Success Story
CREATING A NICHE NEIGHBORHOOD ENVIRONMENT
Philadelphia, PA
Brownfields funding from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) helped finalize
assessments for the Hunter School Homes project in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, completing
the first step toward the development of 48 new housing units.
The EPA Assessment grant was
used to leverage financing for
the environmental investigation,
completing a critical first step for
the project.
EPA Brownfields funding
awarded to the state enabled
the remediation necessary for
investors to "sign off" on the
project.
38 units of the housing project
included subsidies to help make
them affordable to first-time home
buyers.
Morris Square Civic Association
leveraged more than $12.5 million
for redevelopment.
If!
Hunter Elementary School students and their parents see a changed
landscape as they walk to school in the Morris Square community. The
days of walking past abandoned and dilapidated lots are behind them; the
neighborhood surrounding the Hunter Elementary School has been revitalized,
with 48 new housing units in place of long-idle brownfields.
An area plagued by dilapidated and demolished housing is starting to see a
resurgence in growth as new housing and community amenities are developed
within the Morris Square neighborhood. This low-income, predominately
Puerto Rican and Latino community was in significant need of development to
provide new residential opportunities, and to enhance neighborhood amenities
such as parks and recreational areas. The newly located and opened Hunter
ITACTS: U.S. EPA Region 3 (215) 814-3303 or visit the EPA Brownfields Web site at: www.epa.gov/brownfields
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Elementary School along Howard Street is a project of
which the community is proud. However, it was clear
that the surrounding blocks needed to be revitalized in
order to make sure families felt safe accessing the new
school. The vacant, condemned lots on these blocks
had become targets for illegal dumping and vandalism,
and many parents felt compelled to escort their
children to school. In response, the Morris Square Civic
Association and the City of Philadelphia partnered to
assess these blighted parcels and develop a plan for
revitalizing the neighborhood.
In spring 2007, the Morris Square Civic Association
reached out to the City of Philadelphia's Department
of Commerce to discuss 144 properties that the
city's Redevelopment Authority assembled through
condemnation in the vicinity of the new school.
Former uses on this assembled site varied, including
demolished, former housing, but specific concern was
expressed about several parcels that were used as
metal fabricating and plating manufacturing facilities
from 1917 to 1976.
An EPA Brownfields Assessment Grant awarded in
2003 to the city funded an environmental study and a
site characterization study. The EPA funding, along with
a $23,000 Industrial Sites Grant from the state, served
as the required 25 percent match for federal Housing
and Urban Development (HUD) funding that had been
provided to support the new housing development
project. With some earlier environmental assessment
data available, the Site Characterization study was
completed in August 2007 and used to delineate how
much contamination was on site— including heavy
metals that needed to be removed before initiating
redevelopment. The City's Department of Commerce
requested assistance from the Pennsylvania
Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) for
remediation. DEP identified and helped secure EPA
Subtitle C funds for the project, and awarded $75,000
to the Morris Square Civic Association to remove and
dispose of impacted soils.
Led by the Morris Square Civic Association, this
redevelopment project leveraged more than $12.5
million from eight different sources for the development
of 48 units of housing. Investment partners included the
Federal Home Loan Bank (FHLB); the Office of Housing
and Community Development (OHCD) of the City of
Philadelphia; Philadelphia's Redevelopment Authority
(RDA); Pennsylvania's Housing Financing Authority
(PHFA); Pennsylvania Department of Community
and Economic Development (DCED); and a private
developer. These new residential units met an important
need for the community after seeing much of the area's
housing demolished over the years. Development of the
new housing units was completed in September 2009.
The Hunter School Home Ownership Program, run by
the Morris Square Civic Association, was established to
assist those new to home ownership. Much of this new
housing was also provided at a subsidized rate for new
residents.
In addition to subsidized housing options, the units
were built with some efficient amenities to help curb
both energy use and cost. Each unit has a metal roof
with a 50 year warranty. Additionally, the units have a
water management system which drains water from
the roof into a specially design basin at each unit. This
backyard irrigation filtration helps manage the costs of
sewer usage. Double insulated windows and energy
efficient lighting also help manage utility costs.
Other neighborhood businesses and investment
projects are also prospering from the new housing
development, as residents make use of the established
commercial and retail businesses located a block away
along Front Street. The Morris Square Civic Association
is now working on revitalizing the long-idle, local
community center, which will include an employment
and training center for neighborhood residents. Other
planned improvements to the community center include
a commercial kitchen, new meeting space, a basketball
court, a computer lab, and a theatre stage.
The Hunter School Homes project has already proven
itself as a keystone development that has leveraged
additional economic development and area-wide
revitalization, including eventual reuse of the local
community center and the rehabilitation of an area
playground.
Brownfields Success Story
Hunter Elementary School
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Solid Waste
and Emergency
Response (5105T)
EPA 560-F-12-011
March 2012
www. epa.gov/brownfields/
igion 3 (215) 814-3303
Brownfields Web site at: www.epa.gov/brownfields
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