Development delivers 51 units of 100% affordable senior housing to Philadelphia's Chinatown neighborhood

Pennrose, Philadelphia Chinatown Development Corporation (PCDC), and project partners celebrated the grand opening of Man An House, delivering 51 high-quality, 100% affordable senior housing units at the corner of 9th and Vine Streets in Philadelphia's Chinatown neighborhood. The development transforms a previously underutilized surface parking lot into much-needed affordable housing for seniors 62 and older with the support of the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) program.

Speakers at the ceremony included: Jacob Fisher, Regional Vice President, Pennrose, LLC; John Chin, Executive Director, Philadelphia Chinatown Development Corporation; Margaret Chin, Board Chair, Philadelphia Chinatown Development Corporation; Lulu Chui, Resident of Man An House; Jessie Lawrence, Director of Planning & Development, City of Philadelphia; Councilmember Mark Squilla, District 1, Philadelphia City Council; Robin Wiessmann, Executive Director, Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency; Lindsey Samsi, Regional Vice President, Pennrose, LLC; Stephen Briggs, Vice President of Community Impact, Wells Fargo; and Timothy I. Henkel, Chief Executive Officer & Partner, Pennrose.

Located in a five-story midrise building, Man An House’s 51 units include a mix of studio, one-, and two-bedroom apartments. All units are available for seniors at 20% to 60% of the area median income (AMI), about $430 to $1,290 for a one-person household. The building is designed with accessibility in mind, with 10% of the units outfitted for residents with physical disabilities or hearing and vision impairments.

“After years of collaboration and community engagement, we are proud to celebrate the completion of a critical milestone in Chinatown’s ongoing revitalization,” said Jacob Fisher, regional vice president at Pennrose. “Man An House provides local seniors with critical housing and supportive services, while honoring the rich cultural identify of this vibrant neighborhood.”

 “There is no greater feeling than knowing that Man An House is delivering benefits to seniors in our community,” said John Chin, Executive Director of PCDC. “Plus, this project fills in the last vacant parcel on the block, increasing safety and improving connectivity for pedestrians in Chinatown.”

The energy-efficient apartments feature modern kitchens, open floor plans, spacious closets, and central A/C. In addition to the brand-new apartments, residents will have access to robust on-site community amenities, including an inviting community room, outdoor courtyard, fitness center, laundry facilities, professionally landscaped grounds, and on-site property management. The sustainable development was designed and constructed to meet Enterprise Green Communities standards and will receive ENERGY STAR Certification.

Residents are within walking distance to neighborhood retail, social, health, and recreation services. An important component of the development is the delivery of on-site supportive services to help seniors age in-place comfortably and live full, satisfying lives. A dedicated Community Impact Coordinator, hired from within the local community, will plan intergenerational events and programming for residents and the surrounding neighborhood, ensuring Man An House is integrated seamlessly within the neighborhood while providing tailored resources and services. The community is located in the heart of Chinatown, situated between Chinatown’s thriving residential and commercial district, and Franklin Square Park. At 9^th and Vine Streets, residents are steps away from amenity-rich Chinatown, Franklin Square Park, Independence Mall, and local transportation.

“Man An House is about more than just addressing the housing crisis for low income and rent burdened seniors,” added Marsha Blunt, president at Pennrose Management Company. “Our goal is to provide a supportive-rich living environment that will empower seniors and benefit the entire neighborhood.”  

Previously owned by the Philadelphia Redevelopment Authority, the site is located in an Opportunity Zone and is part of the Center City Redevelopment Area. Working in conjunction with PCDC, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that addresses the needs of urban renewal and affordable housing development in Chinatown, the design draws from traditional and authentic Chinese symbols to ensure the building is well suited to the neighborhood.

Man An House addresses the critical need for high-quality, affordable housing in Philadelphia, where more than 59,000 households are on the waitlist for affordable housing. Seniors, many of whom live on a fixed income, are especially vulnerable in the affordable housing crisis and at risk of being priced out of the neighborhoods they call home. According to the Philadelphia Corporation for Aging, 42% of seniors in the city are living below the poverty level.

Financing for Man An House includes tax credit equity from Wells Fargo, generated from 9% Low-Income Housing Tax Credits from the Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency (PHFA); RACP funds from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania; Affordable Housing Productions funds from FHLBank Pittsburgh; and a subordinate loan and permanent debt from PHFA.

Headquartered in Philadelphia, Pennrose is active across the tri-state area and throughout the country. The organization is also currently developing Sharswood Crossing III, the final phase of the Philadelphia Housing Authority’s Sharswood/Blumberg Transformation Plan, and Good Shepherd, a senior affordable housing community in West Philadelphia’s Overbrook neighborhood.