Pennrose, a leader in multifamily development and management, has been selected by the Philadelphia Housing Authority (PHA) to redevelop Bartram Village in southwest Philadelphia.  The community-driven neighborhood redevelopment will include 600-800 mixed income units as part of a larger effort to revitalize Bartram Village and the surrounding Kingsessing neighborhood. WRT has been selected by Pennrose as Planning Coordinator to help facilitate planning efforts.

Bartram Village is one of only six projects nationwide to be awarded a Choice Neighborhood Initiative (CNI) Planning Grant from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and one of only three to receive the CNI Action Grant. Combined the $1.3 million in grants will go toward the planning and redevelopment of Bartram Village and the surrounding neighborhood.

HUD's Choice Neighborhoods Initiative promotes a comprehensive approach to transforming neighborhoods struggling to address the complex challenges presented by a combination of distressed housing, inadequate schools, poor health, high crime, and lack of investment. The goals of the program are to replace inadequate and distressed housing, improve outcomes for households living in the targeted area, and create conditions necessary for public and private reinvestment in distressed neighborhoods. 

“Revitalizing Bartram Village aligns with our mission to transform communities through the creation of safe, high quality housing,” said Timothy I. Henkel, principal and senior vice president of Pennrose. “We look forward to working closely with PHA and the community throughout the planning and development process to deliver a project that will best serve the individuals and families in the area.”

Bartram Village was built in 1942 as housing for defense workers in southwest Philadelphia. The current housing at the site lacks the amenities, layout, unit space, and energy efficiency needed in a 21st Century housing development. The 22 acre site currently includes approximately 500 units and is adjacent to Bartram's Garden, Philadelphia's leading access point for public recreation, with a recreation trail, urban farm and outdoor cultural programs.