Two men in dark suits standing next to one another.

NPCHF Helps North Penn Commons Secure $11.6 Million Award

Foundation president and CEO Russell Johnson with Montgomery County Commissioner Josh Shapiro, before the press conference. - Photo by Tamela Luce

The July 16 press conference was covered by 6ABC, Philadelphia Inquirer, Philadelphia Business JournalLansdale Reporter (including a video featuring Russ Johnson), Phillyburbs.com and WPNV.

Click here to watch the 6ABC story.

A video of Commissioner Shapiro's comments can be found hereTo see all of the speeches, visit the North Penn Community Health Foundation's YouTube channel.

PRESS RELEASE:

Lansdale, PA – July 16, 2013 – The North Penn Community Health Foundation held a press conference this morning to share new developments and details on North Penn Commons, formerly known as the Lansdale Collaboration Project. Advanced Living Communities and the North Penn Community Health Foundation recently received notice from the Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency that the North Penn Commons project was awarded $11.6 million in low-income housing tax credits over a ten year period.  With the receipt of this funding, North Penn Commons has secured the core funding necessary to proceed into its pre-construction phase with an anticipated completion in the spring of 2015.

North Penn Commons is a pioneering partnership among Advanced Living Communities, The PEAK Center, Manna on Main Street and the North Penn YMCA.  By joining forces, a new vision for North Penn communities will be realized.  A vision that focuses on the extraordinary impact North Penn Commons will have on building healthier lives by offering all generations the opportunity to thrive and be happy at every stage of life.

Through this unique partnership, 60 units of affordable housing will be constructed on the former LansBowl site, now owned by the YMCA.  The PEAK Center and Manna on Main Street will relocate their programs and services to North Penn Commons.  A public space will link this four-story facility to the current YMCA that will undergo a significant facelift including construction of a new family fun pool, and new locker room facilities. 

The North Penn Commons project also was selected by a jury of affordable housing professionals for an award under the “Innovation in Design” category.  The award acknowledges North Penn Commons for its promotion of sustained livability and affordability, and integration of the needs of the residents with the design elements of the proposal to create a place to “call home.”

With the assistance of Philadelphia-based fundraising counsel, Schultz & Williams, North Penn Commons’ partners are coordinating their fundraising efforts in a single campaign, One Four All, to jointly approach local, regional and national donors and share all proceeds from this campaign.  The One Four All campaign goal is $5 million, which is critical to filling the gap left between the acquisition of low-income housing tax credits, other county and state funding and the cost of the project.  The campaign has raised $653,000 in gifts and pledges over the past 9 months.  The North Penn Community Health Foundation is generously underwriting the fundraising expenses for the campaign in addition to its investment of $340,000 in planning expenses to help establish the partnership and define the parameters for this uniquely collaborative project.