Stack and McGeehan Pleased that Liddonfield Site Plans Can Progress

Philadelphia, April 16, 2010 — State Sen. Mike Stack and State Rep. Mike McGeehan said today that the Liddonfield Homes demolition plans can finally progress, now that the site is vacant.

“Now, the project can finally move on to the demolition phase and new development proposals can be considered,” Stack said. “For too long, residents were unsure when the project would move forward.”

All tenants have been relocated from the low-income housing site, located at located at 8800 Jackson Drive in the Upper Holmesburg neighborhood.

The renovation of the site was first announced in August 2006. However, the project was delayed due to the U.S. Department of Urban Development’s (HUD) failure to approve Demolition of Phase I and Phase II of the project. The HUD approval was granted in October 2009.

Stack and McGeehan worked with Governor Rendell to secure $3.5 million in State Capital Budget Funding four years ago to redevelop the property and have been active in monitoring its progress over the past four years.

“We know that the residents around the Liddonfield Homes want the site to be a positive reflection of the community,” McGeehan said. “Senator Stack and I will stay involved in the plans, and work with Congresswoman Schwartz and Councilwoman Krawjewski to represent the community’s desire to redevelop the land”.

Philadelphia Housing Authority (PHA) hopes to see demolition activity commence within the next three to six months.

PHA must reissue a request for proposal (RFP) for development of the land. PHA’s plans for the site after demolition are still to be determined.

Liddonfield Homes were originally built as World War II military barracks in the 1940s, but have been used as low-income housing for the past 50 years and fell into disrepair.

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