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Housing & Economic Development 
Providing neighborhood residents with safe, secure housing is important for any community. Developing affordable and market rate rental and for-sale housing in West Oak Lane is a priority for OARC. For the past 25 years, we have worked consistently to make our community one of the most livable neighborhoods in Northwest Philadelphia. OARC’s For-Sale Housing Initiative has taken many of West Oak Lane’s residents from wanting a home of their own, to owning their very first home. This renovation and resale program enables families to purchase newly-restored, affordably priced homes. Through our efforts, vacant properties in West Oak Lane have been reduced from more than 300 units a few years ago, to less than 70 units today. (See Home Sales Trend graph below.) West Oak Lane Community Development Corporation, OARC’s housing counseling subsidiary, works with homeowners to provide foreclosure prevention and other homeownership counseling services. West Oak Lane CDC also works with homeowners to help them get loans and grants for home repairs. Economic development is an equally important aspect of what OARC is doing in the community. Today we own more than 300,000 square feet of commercial space leased to new and existing businesses, and our projects have generated more than 1,000 permanent and construction-related jobs. OARC has also helped create daycare facilities, job training and job placement programs, and we regularly work with businesses in the neighborhood, providing technical assistance and financial support. OARC recognizes that housing and economic development are two key ingredients for any community to be able to sustain itself. We believe our plan to address the needs of the community has been successful. Today, West Oak Lane continues to be one of the most livable neighborhoods in Northwest Philadelphia. |
