The Tower at Henry Avenue

NewCourtland is showcasing its first inclusive housing property on Henry Avenue, Philadelphia.  

NewCourtland Tower at Henry Avenue (formerly a psychiatric hospital known as EPPI) is a new innovative and inclusive housing community on 3232 Henry Avenue in the East Falls neighborhood of Philadelphia. An inclusive housing model ties the creation of homes and apartments for low- or moderate-income households to the construction of market-rate residential development. “This property is a unique model of housing to address the community needs,” says Joe Duffey, CEO and President of NewCourtland. “We believe components of this model can help address the shortage of appropriate housing and resident displacement.”  

In November 2014, NewCourtland took possession of the property through a public auction. In collaboration with Kelvin Jeremiah at the Philadelphia Housing Authority, 85 affordable apartments (two phases) were developed using ACC vouchers at the front of the property. In September 2022, construction renovations began on the Tower in partnership with our architect, LRK, and our general contractor, Axis Construction Management, LLC. 

MMPartners is advising on the development and leasing of market-rate apartments. We have also partnered with Inglis to advise on the design and technology for the accessible units. 

The Tower at Henry Avenue will include: 

• 40 affordable one-bedroom units to lower-income residents (seniors preferred) with housing choice vouchers.  

• Through a partnership with Inglis, 20 accessible apartment units will be integrated for people with disabilities that far exceed standard compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act. Additionally, these units will be equipped with smart home technology for enhanced independence. Ten accessible units will be offered at market rate, and ten will be affordable.  

• 133 units will be available to the community at market rate.  

• 8,000 sq ft of flexible commercial space. 

The Tower at Henry Avenue will provide a fabric of amenities highly desirable to its diverse tenants in a community-based setting representative of the broader geographic area. These high-quality amenities include bicycle and other storage options, package drop-off and pick-up, a coffee shop, an ADA-accessible gym, outdoor space with a walking trail, community garden, dog park, roof terrace, community rooms/gathering spaces, and ample parking. We believe the 173 apartment units will comprise low-income seniors, people with disabilities, young professionals, families, and empty nesters, creating a new housing environment.  

The total cost of the project is approximately $66 million. This project is approximately 290,000 square feet, will not receive a government housing subsidy, and is fully funded by NewCourtland. The project will be economically sustainable, and the rental income will support the operations. There will be enough cash flow to pay debt obligations and provide a fair return on the equity investment. 

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