State Kick-Starts $14M Renovation of Kate's Place

PHILADELPHIA-Rehabilitation of historic Kate’s Place, an 11-story, 144-unit, single-room-occupancy housing facility at 1929 Sansom St., got a kick start with a $1.5-million loan and $740,188 in tax credits from the Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency. PHFA also awarded financing for construction of a multifamily building for seniors just west of Harrisburg in Cumberland County.

Locally based Project H.O.M.E. is sponsoring the renovation of Kate’s Place. It, the city, and PNC Bank, which is handling both a Federal Home Loan Bank affordable housing loan and syndication of the historic and housing tax credits, are supplying additional funding.

Plans encompass 76,000 sf and include 3,360 sf on each of the nine residential floors for common kitchens, 1,500 sf of community space, and 1,250 sf of commercial space.

The architect is Fort Washington, PA-based Kramer Marks, and Plymouth Meeting, PA-based Haverstick Borthwick is general contractor. The renovation is expected to cost $14 million.

Meanwhile, Pennsboro Housing, sponsor of the construction of Enola Commons Senior Apartments in East Pennsboro, Cumberland County, PA, received approximately $2.1 million in funds and $366,907 of housing tax credits from PHFA. Pennsboro is an affiliate of State College, PA-based S&A Homes Inc.

Located on 4.36 acres, the three-story building will contain 40 one-bedroom, and 10 two-bedroom apartments for people age 62 or older. The 45,700-sf building will include 1,200 sf of community space. The construction cost is estimated at $4.4 million.

Architect is Lancaster, PA-based LeFevre Funk. Poole Anderson Construction of State College is the general contractor. Locally based Lend Lease is making an equity contribution of nearly $2.3 million from proceeds of a tax credit syndication, and the county is providing additional funding.