The Habitat for Humanity project starts to fill in the gap along a Reno St. rowhouse block. (Photos by Tony West)

Work has begun to create new affordable housing in West Philadelphia on four lots at 40th and Reno in Mantua, in a project by Habitat for Humanity Philadelphia. Part of Habitat’s strategy: free land and labor.

Habitat for Humanity is a worldwide nonprofit organization, now 48 years old, whose mission is to build or repair homes that low-income people will own. This development began with four vacant lots that had been picked up by the Philadelphia Land Bank. Habitat Philadelphia worked with Mantua Civic Association and Councilmember Jamie Gauthier to acquire them for 3-bedroom owner occupancy houses.

“Volunteerism is a key part of the method, recruiting corporate partners as well as homeowners,” said Habitat spokesperson Adam McGrath. On a day last week two dozen workers from Children’s Hospital and Gilbane Building Co. joined Habitat crew to assemble the framing for exterior walls, a task that will keep them busy the rest of September.

Homebuyers’ income must be 80 percent or less of the area median. They must be first-time buyers. They will go through at least eight months of education and support to ensure they will be ready and successful. In the meantime, their homes should be ready by spring. They will fill gaps in a once blighted rowhouse block.

Neighbors Dinichia Jones and Althea Rich were pleased to see the burst of new construction. “It’s looking good,” said Rich.

Habitat is not alone on this mission. Mantua has seen a burst of new residential construction on vacant lots by many developers since its inclusion in the West Philadelphia Promise Zone in 2017. The Promise Zone encompasses the land between Sansom St., 48th St. and Girard Ave. Recently built housing offers a range of affordable and market-rate properties. And look for more: Gauthier got Council to release 56 other Land Bank lots this month alone.

– Tony West

Volunteers from Gilbane Building Co. and CHOP pitch in with Habitat leaders.

Ready, set . . . up goes a wall.

Habitat Philadelphia spokesperson Adam McGrath explains the project to 40th St. neighbors Althea Rich and Dinichia Jones.

West Philadelphia Promise Zone is designed to encourage diverse redevelopment in a 2-square-mile area.