Ware said these homes are larger than the nine he built on Susquehanna in 2011. All of those, built where a notorious drug and violence infested public housing unit once stood, sold immediately—some even before they were finished.
Peduto praised Building United for its commitment and thanked the staff at the URA for assisting in both this and the Susquehanna Street developments.
“I wanted to be here to take some of the credit for—instead of giving money to some out of town developer—finding the people right here who can create opportunities for people to own their own property, and for creating the partnerships we didn’t before with the faith-based community,” he said. “It’s happening here, right now.”
Peduto and Burgess both said they want to put 150 houses in Homewood in the next three to five years and that Building United should be part of that effort.
“There’s going to be so much investment here in the next few years, and it’s all because of people like this,” Peduto said.
Burgess said he and the mayor hope to make an announcement soon on major development coming to the community, and that none of it would be possible had not Building United taken that leap of faith.
“These houses are spectacular. I’m excited about this,” he said. “The mayor and I have been talking about investing in building united. I will do everything I can do to provide money—real dollars—to Building United to continue this great work. And I’m excited that the mayor has said he will put the weight of his administration behind development in Homewood.”
Ware said these homes sold for $135,000, but that was only possible because they got $1.4 million from the Pennsylvania Housing Finance Association, which allowed them to acquire the property, demolish structures clear and clean the land, and do design work.
“The result is we’re selling houses for $135,000 that cost $235,000,” he said. “And for people in the right income bracket, there’s a $50,000 second (vanishing) mortgage. So those individuals are paying on an $85,000 mortgage—you can’t rent for that price.”
Ware said he was pleased to hear the mayor and councilman commit to having Building United take some part in developing those 150 houses.
“We’re reviving the tax base, reducing crime and beautifying the neighborhood, so it’s to city’s advantage to do so. The market is changing. People who 10 years ago wouldn’t have bought a house in Homewood now will and are happy to have it,” he said. “We’re also hoping to get into building rental properties—duplexes and triplexes—the mayor likes that idea because, with the influx of people from Google and the hospitals there’s a need for quality rental housing. And our proximity to the busway is a real asset.”
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