Located in a five-story midrise building, the senior housing community will be a mix of studio, one-, and two-bedroom apartments. The apartments will be completely adaptable and visitable, with 10% of the units designed for residents with physical disabilities and hearing and vision impairments. In addition, the building will be designed to meet Energy Star Certification and Enterprise Green Communities standards.

According to the Philadelphia Corporation for Aging, 42% of seniors living in Philadelphia are below the poverty level.

“This new residential project returns 9th Street to the city grid as a walkable corridor while embracing the cultural identity of Chinatown,” said John Chin, executive director of Philadelphia Chinatown Development Corporation. “We are excited that we will improve the lives for rent burdened seniors.”

Residents will also have access to a host of on-site amenities, including a large community room, outdoor courtyard, common laundry on each floor, and on-site property management. Tailored on-site supportive services will be offered to help improve resident quality of life, including a dedicated supportive services coordinator to plan intergenerational events and programming for residents and the surrounding neighborhood. 

Working in conjunction with the PCDC, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that addresses the needs of urban renewal and affordable housing development in Chinatown, the design draws from traditional and authentic Chinese elements to ensure the building is appropriate to its context and is well suited to the neighborhood.