Timeline
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 on the 1700 block of N. 52nd Street provides 51 units of affordable housing and 7,227 square feet of commercial space.
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
Created as the City’s urban renewal agency.
1945 Urban Renewal Law
May 24, adopted by Commonwealth of PA