Regional Housing Legal Services’ Staff Attorney Joseph Jampel recently completed the financial closing with the Women’s Community Revitalization Project (WCRP) for their development of “Arlene Thorpe Townhomes” in the Grays Ferry section of Philadelphia. This is Phase 2 of the Mamie Nichols project. There will be twenty-seven new homes constructed and maintained by WCRP. They will have one to three bedrooms.
WCRP will offer supportive services for the clients who live there as well as acting as property managers. They provide these supportive services to tenants as part of their mission to assist women to achieve greater economic security. By operating both the supportive services and property management, the two teams can work together to assist tenants if they have issues such as housekeeping or rental delinquencies. WCRP mission includes “engaging tenants in leadership development opportunities intended to build personal, and community resources.”
“WCRP is not afraid to take on complicated developments involving scattered sites, a community land trust, and housing for the most vulnerable,” said Joseph Jampel. “It is a privilege to provide the legal counsel to work through these complexities and enable this much-needed affordable housing to become a reality.”
Fifteen years after the development is Placed in Service, and after the investor limited partner has
exited the partnership, tenants will be offered an opportunity to purchase their homes. Any
purchased homes will no longer be owned or managed by WCRP. However, a tenant can refuse the offer and will not be evicted.
The Women’s Community Revitalization Project (WCRP) was established in 1986 as Philadelphia’s first and only women-led community development organization. With a particular focus on low-income women and their families, WCRP strives to increase equity through the development of affordable housing, the provision of supportive services, and robust political advocacy work.