Timeline

Norris Homes III

Norris Homes III

September 10 Norris Homes III part of the North Central Choice development broke ground on 2000 block of North Marvine Street

Centennial Village

Centennial Village

Centennial Village on the 1700 block of N. 52nd Street provides 51 units of affordable housing and 7,227 square feet of commercial space.

2018

2018

PRA continues its role as a key financer, project manager, leader and expert in developing and maintaining land in the City of Philadelphia.

Marshall Street Workforce Housing

Marshall Street Workforce Housing

May 2017 On the 900 and 1000 blocks of Marshall Street, 13 single-family homes affordable to moderate-income households are complete.

Martin Luther King Older Adult Center

Martin Luther King Older Adult Center

April 2017 Martin Luther King Older Adult Center in central North Philadelphia opened. It has a 10,000 square foot building located on the corner of 21st Street and Cecil B. Moore Avenue.

Divine Lorraine Breaks ground

Divine Lorraine Breaks ground

September 8, 2015 PRA celebrates the ground breaking of the Divine Lorraine. PRA participated in the financing of the development by providing a loan and grant to support the historic building’s renovation.

2009

Congress passed American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA).

2008

2008

PRA begins Neighborhood Stabilization Program (NSP) to stabilize communities suffering from high rates of foreclosure and abandonment due to housing crisis.

2008

Congress passes Housing and Economic Recovery Act (HERA)

2001

Neighborhood Transformation Initiative (NTI) created to rebuild and restore Philadelphia’s neighborhoods. PRA issues three bonds to fund NTI totaling $296 million. NTI used for land assembly and condemnations, demolition, management information systems, housing and neighborhood preservation, and vacant property stabilization.

1995

Marriott Hotel expands into Reading Terminal HeadHouse, opening 210 rooms

1994

HeadHouse shed roof restored and converted into an entrance for the Pennsylvania Convention Center which opens a few years later.

1993

1993

PRA purchases Reading Terminal HeadHouse

1992

Mayor Ed Rendell implements an economic development plan focused on revitalizing the downtown core and promoting tourism.

1983

PRA starts the Home Mortgage Revenue Bond Program and continues its Home Improvement Loan Revenue Bond Program

1983

Develops One Reading Center at 10th and Market and Philadelphia Business Interport Complex in Eastwick totaling $130 million in construction costs.

1982

PRA sells revenue bonds and notes worth $43.8 million to finance low- and moderate-income apartments Citywide.

1980s

PRA continues to play key role in development of Market Street with construction of Gallery II (Market Street between 10th and 11th Street).

1977

PRA celebrates opening of Gallery, a four level mall. PRA completes exterior shell of the Gallery and the Rouse Company completed the interior to make way for 125 restaurants, retail shops and boutiques.

1976-1981

PRA engages in the disposition of properties for Vacant Property Review Committee. Authority sold 1,665 properties and provided 20 acres of vacant land in Urban Renewal Areas for community vegetable gardens.

1976

Office of Housing and Community Development (became the Division of Housing and Community Development in 2016) was created.  Programs such as the Federal Loan and Grant Rehabilitation program were transferred over resulting in a reduction of PRA staff.

1974

Federal Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) created.  The City received approximately $60 million in funding in 1974 with PRA’s share being $20-25 million.

1971

Began providing land to nonprofit developers or through the Philadelphia Housing Development Corporation (PHDC) a nonprofit agent of PRA.

1969

West Poplar 4, 1500 Market Street, Salvation Army, East Temple1, Washington Square West 2, University City 3 Unit B, Washington Square East 3, Haddington 1, Central Germantown

1968

Morton, College Avenue 3, Strawberry Mansion 1, Callowhill East, Southwest Central 2, Haddington 1, Sarah Allen Home

1967

Nicetown, University City Unit 3, University City Unit 5

1966 Projects

Port Richmond, University City Unit 4 Section A, West Poplar North Allen Sub Area 3, Franklin, University City Unit 4, Berean, Independence Mall Unit 4

1965 Mt. Olivet, West Mill Creek, Temple University Unit 5, Pratt Street, Washing Square West Unit 1, Whitman

1965 Mt. Olivet, West Mill Creek, Temple University Unit 5, Pratt Street, Washing Square West Unit 1, Whitman

1964 Independence Mall Unit 3

1963 Haddington Recreation Center

1961

Hartranft (Navy Housing), Southwest Temple URA1962, Washington Square East Unit 2, Independence Mall 1&2, St. Joseph’s Prep School, Univ. of Penn dormitory and triangle

1960

Temple campus quad, Morton, St. Luke’s Hospital, Drexel Institute, East Poplar URA, Abbotts Dairies

1960s

♦ PRA creates community relations department which sought out public approval and cooperation. ♦ PRA enforces non-discrimination policies in housing sales and rentals ♦ PRA efforts to integrate minority participation in construction labor force

1959 PRA growth

PRA had a staff of 128 carrying out a $328 million budget.

1959

Temple University dormitory, Washington Square East Unit 1, East Poplar “A” 4 and 5

1959 Started first public art program

1958

North Allen, Yorktown, Mill Creek Homes, Martha Washington Schoolyard, Eastwick

1957

Park Towne Place, St. Malachy’s Schoolyard, Norris II Homes, University 1&2, Wister School Yard

1956

Jefferson Manor, Food Distribution Center

1955

Harrison School Yard, Wanamaker School, Cambridge Plaza Homes, Temple University Dormitory

1954 Federal Housing Act

Enabled cities to apply for federal funds for the prevention and eradication of slums.:  slum clearance (31 percent), residential rehabilitation (25 percent) and industrial and commercial renewal (33 percent)

1953 Harrison Plaza Homes

1953 Harrison Plaza Homes

1952

Spring Garden Homes, University of Pennsylvania Physics Building

1951 Penn Towne

Broke ground on first Title I project in country.

1950 Friends Self Help Coop

1950s PRA Major Acquisition Projects

PRA engaged in 28 major acquisition projects amounting to $84.67 million and 2,648 acres of land.

1949 Establishes Relocation Office

First renewal agency in nation to establish a relocation office

1949 Federal Housing Act Creates Title I

Obligated government to subsidize difference between cost of preparing a site for redevelopment and its current market value. Impacts PRA’s role, core business and portfolio for decades.

1945 Philadelphia Redevelopment Authority

1945 Philadelphia Redevelopment Authority

Created as the City’s urban renewal agency.

1945 Urban Renewal Law

May 24, adopted by Commonwealth of PA