Groundbreaking Held for New S.W. Phila. Housing Project
The Philadelphia Housing Authority broke ground today for a major townhouse construction project in a Southwest Philadelphia neighborhood.
KYW's Mark Abrams reports that it's called Paschall Village, and it's located at 72nd Street and Paschall Avenue, on the site of the former Paschall Apartments, which were demolished this past spring.
The $38-million project will feature 100 townhouse rental units, 20 of which will be handicapped accessible.
Housing Authority executive director Carl Greene (right) said more than $13 million in federal stimulus money is being applied to the project because of its "green energy" component:
"We're using solar panels and a solar hot water provision, and the provision of geo-thermal technology for heating and cooling."
Greene says he expects those features will save residents about 50 percent on the cost of heating and cooling their homes.
He says the first units should be ready for occupancy by the fall of 2011.
(Photos by KYW's Mark Abrams)