Comments by Rojer Kern
Former Executive Director
West Poplar Community Development Corporation

West Poplar is in one of the oldest residential sections of Philadelphia. Formerly this area relied exclusively on manufacturing for jobs and economic activity. However, as time went on, industry went away and homeowners quickly followed. We were left with a desert of vacant land, where buildings once stood, and public-housing projects, such as the Richard Allen Homes, which failed in terms of providing safe, affordable housing. (In 2000, the Philadelphia Housing Authority demolished most of the Richard Allen Homes-low-rise apartment buildings from 1953-which will be replaced by a new community of less densely developed twin homes and social-service facilities.)

Today, I see hope everywhere I look. In 1995, we identified one of the largest needs for the community: affordable housing. We applied for a Nehemiah grant (competitively awarded, special funding from the federal government), and soon we were building the Nehemiah townhouses. There are now 187 completed homes. All of them are twin houses with three bedrooms, purchased by first-time home buyers. Many of these buyers were returning to the neighborhood after moving away. Everyone who buys a house must agree to pay $100 per year dues to our homeowners' association. A covenant protects the uniformity, appearance, and cleanliness of the neighborhood and restricts the type of activities that can occur. The residents feel extremely satisfied, especially because they have seen the market value of their homes rise in the last few years.

Our next project is the Alfonso Deal Housing Development. (The late Mr. Deal was a retired police officer and the state representative from this neighborhood.) We plan to start construction of 129 townhouses similar to those of the Nehemiah project. In addition, the Philadelphia Housing Authority has demolished two high-rise apartment structures from the 1960s that will be replaced with townhouse-like developments. Considered together, these projects are key to the growing success of this neighborhood.

Other wonderful things are happening. The Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority is modernizing and reactivating the streetcar line on Girard Avenue, our principal commercial corridor, which itself is showing positive signs of development. One of the city's prestigious "magnet" schools (the Franklin Learning Center) has decided to relocate to this neighborhood. Goldman Properties, nationally known for neighborhood revival, has bought properties along Broad Street for redevelopment. On all sides, public and private money is flowing into this neighborhood, and there is an overall optimistic feeling about our future. Thinking ahead five or ten years, I can imagine the successes that will surround us on all sides. In the end, they can be attributed to the initial community-driven plan to revitalize and save the West Poplar neighborhood.