the development is planned to include 327 units across three buildings.
This has been the site of Philadelphia Housing Authority’s Westpark Apartments since 1964. Long in need in repair, the three high-rise, public housing buildings are also planned to be renovated as part of the project.
The first phase’s three buildings would future two new ground-up buildings and one of the existing high-rises. The first building is planned to rise seven stories with 145 units, while the second would be two stories with 41 units. The third, and existing building, is 19 stories with 109 units. Another 32 new units would be added.
“The transformative redevelopment of Westpark will deliver a mixed-income community that includes replacement housing for all returning residents, additional new units, local retail, an accessible SEPTA-adjacent plaza and a new integrated street network to reconnect the site with the surrounding neighborhood,” the developers said in a statement.
Read more about the new development coming to West Philadelphia in the Philadelphia Business Journal.
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