The Philadelphia Housing Authority’s (PHA) first purchase of a private, market-rate apartment building has produced uneven results, as residents of The Dane in Wynnefield report a rocky transition. Since 2025, PHA has spent $280.6 million to acquire 17 multifamily properties totaling 1,515 units as part of CEO Kelvin Jeremiah’s strategy to expand affordable housing by buying struggling buildings and introducing Section 8 voucher-holders alongside market-rate tenants. At the 233-unit Dane, about 86 tenants have moved out over the past year, roughly half the original occupants, amid complaints about trash pickup, maintenance delays, security concerns and communication issues following the troubled exit of former owner Cross Properties. While many residents say PHA is an improvement over prior management and note upgrades since Maryland-based operator HH Redstone took over in August, others — particularly unsubsidized renters — say they plan to leave, highlighting the challenges PHA faces as it pushes a high-profile, mixed-income expansion model.
Source: Philadelphia Inquirer; 2/20/2026