On February 8, 2023 Catholic Housing and Community Services of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia (CHCS) broke ground for Father Augustus Tolton Place, a new affordable community for independent seniors in the Eastwick section of Southwest Philadelphia.
Father Augustus Tolton Place will consist of 45 one-bedroom apartments for income eligible seniors aged 62 and older. Features of the building will include a community room, food cupboard, laundry facilities, and on-site social services to assist residents with various needs as they age in place within their community.
In 2021, the Father Augustus Tolton Place development was awarded with a tax credit allocation of approximately $11.5 million by the Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency (PHFA) and is partnering with RBC Capital Markets and BNY Mellon for financing of the development. PHFA also provided funds through the Pennsylvania Housing Affordability and Rehabilitation Enhancement (PHARE) Fund and the Construction Cost Relief Program. Father Augustus Tolton Place development also received assistance from the City of Philadelphia, Federal Home Loan Bank of Pittsburgh Affordable Housing Program Funds, and a rental subsidy from the Philadelphia Housing Authority. Construction on the $17.7 million development began in early February 2023. The goal is for the entire project to be complete and open by April 2024.
Father Augustus Tolton (April 1, 1854 – July 9, 1897), was the first Catholic priest in the United States publicly known to be Black.
To learn more about CHCS, please visit https://chcsphiladelphia.org/.
Information from Archdiocese of Philadelphia Press Release