Gov Shapiro Breaks Ground at Westpark Apartments advancing Housing Action Plan | Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

Philadelphia, PA - Today, Governor Josh Shapiro, local officials, and leaders from the Philadelphia Housing Authority (PHA) and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) broke ground on the first phase of Westpark Apartments' 12-acre redevelopment in West Philadelphia. The Shapiro Administration awarded PHA $2.6 million through the Redevelopment Capital Assistance Program (RACP), funding Westpark's grading, plaza construction, and ADA accessibility improvements to connection points between SEPTA and Westpark homes.

In their first phase, Westpark will work with redevelopment partners - LMXD and MSquared - to upgrade its existing towers and create 327 new housing units by 2028, while building a new pedestrian plaza linked to the nearby SEPTA station at 46th and Market Streets, retail space for local businesses, and a community center with on-site services.

"Building and preserving housing that strengthens communities and provides a safe, stable place for Pennsylvanians to live is a key foundation for growth and opportunity - and that's why the Commonwealth is investing to help build 327 new units in West Philadelphia and preserve housing for Pennsylvanians that call this place home," said Governor Josh Shapiro. "My Housing Action Plan calls for more investments into projects like Westpark to meet Pennsylvania's housing needs head-on and ensure our Commonwealth remains a place of real opportunity for all those who want to pursue the American dream."

The redevelopment of Westpark Apartments aligns with Governor Shapiro's Housing Action Plan announced last month. Of the first phase's 327 new homes, 138 units will be reserved for returning Westpark residents and over 150 units will be affordable to households earning between 20 and 80 percent of the area median income, delivering on the Governor's calls to preserve more homes, build more affordable housing, and break down the barriers that have kept too many Pennsylvanians from finding a home.

Governor Shapiro's Housing Action Plan lays out five core goals to meet Pennsylvania's housing needs head-on:

• Build and Preserve Pennsylvania's Housing Stock. Pennsylvania needs more homes for today and tomorrow, but we must also protect the ones that have long anchored our neighborhoods. By building new houses at a pace that keeps up with our economy and safeguarding the homes we already have, we can ensure that safe, stable, and affordable housing is available to residents for generations to come.

• Expand Housing Opportunity for All Pennsylvanians. A dignified, secure home should never be out of reach. By breaking down barriers, expanding homeownership opportunities, and strengthening tenant protections, we can build a Commonwealth where every resident has the security of a safe, stable, and attainable home.

• Provide Pathways to Housing Stabilization and Sustainability. A strong system supports those residents who are most vulnerable. By connecting Pennsylvanians to resources that prevent displacement and by supporting households during times of crisis, we can reduce housing insecurity - giving our residents the stability they need to grow and our communities the resiliency they need to thrive.

• Modernize Pennsylvania's Housing Development Regulation. Outdated rules and unnecessary delays drive up costs and slow down progress. By modernizing regulations, cutting red tape, and streamlining development, we can make it easier and more affordable to build homes across the Commonwealth - encouraging investment and helping to ensure that housing is developed where it is needed most.

• Improve coordination and accountability. Pennsylvania's housing systems work best when they work together. By aligning local and state efforts, sharing data, and coordinating across agencies, we can deliver results efficiently and stay accountable to the residents we serve.

Once complete, Westpark's redevelopment will create 1,000 new housing units, two community spaces, retail space, comprehensive social services, and four acres of new public open space - revitalizing the community and reconnecting residents to Center City through public transit.

"Revitalizing the Westpark community reflects our core mission to preserve and expand high-quality affordable housing opportunities across Philadelphia. We've established an excellent public-private partnership that is working together to undertake a major transformation for the North & West Philadelphia neighborhoods," said Kelvin A. Jeremiah, President & CEO of the Philadelphia Housing Authority. "I want to express by deep gratitude to Mayor Parker, our federal and state elected officials especially Senators Fetterman, McCormick, Congressman Dwight Evans, Governor Josh Shapiro, State Senator Vincent Hughes, West Park Resident Leader Andrea Foster, PHA's Board and all of our partners who played a key role in these redevelopment initiatives, including L&M/MSquared, PHFA, TD Bank and M&T Bank. With their support, PHA is advancing the preservation and expansion of high-quality affordable housing for Philadelphians in need."

In addition to the Shapiro Administration's investment, the federal government contributed $21.4 million in infrastructure funding to the project and the City of Philadelphia invested $3 million, contributing to Mayor Parker's H.O.M.E. Initiative.

"Our city accomplishes great things when like-minded partners are provided the necessary resources to thrive. The Westpark community redevelopment is a true testament to what we can achieve by working together," said Mayor Cherelle L. Parker, City of Philadelphia. "We thank Kelvin Jeremiah and PHA for the strong partnership we're building as we work together to create more affordable housing for Philadelphians."

"I am thrilled to see the redevelopment of the West Park Apartments move forward. Once complete, this revitalized housing development will provide housing for returning Westpark residents and new residents that need affordable housing," said State Senator Vincent Hughes, Senate Democratic Appropriations Chair. "This is a great example of what we can accomplish when leaders from all levels of government work with the private sector to deliver on affordable housing and the broader needs of our communities."

Investing in Pennsylvania's Housing Needs

Governor Shapiro's 2026-27 proposed budget also calls for investments and reforms to expand housing access, protect renters and homeowners, and strengthen coordination across state agencies, including:

• Critical Infrastructure Investment Fund to Build More Homes: One of the best ways to lower the cost of housing is to build more homes. The Governor's budget proposal creates a new $1 billion initiative supported through the issuance of general obligation bonds, with proceeds deposited into the Capital Facilities Fund. This initiative would provide flexible funding for major infrastructure projects across the Commonwealth, including building and preserving more housing, bringing new energy generation onto the grid, and upgrading school and municipal facilities.

• Protecting Renters and Promoting Housing Stability: The Governor's budget proposal establishes a statewide cap on rental application fees tied to the actual cost of screening and prohibits fees before a property is viewed; affirms a tenant's right to terminate a lease due to domestic violence without financial penalty; seals eviction records for individuals who were not actually evicted; advances fair-chance housing reforms to regulate when and how criminal history may be considered in rental decisions; and invests $1 million in an Investments in Health pilot, leveraging federal funding to total $2.5 million to connect Pennsylvanians experiencing homelessness or housing instability with housing-related supports.

• Supporting Manufactured Homeowners: The Governor's budget proposal limits annual lot rent increases in manufactured home communities and requires advance notice of increases, protecting residents - many of whom own their homes but rent the land beneath them - from sudden and unaffordable cost spikes.

• Addressing Tangled Titles and Preserving Generational Wealth: The Governor's budget proposal authorizes transfer-on-death deeds for primary residences, providing a streamlined way for homeowners to pass property to heirs, avoid costly probate, access home repair programs, and reduce blight in communities across the Commonwealth.

• Strengthening Housing Coordination and Accountability: The Governor's budget proposal creates a Deputy Secretary for Housing at DCED to coordinate housing policy and oversee implementation of the Housing Action Plan.

• Modernizing Local Planning and Permitting: The Governor's budget proposal calls for updates to the Municipalities Planning Code to reduce regulatory barriers to residential development, improve permitting processes, and incentivize county and regional planning that reflects the diverse housing needs of Pennsylvania's communities.

The Shapiro Administration remains committed to ensuring every Pennsylvanian has the dignity and security that comes with a safe, affordable place to call home.

Read the Governor's full Housing Action Plan here.

Watch the Governor's full budget address to a joint session of the House and Senate here and read the Governor's full remarks as prepared for delivery here.

Read the Governor's 2026-27 budget in brief here.