EPA Mid-Atlantic Region | Brownfields Program | Success Story
A Successfu
Paseo Verde S
Gre
North Philadelphia, PA
The former coal yard consists of approximately 2 acres
of land formerly used as a parking lot. The property
operated as a coal yard between 1895 and 1980. The
site lies at the corner of 9th and Berks Streets. Rede-
velopment was a joint venture between the nonprofit
community organization Asociacion de Puertorrique-
nos en Marcha and Jonathan Rose Companies and
broke ground in spring 2012 to become Paseo Verde
apartments in 2013.
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The site was assessed using $200,000 in EPA grant awarded to the City of Philadelphia.. In
2010, lead and mercury were detected in the soil and 221
«	tons of impacted soil was excavated and properly disposed
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'Norrisst
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torris St
Whit
wis St
to meet residential statewide health standards. The site was
decontaminated prior to construction.
Pharmacy of America ^
IV - N. 9th Street # -
Temple University Q i Paseo Verde Apartments
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Location of site at 9th and Berks Streets along SEPTA Regional Rail Line
Berks St
1 f |
00
^ Berks*-
Leveraged Resources
The project utilized a combination of financing from federal,
state, city and foundation sources, including US Treasury New
Market Tax Credits; Philadelphia Housing Finance Agency Low
Income Housing Tax Credits; Federal Home Loan Bank AHP
program; Office of Housing and Community Development
(OHCD) HOME and Housing Trust Fund programs; and the
Pennsylvania Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program.
More than 550 construction workers helped redevelop this
site.
EPA Grant Recipient: Citv of Phila-
delphia
Year Awarded: 2010
Grant Tvoes: Assessment
Former Uses: Coal Yard
Current Uses: Apartment Complex
and Commercial Space

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EPA Mid-Atlantic Region | Brownfields Program | Success Story
Behind the Transformation
Current Use Features
Meaning "green way" in Spanish, Paseo Verde's green
and sustainable design became the first project in the
country to earn LEED Platinum for Neighborhood De-
velopment certification from the U.S. Green Building
Council.
Transit-orierited housing adjacent to SEPTA station
Community Benefit
Contacts For Further Information: EPA Project
Officer Joe Nowak (SSIowak.Joseph@epa.gov)
and John Haak from City of Philadelphia.
With easy access to major bus routes, the 2-acre parcel of
land is adjacent to the Temple University Train Station,
the fourth busiest stop in the regional transit system. The
206,000 square foot building consists of 70 market-rate
and affordable units, and 30,000 square feet of commer-
cial and community service space with nearly 70 parking spaces.
The building features energy efficient and water saving architec-
tural design, such as green and blue roofs, efficient mechanical
systems, ENERGY STAR-rated appliances and fixtures, and for-
maldehyde-free materials to enhance indoor air quality. Also,
comprehensive storm water management system will help re-
duce energy use. Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commis-
sion awarded the Regional Excellence Award and Regional Land
Use Project of the Year in 2013. The building also earned the
Pennsylvania Award for Architectural Excellence.
Environmentally sensitive features include green and
blue roofs, designed to retain and slowly release rainfall
to urban storm drains, permeable paving, water gardens
to retain and
manage water,
solar panels, and the use of local, recyclable and renewa-
ble materials.

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