Forgotten Blocks 3

The Forgotten Blocks III Homeownership Project, part of the broader Forgotten Blocks Development Initiative, was completed to address the concentrated vacancy and disinvestment in a corner of North Philadelphia’s Allegheny West neighborhood—an area long “forgotten” in terms of investment and opportunity. Bounded by Indiana Avenue to the north, Lehigh Avenue to the south, and 22nd Street to Gratz Street to the east, the initiative aimed to transform every vacant residential parcel into stable, affordable housing.

Forgotten Blocks III specifically focused on the new infill construction of 10 homes and the rehabilitation of 3 existing structures, bringing to life 13 high-quality, single-family units for low- and moderate-income homebuyers. Of the 10 newly constructed homes, 3 were built as double-wide units spanning two parcels, and 4 were double-wide homes with side yards, spanning three parcels—providing spacious, livable housing tailored to modern family needs. Homes ranged in size from 1,400 to 2,400 square feet and featured three-bedroom, 1½-bath layouts, with one four-bedroom, two-bath unit created for a large family.

AWF’s commitment to accessibility and inclusion was evident: all new construction units were designed to be “visitable,” with one fully accessible to the mobility impaired and another to individuals with sensory impairments. Designed to fit the architectural character of the neighborhood, the homes were priced affordably between $55,000 and $70,000, targeting buyers between 30% and 80% of the Area Median Income, while remaining technically affordable to families below 30% AMI.

Stone Sherick played a critical role in bringing Forgotten Blocks III to fruition, overseeing the integration of new construction into a complex patchwork of public, private, and condemned parcels. Their leadership in site control strategy, zoning compliance, and unit design was instrumental in maximizing the development potential of the site. Stone Sherick also coordinated with funders and partners to ensure alignment with Housing Trust Fund goals, while helping AWF maintain high design and construction standards that reflected the project’s long-term community investment goals.

With the completion of Forgotten Blocks III, the Allegheny West Foundation and its partners brought new life, homeownership opportunities, and renewed confidence to a long-neglected section of the city—one infill lot at a time.