Holy Family To Develop Liddonfield

July 27, 2012 | Filed under: Government,Subject Categories | Posted by:

HOLY FAMILY University President Sister Francesca Onley thanks political leaders and others responsible for making available development of former PHA Liddonfield homes. Photo by Harry Leech

Holy Family University, which has grown over the years into a major educational institution, has now become the developer for the former Liddonfield Homes site once the home of several thousand Philadelphia Housing Authority residents.

The public-housing complex, founded beside Torresdale and Frankford Avenues in Northeast Philadelphia, opened in 1955. Over the years, it has deteriorated to where it could no longer be rehabbed and had become a blight on the surrounding area.

The PHA approved the site’s sale to the University which plans a mixed-use development including recreation facilities with public access, an array of shops and dining spots to be shared by the public and university staff and students. Included will be an assisted-living facility to provide care for the growing elderly population of this venerable Philadelphia community.

The sale is the culmination of efforts supported by an array of political leaders including Congresswoman Allyson Schwartz and Congressman Bob Brady (both D-Phila.), State Sen. Mike Stack and State Rep. Michael McGeehan (both D-Northeast) and Councilman Robert Henon of the 6th Dist.

Ceremonies at the Liddonfield site this week highlighted the future changes. In attendance, as well as the political leaders listed above, were Sister Francesca Onley, president of Holy Family University; John Parsons, president of the Philadelphia-based BSI Construction LLC; Stan Cywinski, president of the Upper Holmesburg Civic Association; and members of the PHA executive staff.

HATS OFF to Councilman Bobby Henon and State Sen. Michael Stack, who played leading roles in finalizing sale of former PHA Liddonfield Site to Holy Family College. Northeast lawmakers made announcement at site of former Liddonfield Homes, 8800 Torresdale Avenue. Photo by Rory McGlasson

“Holy Family University’s redevelopment plan met every parameter set forth by PHA, which is why the PHA board enthusiastically approved the transaction,” said Henon, whose district encompasses the Liddonfield Homes site. Henon was the driving force behind the agreement. “The support of Congressman Brady, Congresswoman Allyson Schwartz, State Sen. Mike Stack, State Rep. Michael McGeehan and the community leaders was invaluable in moving the project forward,” Henon added. “I also would be remiss if I did not acknowledge the great efforts of Sister Francesca Onley and BSI Construction.”

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3 Responses to Holy Family To Develop Liddonfield

  1. Councilman Henon – “I also would be remiss if I did not acknowledge the great efforts of Sister Francesca Onley and BSI Construction.” What Councilman Henon, the PHA, Senator Stack and State Rep McGeehan are remiss in is not inviting a representative from Liddonfield to speak at the press conference! A former resident of the public housing development could have been chosen to publicly endorse the decision to encourage community solidarity but once again they are left out of the loop. We are growing tired of this.

    Rosemary Reeves
    July 28, 2012 at 10:52 am

  2. Let it go, give it up. Liddonfield is gone, done, no more.

    I & the surrounding residents of the neighborhood had enough of what that cesspool of crime & lowlifes that it was. It does not need to be acknowledged or thought of in any positive way, because it was a negative decision from the start years ago to have a low-income housing project in Northeast Philly, for which it ruined this area, like the other areas in Philly where there are projects that bring down the quality of life of nearby homes.

    joseph keogh
    June 5, 2013 at 5:55 pm

  3. Joseph, I understand why you feel as you do, given the rampant crime that occurred in Liddonfield during the last two decades of the project’s existence. You have a right to be angry that the neighborhood’s quality of life suffered as a result of it. Please know that positive things come out of bad things all the time. A drunk-driving incident in which someone was killed gave rise to drinking-and-driving laws that protect us. Tragic teenage suicides have resulted in anti-bullying legislation that makes schools safer and so on.

    Liddonfield was a model housing project until the late 1980s. For the first 30 years there was very little crime. Working families lived within its close-knit community. The project was safe and well kept. Recording the project’s history helps us to understand the bigger issue of the declining quality of life in America’s neighborhoods.

    Liddonfield’s history holds valuable information for civic groups, safe neighborhood activists and political organizations. By learning its history and using it for positive change, citizens of the Northeast who lost their quality of life because of Liddonfield can finally feel a sense of empowerment.

    Rosemary Reeves
    June 18, 2013 at 8:18 am

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