Demolition has begun on the property that will house the city’s LGBT-friendly senior residences, and construction on the new building will officially begin later this month.
A groundbreaking ceremony will be held at noon Oct. 29 at the site of the future building, 249-257 S. 13th St.
Scheduled to open late next year, the residences will house 56 one-bedroom units for those 62 and over, with a portion of the apartments dedicated to low-income residents.
The effort is being spearheaded by the Dr. Magnus Hirschfield Fund, with developer Pennrose Properties.
The $20-million project was made possible through city, state and federal funding. To that end, project organizers will be joined at the groundbreaking by Mayor Michael Nutter, former Gov. Ed Rendell and U.S. Congressman Bob Brady (D-1st Dist.).
DMH Fund president and PGN publisher Mark Segal said the project is a “testament to both the city of Philadelphia and the LGBT community. Both worked feverishly to ensure that we made it to this special event.”
A luncheon will follow the groundbreaking ceremony.
Demolition on the current site, which housed vehicles and equipment for the city’s Redevelopment Authority, began Oct. 8. The property will be completely leveled by groundbreaking.
The residences’ new name will be unveiled during the groundbreaking ceremony.
Applications for residency will be available next year.
The building will include a 6,000 square-foot courtyard and 2,700 square feet of rentable space on the ground floor for community use.