Community Development
GPCA employs a community building/community development philosophy to underpin and guide its work.Community Building Blocks
GPCA employs a community building/community development philosophy to underpin and guide its work, including its management strategies, decision-making processes, and its interaction with the community. Community building promotes a community’s physical, economic and social development – improved housing and safety, increased financial resources for individuals and the community as a whole. Our philosophy links programs, services and activities with social reform and advocacy so that individuals, families, businesses and the community itself have the rights, responsibility and capacity to influence their circumstances of the daily lives.
South City Gardens
Diversified Community Services and Innova Services Corporation – two long term Point Breeze enterprises – have developed 10 new energy-efficient townhouses in Point Breeze on formerly vacant City lots. This project has been named “South City Gardens” to highlight the key features of these homes: their location south of “the city” and their garden-focused interior spaces. The homes have been built in a traditional row house style, embracing both traditional and modern sustainable material choices and the very latest in energy efficiency technologies. This project was funded by the Philadelphia Redevelopment Authority through the federal Neighborhood Stabilization Program.
Tasker Village Apartments
Tasker Village Apartments are located at 1508-48 South 16th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19146 in the Point Breeze neighborhood of South Philadelphia. Tasker Village is a 27,243 square foot, 28 unit apartment complex comprised of five buildings with manicured gardens and sitting areas. In March 2013, the Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency awarded Diversified 9% Low Income Housing Tax Credits for the preservation of Tasker Village as affordable housing for the next 15 years. Total development cost for Tasker Village is $6.7 million.
For more information about rentals please contact us at 215-336-5505
At the foundation of any vital commercial corridor are clean streets, sidewalks and storefronts. Litter deters investment and creates the perception that an area is neglected and unsafe. In order to improve the quality of life, employment opportunities and entrepreneurial opportunities for very low and moderate-income individuals and neighborhoods, we partner with the City’s Department of Commerce to support the activities of Business Improvement Districts (BIDs) that provide community services such as street and sidewalk litter removal, public safety services and other public space maintenance activities.
Neighborhood Advisory Committee (NAC) organizations help residents learn about City programs that could benefit them. NACs provide information about initiatives to:
- Promote neighborhood sustainability.
- Prevent homelessness.
- Preserve housing.
- Reduce energy costs.
- Develop resident job skills.
- Mentor youth.
- Engage residents
In 2018, the Paschalville Library was approved by Philadelphia City Council as one of the 64 Rebuild sites, and in 2019 Mayor Jim Kenney announced a multi-million dollar investment in the Paschalville Library in Southwest Philadelphia. In 2019, Rebuild selected the Project User team led by the BFW Group / Greater Philadelphia Community Alliance (formerly Diversified Community Services) for the Paschalville Library Rebuild project. BFW/GPCA is pleased to be working with the Free Library of Philadelphia Foundation and Southwest CDC as our community engagement partners.
Improvements at the site will address heating and cooling issues, modernize electrical systems, and make significant upgrades to the exterior of the building. Rebuild will fund a new roof, and replacement and restoration of the historic stained glass windows. Other planned improvements will address ADA compliance issues throughout the building and provide much needed new furniture.
