The University of Pennsylvania has expanded its home-buying program out to 56th Street, according to the university’s Department of Home Ownership Services. The program is designed to entice full-time staff and faculty to live in West Philly.
The new western boundary will extend from 52nd Street to the east side of 56th from Market Street south to Paschall Avenue (see map below). The eastern boundary is unchanged, running along the Schuylkill River. The northern boundary runs along Haverford Avenue to 44th Street where it switches to Market Street. These are the first changes to the program, which provides a $7,500 forgivable loan toward the purchase or improvement of a home, since 2004.
The loan benefit also applies to employees of the University of Pennsylvania Health System.
The area shown in purple reflects the new boundaries of Penn’s housing loan plan.
September 16th, 2014 at 4:26 pm
I knew this day would come. Eventually, they will expand all the way to 60th St.
September 17th, 2014 at 2:37 pm
This is how i went to sleep in west philly one night and woke up in university city
September 18th, 2014 at 3:34 am
Expanding south is the bigger expansion in my opinion. Paschall Avenue is almost the southern boundary of Southwest Philly. No debate anymore. Almost all of Kingsessing is now part of Penn’s housing program. It’s now to the almost southern boundary of Kingsessing and three blocks away from the Delaware County border with that part of Southwest Philly. That’s no small expansion.
September 18th, 2014 at 10:55 am
Does this effect catchman areas?
September 18th, 2014 at 2:06 pm
As a lifelong resident of the new Western boundary , this is great news!I love it.
September 18th, 2014 at 2:24 pm
The boundaries include a small area east of the Schuylkill River. Thus, if you make your home at the Grays Ferry Avenue Trash Transfer Station or eat, work and sleep at the Pennovation Center, you will be able to take advantage of these attractive incentives.
September 18th, 2014 at 3:38 pm
Actually that little golf club shape at the, well, bottom is a residential neighborhood called Forgotten Bottom.