Project Background
What YOU Need to Know
about the Sharswood/Blumberg Choice Neighborhoods Transformation Planning Process and Implementation.
Grant
The Philadelphia Housing Authority received a $500,000 Choice Neighborhoods Initiative (CNI) Planning Grant from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) focused on the Sharswood/Blumberg Neighborhood of Lower North Philadelphia.
In April of 2020, PHA received a $30 million CNI Implementation Grant from HUD to implement the Sharswood/Blumberg Transformation Plan.
Transformation Plan
The grant was used to develop a comprehensive Transformation Plan for the Sharswood/Blumberg Neighborhood, with strategies to improve the quality of life for local residents; including improved housing, better neighborhood conditions, increased health and safety, better education and career outcomes.
The plan was developed based on resident and partner input through Task Force working groups organized under the key plan elements of HOUSING, PEOPLE, and NEIGHBORHOOD.
HISTORY
For more information about the history of the development site, click here.
Implementation
Building off of the Transformation Plan, PHA received a HUD Choice Neighborhoods Implementation Grant in April of 2020. This grant allows for the realization of over $300 million worth of neighborhood, housing, and people pillar goals and strategies. This includes the creation of over 600 units of housing, encompassing the replacement of Blumberg public housing, low-income & market-rate rental, and workforce & market-rate homeownership units. Economic Development, public safety, neighborhood-focused items like a fully-realized Peace Park, Ridge Avenue Shopping Center, and small business incubator are also a part of the Implementation Grant. Residents of Blumberg Housing, as well as those of the surrounding community will have access to resources for improving education, health, and job preparedness via a number of new and continuing programs, centrally-located out of the Vaux Workforce Center.
Stay Connected
Keep checking back to see what is happening in your neighborhood, and how you can be a part of this effort. CLICK HERE to receive email or text message updates.