Housing & Economic Development

For Sale Housing

OARC is creating opportunities for homeownership in West Oak Lane by acquiring and renovating vacant properties. These homes feature all new systems – plumbing, heating, and electrical – as well as new roofs, kitchens, bathrooms, windows, doors, and alarm systems. OARC offers a one year warranty on these renovations. Typically, these homes will range in price from about $95,000 to $175,000, and vary in style, from single family homes to large duplex properties. Currently we are renovating two properties in the 1300 block of Haines Street that will eventually be sold to first-time homebuyers.

Funding for our affordable for-sale housing initiative is provided by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and private lending institutions.

Rental Housing

OARC owns and operates close to 50 units of affordable rental housing, including one, two, and three bedroom apartments. These units, all with secured entrances, offer many amenities, including upgraded kitchens and bathrooms, and wall-to-wall carpeting. All units are cable-ready, and have laundry facilities on-site or within walking distance. All of our units are regularly refurbished, and we have a 24 hour on-call maintenance team to handle emergency repairs.

Funding for our affordable rental housing initiative is provided by the Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency (PHFA), as well as private lending institutions.

The Housing Counseling Program at West Oak Lane CDC

The West Oak Lane Community Development Corporation, a wholly-owned subsidiary of OARC, conducts a Housing Counseling Program that is certified and supported by the Office of Housing and Community Development (OHCD/City of Philadelphia). The agency is HUD certified and under contract with the Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency to provide housing counseling services. The Housing Counseling Program will be moving from its current location to a larger, fully accessible facility located on the NW corner of Ogontz Avenue and Tulpehocken Street in December 2008.  Funding for The Housing Counseling Program is provided by OHCD/City of Philadelphia, the PA Housing Finance Agency, and Sovereign Bank.

Counseling Services Provided

  • Pre-Purchase Workshops and One-on-One Sessions: Weekly workshops and One-on-One sessions for prospective homebuyers.
  • Post-Purchase Counseling: One-on-One sessions for current homeowners to discuss issues encountered after purchase, such as meeting mortgage payments, budgeting, money management and home maintenance.
  • Default and Delinquency: Mortgage Delinquency / Homeowners' Emergency Mortgage Assistance Program (HEMAP), Real Estate Tax Delinquency (repayment plans and hardship agreements).
  • Foreclosure Prevention: Tools and assistance available to help prevent foreclosures (Loan Modification, Unique Refinance Products offered by the State of Pennsylvania and FHA).
  • Diversion Pilot Program: Participating in Conciliation Hearings provided by the Court of Common Pleas and the Philadelphia Sheriff's Office, giving homeowners a chance to receive housing counseling and negotiate with lenders for an affordable and sustainable mortgage that will allow them to retain homeownership.
  • Pre-Loan: Refinancing / Home Improvement Loans / Anti-Predatory Lending
  • Post-Loan: Predatory Lending Issues
  • Pre-Rental/Post-Rental
  • Landlord/Tenant Issues
  • Consumer Education

Commercial Real Estate Acquisition, Development, and Leasing

OARC currently owns and manages more than 300,000 square feet of commercial space in West Oak Lane. Our strategy has been to utilize various funding sources to acquire and renovate commercial properties. We then seek out tenants that can offer a diverse mix of products and services to the community, providing incentives to up-and-coming entrepreneurs to establish their businesses in West Oak Lane. Our efforts have been successful in attracting the following businesses to West Oak Lane:

  • Amoco Gas Station/McDonald’s Restaurant
  • Art Noir Custom Framing and Gallery
  • Cornbread and Coffee
  • KidZone Philadelphia
  • Nationwide Insurance
  • Ogontz Realty
  • Pennsylvania Department of Transportation Licensing Center
  • Sadiki’s Restaurant
  • Weaver’s Way Produce Market

Our Partners in these economic development activities include a number of wholly-owned OARC subsidiaries, such as Main Development Group, Ogontz Plaza Associates, and Haines Eastburn Stenton Corporation. Funding for these projects has been provided by the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development, the City of Philadelphia, and a number of public and private entities.

Commercial Revitalization

In July 2008, OARC was awarded a $1.3 million grant from the City of Philadelphia’s $150 million Cultural and Commercial Bond Program. The City’s goal is to use these funds to create and retain jobs by improving and strengthening the business environment, with a focus on minority, women, and disabled resident businesses. OARC will use this grant for a streetscape improvement project along the 7100 – 7300 blocks of Ogontz Avenue. When the project is completed, the many businesses in this area will benefit from new street lighting, new walkways, sidewalk benches, and other improvements. Construction is tentatively scheduled to begin in March 2009.

Wister Transit – Oriented District (TOD)

In July 2007, the Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission (DVRPC) awarded OARC a $72,000 grant to fund a planning study for affordable housing and commercial development in the vicinity of SEPTA’s Wister Train Station. In 2008, Kise Straw Kolodner (KSK) was selected as our consultant for the project. KSK will be involved in market and real estate analysis, civil engineering, and environmental analysis.

The firm has extensive experience in TOD and urban infill housing. Based on the findings from the study, scheduled for completion in early 2009, we will be able to determine how to best serve housing and economic development needs in the Wister neighborhood, as part of a comprehensive strategic plan for the area.