Following months of community rallies and sustained advocacy from grassroots organizers, Councilmember Jamie Gauthier, and other local elected officials, Mayor Cherelle Parker’s administration has officially announced a commitment to help save 925 affordable rental units across West and Southwest Philadelphia.

In a formal statement released on Tuesday, Aug. 11, Mayor Parker confirmed that the City of Philadelphia will allocate funding and work alongside housing leaders to preserve the Neighborhood Restorations portfolio, whose expiring tax-credit subsidies had threatened to displace up to 3,000 residents.

The release coincided with a demonstration outside City Hall organized by the OnePA Neighborhood Restorations Tenant Committee, residents, and local elected officials pushing for city intervention.

“The city remains committed to doing our part and continuing the work,” Mayor Parker said, emphasizing that preserving the units will also rely on support from state, federal, and philanthropic partners.

While the exact final city allocation has not been finalized, Angela Brooks, Philadelphia’s Chief Housing and Urban Development Officer, noted in reporting by WHYY that an inter-agency steering committee has recommended the city invest roughly $36 million over the next five years. The total cost to acquire and preserve the full 925-unit portfolio is estimated at $280 million, which will require additional financial backing from state, federal, housing authority, and philanthropic partners.

In a statement shared online, Councilmember Jamie Gauthier praised the city’s commitment while calling on other stakeholders to join the effort:

“I thank Mayor Parker for heeding our call and making an initial public commitment of $36 million to preserve these affordable homes. We need to stay at the table until we finish the job. The City has made an initial commitment, and now it’s time for our state government, PHA, and institutional and philanthropic partners to do the same.”