Under New Leadership, Women’s Community Revitalization Project Advances Affordable Housing on Public Land in Kensington
PHILADELPHIA — The Women’s Community Revitalization Project (WCRP) is moving forward with significant plans to develop new apartment units on publicly owned land in Kensington. This initiative marks one of the first major expansion efforts under the organization’s new executive leadership, signaling a renewed aggressive strategy to combat the city’s affordable housing crisis through the utilization of the Philadelphia Land Bank.
Deep Dive: The Development Strategy
The development hinges on the acquisition of vacant parcels designated as public land, a resource that housing advocates have long argued is underutilized. By securing these lots, WCRP intends to leverage the Community Land Trust (CLT) model. Under this structure, the land remains community-owned in perpetuity, removing it from the speculative real estate market. This ensures that the apartments developed will remain permanently affordable for low-income tenants, specifically targeting women and their families who are being priced out of the rapidly gentrifying river wards.
The shift in leadership at WCRP appears to be catalyzing a faster approach to land disposition. While the organization has historically been a slow-and-steady builder, the current administration is prioritizing the immediate conversion of blight into housing stock, utilizing Low-Income Housing Tax Credits (LIHTC) and city subsidies to make the financing pencil out against rising construction costs.
Background: A Neighborhood in Transition
Kensington acts as the backdrop for this high-stakes development. Once a heavy industrial hub, the neighborhood has faced decades of disinvestment and currently struggles with the open-air narcotics trade that has garnered national attention. However, geographically, it sits in the path of development spilling over from Fishtown and Northern Liberties.
Founded over three decades ago, WCRP has established itself as a cornerstone for housing justice in Philadelphia, specifically focusing on the needs of low-income women. The organization’s history is rooted in converting abandoned properties into safe havens, yet the current economic landscape of Philadelphia poses different challenges than those of the 1990s. With land values in Kensington rising despite social challenges, the window to secure public land for public good is narrowing.
Objections and Challenges
Despite the clear need for housing, the project faces complex hurdles. Critics of the city’s current land disposition process argue that the transfer of public land is often mired in bureaucratic red tape, delaying construction by years. There is frequent friction between nonprofit developers and the Philadelphia Land Bank regarding the pace of title transfers.
Furthermore, community reaction in Kensington regarding new developments is often mixed. While there is broad support for affordability, some local civic associations have historically expressed concerns regarding the concentration of poverty. Objections often arise regarding density and parking, with long-time residents fearing that new multi-unit apartment buildings will strain already limited street infrastructure. Additionally, safety concerns remain paramount; prospective tenants would be moving into areas that are currently heavily impacted by the opioid crisis, raising questions about whether the city is providing adequate social services alongside the new physical infrastructure.
