Habitat for Humanity’s approach to neighborhood revitalization is a long-term, holistic strategy that supports residents to improve the quality of life in under-resourced communities.
In 2018, we began a five-year initiative in the Sharswood neighborhood in Lower North Philadelphia, partnering with existing neighborhood organizations and leaders to ensure our work was driven by those with lived experience.
By the end of the pilot in 2023, the Sharswood community saw measurable improvements in the areas of housing, neighborhood amenities, health and economic opportunities.
Located north of Center City and east of rapidly developing Brewerytown, Sharswood has a rich history as the heart of Philadelphia’s Black community – once home to many notable artists, activists and the city’s thriving boxing scene.
Since the 1960s, Sharswood had been defined by systemic disinvestment, with the former Norman Blumberg Apartments – a public housing development comprised of 500 units across multiple buildings – becoming a symbol of failed planning and an obstacle to neighborhood renewal.
In 2015, the Philadelphia Housing Authority (PHA), in partnership with nearly two dozen neighborhood organizations, including Habitat Philadelphia, embarked on the comprehensive Sharswood Blumberg Transformation Plan with seed funding from the federal Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Choice Neighborhood Initiative and a Low Income Housing Tax Credit from the Pennsylvania Housing and Financy Agency (PHFA)
Now, after 10 years and $750 million invested in housing, neighborhood and people, Sharswood has become a community of choice – with less violent crime, fewer people living in poverty and a more economically and racially diverse population. This large-scale transformation has yielded more than 1,400 homes and included a grocery store, school, bank and urgent care being brought to the neighborhood.
A key focus of our neighborhood revitalization work in Sharswood was to invest directly into neighborhood services and leadership development.
Alongside the Brewerytown Sharswood Neighborhood Civic Association, Habitat Philadelphia co-convened the Brewerytown Sharswood Neighborhood Coalition in 2018.
Through intentional relationship building and collaboration, the Coalition successfully brought residents together to act collectively upon the hopes and dreams they envisioned for their community. It now operates independently.
Repairs and upgrades to Haven Peniel Methodist Church and United Missionary Baptist Church
Ongoing clean-up activities and resource-sharing throughout the neighborhood
In addition to building up organizing and advocacy efforts in Sharswood, we also delivered a concentration of affordable, safe homes through new construction and critical repairs.
More than 120 homes were stabilized through free home repairs, with 50 of those homes receiving exterior safety packages to illuminate streets.
Four rehabilitated homes have been sold to first-time buyers in partnership with Benchmark Development Group.
built and sold by Habitat Philadelphia
Overall, we have invested more than $10 million in the Sharswood community since 2015. What have we learned?
Residents know their neighborhood’s unique challenges and opportunities. We must listen to the community’s priorities and build on their strengths, leveraging our resources and partnerships to meaningfully improve quality of life.
A primary lesson from our five-year intervention is that, while our efforts did improve conditions across Sharswood, we can do more to center racial equity in our outcomes and help build the power of communities to address inequitable systems.
Our future work in Neighborhood Revitalization will build upon the lessons learned in Sharswood. When we focus on systems, prioritize community needs and commit to authentic relationships, we create meaningful and lasting change.