©2006 The Chestnut Hill Local

Mt. Airy USA and city bring new, affordable housing to Montana Street
by JENNIFER KATZ

First-time homebuyer Alethea Head and her son Russ Klavon stand in the kitchen on their new home on Montana Street. (Photos courtesy of Mount Airy USA)

For 30 years the half-acre lot at the northwestern end of the 200 block of West Montana Street stood vacant. Developers came and went until finally in 2002 the community development organization Mt. Airy USA purchased the land for $80,000. Through a collaborative effort with the City of Philadelphia’s Office of Housing and Community Development, 11 town homes have been built for low- to moderate-income, first-time homebuyers. Two of the units were built to accommodate owners with disabilities: one is wheelchair accessible, and the other is equipped for an individual with hearing or vision impairment.

“This development is for working families,” said Mt. Airy USA’s Executive Director Farah Jimenez. “A lot of people think of affordable housing in terms of welfare recipients.”

Funded through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s American Dream Down Payment Initiative and administered through the city, buyers must meet federal income guidelines to purchase the town homes. An individual must make no more than an annual income of $40,400 while a family of four must earn less than $57,700 to qualify, according to program guidelines.

“We wanted to create homeownership opportunities for people with limited options for new construction,” said Jimenez. “A lot of new construction in the city is geared toward the luxury market right now.”

New homeowners cutt the ribbon, from left to right: Alethea Head, Sylvia Walton and Miriam Boddy-Davis at the June 28 ceremony marking the completion of the construction phase of the new Montana Street town home development.

One such homebuyer, Alethea Head, found the Montana Street homes on the Internet while researching affordable housing in the city. She said was excited that the town homes were brand new, providing low maintenance and energy efficient homeownership. Head put down the $1,000 deposit in November and plans to settle on her new home over the summer.

Head was at the official ribbon cutting ceremony late last week, getting her first look at her new home. “I was really, really impressed,” she said. “I really liked the kitchen area, the walk in closet in the master bedroom and all the modern appliances.”

Designed by Cecil Baker & Associates, the homes measure 1,244 square feet and include an open front porch, front driveway, red brick exterior and small rear yard. The interiors contain modern kitchens with butter colored cabinetry and blonde hardwood floors on the first floor. The three bedrooms and one bathroom on the second floor are carpeted. Each unit also has a first-floor, closeted washer/dryer and powder room.

Only six of the 11 units have been reserved. Mt. Airy USA is hosting an open house on July 9 from 1 to 3 p.m. for potential homebuyers.

Contact staff writer Jennifer Katz at 215-248-8804 or jenn@chestnuthilllocal.com.