The Philadelphia Housing Authority (PHA) has been trying to build dozens of affordable homes and apartments in Strawberry Mansion since 2019. The project spans 14 city-owned lots in the neighborhood and is backed by federal, state and local funds. To gain necessary approvals, the number of units was reduced from 77 to 57, plans for duplexes were scrapped in favor of single-family townhomes, and a senior apartment building was reduced in size and relocated. But because the project has taken so long to break ground — unfolding over three presidential administrations — some of the funding may now be in peril. Gregory Hampson, PHA’s vice president for capital projects, told the zoning board on April 22 that inflation had caused a $5 million increase in the project’s budget. “If we do not [build] this project, we’re going to lose the $13 million Low Income Housing Tax Credit that we’ve been awarded,” he said. “And in light of some administrative changes that we’ve seen, we don’t know that this funding will ever come back.” The housing authority and its development partner, Pennrose, argue that further delay could kill the project, as tariff-driven inflation marches on and the Trump administration threatens further federal housing aid cuts.
Source: Philadelphia Inquirer; 5/5/2025