Federal Grant Awarded For Development In North Central Philadelphia
By Jim Melwert
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- Philadelphia has won a federal grant from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development worth tens of millions for development in North Philadelphia near Temple University.
City officials expect to leverage the $30-million from the Choice Neighborhoods grant into $125-million, money they say will create 600 construction jobs, 300 permanent jobs, and 300 new or renovated homes in a half-square mile area from Cecil B. Moore to York Street east of North Broad Street.
"This is the federal government making an investment in a plan designed here in Philadelphia to take some of the citizens who have been in the shadows and move them into the sunshine," says congressman Chaka Fattah.
The development continues where modern townhouses and walk-ups replace the high-rise Norris Apartment projects. Jenine Bryon, acting assistant secretary of HUD's public and Indian housing, says the area has a lot going for it.
"This area has tremendous strength, including Temple University, a regional rail station, new development along North Broad Street, and recent mixed-income housing development," Bryon says. "Not only do we want families to have access to quality, affordable housing, we want to make sure that this housing succeeds by complementing it with other critical assets."
Philadelphia is one of only three cities to win the grant.
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