Asociación de Puertorriqueños en Marcha (APM), has begun the construction phase of “Jardines Preservation”. This project represents the second phase of preservation of affordable housing built by APM in North Philadelphia in 1995. APM’s first phase of preservation, known as “Camino Verde”, closed four and a half years ago and involved eleven town home buildings with a total of eighty units.
This phase will preserve 45 townhomes, 23 three-bedroom apartments, and 13 four-bedroom apartments, all of which are low income housing. RHLS Senior Staff Attorney Laura Schwartz and Staff Attorney Justin Hollinger are working on the project, which closed on its financing in early October.
All of Jardines Preservation is affordable to residents at or below 60% AMI, including fives homes affordable to those at 20% AMI, and the seventeen apartments whose residents will receive PHA Project Based Vouchers. The housing will undergo ‘gut rehabs’ including replacing all mechanical systems, flooring, kitchen and bathrooms, windows, roofing and installing energy efficient heating and A/C.
By the end of 2022, APM anticipates completing construction on 8th and Berks Senior Housing, “Camino de Oro”, for which RHLS also provides legal representation. This project will bring 44 brand new apartments to Eastern North Philadelphia on what was the last vacant parcel in the neighborhood.
Laura praised APM’s commitment to enabling families and seniors to remain in Eastern North Philadelphia. “At a time when there is a lot of focus on low income Philadelphians being displaced or priced-out of neighborhoods they have lived in, APM has kept or created 169 units that will enable families and seniors to remain in Eastern North Philadelphia with its proximity to Center City and access to transportation.”