Abigail Pankey Apartments

Abigail Pankey Apartments Development Summary

Women’s Community Revitalization Project (WCRP) is developing Abigail Pankey Apartments, a 32-unit affordable housing community that will be located at the intersection of N. 38th Street and Brown Street in the Mantua neighborhood of West Philadelphia. Mantua faces growing market-rate development pressures and gentrification, which threaten long-term residents with displacement. Abigail Pankey Apartments will provide an equitable housing solution by creating high-quality, truly affordable family housing designed to meet the needs of Mantua’s residents vulnerable to rising housing costs. The four-story building will include twenty-two 2-bedroom units and ten 3-bedroom units, with eight fully accessible and two hearing/visual accessible units. Shared amenities will include a 1,475-square-foot community room with kitchen for gatherings, bike storage, management and supportive services offices, green space, and six on-site parking spaces. Each apartment will feature a washer/dryer and central air conditioning. The development will meet green building standards, including Enterprise Green Communities and EPA’s Zero Energy Ready Home criteria.

Abigail Pankey Apartments will be built within a rapidly changing neighborhood that has received multiple revitalization designations, including HUD Choice Neighborhood, Promise Zone, and Opportunity Zone status. These programs reflect the community’s commitment to revitalization while preserving affordability. Despite anticipated investment, Mantua will continue to face economic hardship, with median family incomes remaining less than half the city average and over 60% of residents living below the poverty line. The project will address the urgent need for affordable housing as market-rate development accelerates, threatening to displace low- and moderate-income families. By activating previously vacant land, the development will create much-needed homes while also improving neighborhood safety and property values through “eyes on the street” and enhanced community amenities. Its location will provide excellent transit access, with proximity to University City and Center City employment hubs, as well as nearby parks, schools, and community centers that will support resident well-being.

WCRP’s comprehensive approach will extend beyond housing construction to include supportive services that will foster resident stability and economic self-sufficiency. Since 1992, WCRP has provided resource brokerage to tenants, helping them access healthcare, education, employment, childcare, and leadership opportunities. This holistic model will continue to strengthen families facing systemic barriers and economic challenges, anchoring them in a stable home while preserving Mantua’s social, racial, and economic diversity. The project will be financed through a combination of Low Income Housing Tax Credits equity, city and federal grants, rent subsidies from the Philadelphia Housing Authority, and community land trust ownership to ensure long-term affordability and high-quality operations.

Stone Sherick Role:
Stone Sherick will provide expert development consulting for Abigail Pankey Apartments, guiding the project through financing, design review, and regulatory approvals. Stone Sherick will ensure the development aligns with affordable housing best practices, green building standards, and community engagement goals, helping WCRP deliver a lasting equitable housing solution in Mantua.