Residents including (left to right) Amirah Brown, Melvin Hairston, Sheldon Davids, and Rhonda Moore continue their protest encampment at the University City Townhomes in West Philadelphia. (Cory Sharber/WHYY)
A protest encampment at University City Townhomes in West Philadelphia enters its second week as residents and activists continue to keep the housing complex from being sold and redeveloped.
On July 9, Save the UC Townhomes Coalition and supporters marched through University City, with chants like “Housing is a human right,” and “We ain’t going nowhere” heard throughout the streets. An encampment at the property started soon after, and organizers have no plans to leave anytime soon.
Those seeking to join the encampment must follow a set of rules created by the residents and get to know the community before setting up. (Cory Sharber/WHYY)
Since then, residents have been subject to a lack of services, including the laundry room and the complex’s office being closed. Rhonda Moore is a UC Townhomes resident and says the services being shut down is a “petty response” from the landlord.
Housing activists have formed a camp on the grounds of an affordable housing complex that’s slated to close. The owners are weighing their options.
2 years ago
“If we’re paying rent, we need access to that,” Moore said. “That’s in our lease. We’re supposed to have access to the laundry room. Who’s going to make repairs? Who’s going to go around and take care of the grounds?”
The townhomes are located in what historically would have been called Philadelphia’s Black Bottom, a vibrant working-class Black neighborhood. The area’s now referred to as University City where gentrification has been underway as University of Pennsylvania and Drexel University have expanded their campuses and more students and faculty began living further west.
Residents have met with Penn representatives to discuss the situation. Resident Melvin Hairston says the meetings amounted to nothing more than “lip service.”
“They said a few things, but nothing really came through of it,” Hairston said. “They talked about trying to work with Altman, because we were trying to get a meeting for them to come to the table to try and find a resolution for us and that never came to pass for any of us.”
The property at stake is known as the UC Townhomes, and it’s in the continually-gentrifying University City area.
2 years ago
Last July, property owner IBID/Altman Management announced it wouldn’t renew their HUD contract and is looking to place the lots on the market. Industry estimates put the likely sale price near $100 million. According to the Save the UC Townhomes Coalition, 68 families could be impacted. The federal housing contract was originally set to expire July 8, when residents would have been forced to move out, but the contract was extended until Sept. 7.
The statement mentions that ownership will make a public announcement about next steps “as events warrant.” WHYY reached out to Altman Management for this story and is still awaiting response. In early March, IBID filed a federal lawsuit against the city and Councilmember Jamie Gauthier after City Council passed legislation that temporarily bars developers from demolishing the complex.
Residents plan to hold more events to spread the word about the situation. Hairston says they have plenty of people behind them with this movement.
A statue in front of University City Townhomes is outfitted with a shirt associated with the encampment. Last July, property owner IBID/Altman Management announced it won’t renew the HUD contract and is looking to place the lots on the market. Industry estimates put the likely sale price near $100 million. Cory Sharber/WHYY
“We’re all on the clock here,” Hairston said. “This has to stop. The people have stood up and said enough is enough. We will not be displaced any further. Our statement of defiance has been heard by many people not just around the community, but across the country as well.”
Located on Market Street between 39th and 40th streets, the UC Townhomes property has 70 units that for 40 years were offered as federally subsidized housing. It was built in 1983.
Get daily updates from WHYY News!
The free WHYY News Daily newsletter delivers the most important local stories to your inbox.