Healthy Neighborhoods

What is "Healthy Neighborhoods"?

"Healthy Neighborhoods" was created by NeighborhoodsNow to strengthen Philadelphia's moderate to middle-income neighborhoods essential to the economic health and social fabric of the city. Neighborhoods "in the middle" are vital to Philadelphia's future.

During Phase I, six neighborhoods received funding to implement small improvement projects developed by CDCs, partner organizations and those who live and work in the neighborhoods. Together the participating organizations and residents worked with NeighborhoodsNow to diagnose what's working and what's not and then developed plans or approaches to preserve and revitalize their neighborhoods. Healthy Neighborhoods focused on preserving market confidence through investment and strategic physical improvements such as improving gateways into neighborhoods, urban greening, lighting and mural arts. During this phase more than $2.8 million was raised to support the demonstration, including $2.1 million that CDCs secured to support neighborhood activities.

In Phase II, we are collaborating with the city of Philadelphia and others to focus more attention and resources on moderate-to middle-income neighborhoods that are at risk of disinvestment. While these are areas that can be characterized as relatively stable and steady, they also had some of the highest percentages of residential foreclosure filings between 2000 and 2006. Modest foreclosure-related investments along with neighborhood strengthening activities should help to stabilize and improve existing residential property values. The new program is called "Vital Neighborhoods." News about the management of the program by the city's Office of Housing and Community Development (OHCD) will be announced in early 2010 and a new report about the neighborhoods will be released.

Key Goals

Phase I focused on three main program goals:

  1. Restore market confidence through investment and strategic physical improvements such as improving gateways into neighborhoods, urban greening projects, lighting, and mural arts.

  2. Build or contribute to wealth creation for residents in target neighborhoods, primarily through restoration of homeowner equity and encouraging home investment.

  3. Strengthen and enhance the social fabric of target neighborhoods by supporting existing neighborhood organizations and community-building activities. Activities could include community arts events, safety initiatives, and youth programs.

Roundtable Examines Urban Middle-Income Neighborhoods' Value and Why They Are Vital to City's Economic Stability and Success


Dwight Evans, State Representative 203rd Legislative District and Marian Tasco, Councilwoman, Ninth District, City of Philadelphia. Photo: Mark Garvin

The City of Philadelphia Commerce Department and NeighborhoodsNow co-hosted a Roundtable (Feb 5-6) that brought together some of the nation's leading experts in neighborhood revitalization. Speakers and panels discussed the importance of Philadelphia's "vital neighborhoods," including best practices in other cities and in Philadelphia, possible tactics, strategies, and challenges.

"These middle market neighborhoods are key to Philadelphia's vitality," stated State Representative Dwight Evans in a panel discussion. "They are the backbone of our city and steps must be taken to ensure we maintain a strong middle-income population in Philadelphia."

NeighborhoodsNow would like to thank all of its Roundtable presenters and participants and the Vital Neighborhoods Advisory Committee. View the meeting agenda. [18K PDF]

More information and the presentations given at this event.


An Innovative Collaboration

MLK Design Day of Service: Working with the Community Design Collaborative and Fairmount CDC, NeighborhoodsNow brought design professionals, local business owners, and residents together on this national service holiday. rDream addressed several elements of the neighborhood's appearance—its housing, stores and shared open spaces. The goal of the event, according to Diane-Louise Wormley, deputy director of NeighborhoodsNow, was to help make the neighborhood of Poplar-Girard more vibrant and attractive, improve existing property, and help "elevate neighborhood pride." Read more about the MLK Design Day of Service from the February 10, 2008 Philadelphia Inquirer article, "Community brainstorming: A design collaborative brings professionals and residents together to make it all happen."


Community-Based Partners

The following six "Healthy Neighborhoods" received funding from NeighborhoodsNow:

Fairmount CDC improved the image, built environment and resident support network of its target area, comprised of the blocks of Girard to Poplar in the northernmost section of the Fairmount neighborhood, and adjacent to Fairmount Park, Girard College, and Brewerytown. Activities included creating neighborhood design guidelines to increase private investment, completing greening and beautification projects on blocks and vacant properties, and developing marketing tools to promote the diversity (particularly its budding arts community) in the area.

Inter-Community Development Corporation enhanced the positive image of the Cedarbrook Community, located East of Mt. Airy and just South of the Cheltenham Township town line. Efforts included undertaking neighborhood and public space greening, streetscape projects, improving the "gateway" into the neighborhood, and providing financial education and tools to support property owners wanting to invest in their own homes.

The Enterprise Center Community Development Corporation and Walnut Hill Civic Association worked to strengthen the Walnut Hill section of Philadelphia (5100 blocks of Ludlow, Chancellor, Sansom, and Irving) by improving the neighborhood identity. Efforts included providing standardized pedestrian level lighting, conducting energy home assessments, and undertaking streetscape tree plantings.

New Kensington Community Development Corporation concentrated on beautification projects in the Fishtown community, including creating a greenway along Columbia Avenue; completing the revitalization of a children's park; encouraging neighborhood leadership in block beautification and hosting container gardening workshops.

Partnership CDC and Carroll Park Community Council focused on neighborhood identify by designing and hanging banners that welcome residents and visitors to Carroll Park; and developed a lighting alternative for residential pole lights.

People's Emergency Center Community Development Corporation and Saunders Park Neighbors built on the tradition of community-based planning to create neighborhood design guidelines to increase private investment in Saunders Park from 38th to 40th and Lancaster to Powelton Avenues. Attention was paid to gateways, public space beautification, neighborhood identity and home maintenance projects.

For more about the Healthy Neighborhoods Program, download "Healthier Neighborhoods: A Solution for Stemming the Loss of Philadelphia's Middle-Income Residents" [289K PDF]