West Philly Apartment Building Brings 40 Affordable Units to Gentrifying Area

The government-backed development will open in a couple months and offer units affordable to low-income families.

Published on Feb. 12, 2026

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A new 40-unit apartment building in West Philadelphia's Mantua neighborhood is expected to open in the next couple months, providing affordable housing options for low-income families. The development, which was built with the help of low-income housing tax credits, will offer a mix of one-, two-, and three-bedroom units affordable to households earning between 20% and 60% of the area median income.

Why it matters

The new affordable housing development is significant for the Mantua neighborhood, which has been experiencing gentrification and rising housing costs. The project aims to ensure that lower-income residents can continue to afford to live in the area.

The details

The apartment building was built on a dozen parcels of land that were effectively donated through the Philadelphia Land Bank. The site had been vacant for over a decade. Under the federal housing program, the units must remain affordable for a 15-year compliance period, after which the land will be bought out and owned by the Mt. Vernon Manor CDC with a 99-year lease.

  • The ribbon-cutting ceremony for the project was held on Wednesday, February 12, 2026.
  • The building is expected to officially open in at least two months.

The players

HopePHL

A nonprofit organization that helped develop the affordable housing project.

Mt. Vernon Manor CDC

A community development corporation that will own the land the apartment building is on after the initial 15-year compliance period.

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What they’re saying

“The preference here would be that [residents are] of the community.”

— Kathy Desmond, President of HopePHL (whyy.org)

What’s next

The building is expected to officially open for residents in at least two months after the ribbon-cutting ceremony.

The takeaway

This affordable housing development in West Philadelphia's Mantua neighborhood is an important step in ensuring that lower-income residents can continue to afford to live in the area as it undergoes gentrification and rising housing costs.