A Boston-based non-profit housing developer opened its fourth residential complex on Thursday in East Liberty, and announced it is planning to develop a fifth project.
The Community Builders Inc. is planning to develop East Liberty Place South, located off Penn Avenue at N. Beatty Street.
Yesterday it marked completion of the 54-unit East Liberty Place North, and has leased 50 of its 54 units, seven of them to people like Alethea Sims who was displaced when her former apartment in the East Mall complex was demolished.
"I've been an East Liberty resident for the past 20 years, and didn't want to move elsewhere, because I am transportation challenged, and I need the public transit that services this area," she said.
Tamara Dudukovich, Community Builders' Mid-Atlantic director of development, said the new development is in early development but could contain 75 apartments or condominiums, plus 24,000 square feet of retail space.
The same company developed New Pennley Place, Pennley Commons (senior housing) and Penn Manor Apartments in East Liberty.
Mayor Luke Ravensthal said the rebirth of East Liberty has resulted over a 10-year period with an investment of $400 million by private and public entities.
The $12.3 million East Liberty Place South apartments have rental ranges of $325 to $825 for one-bedrooms, and $435 to $1,100 for two-bedrooms, and offers both market rate and rent-restricted units, subsidized through tax credits.
The first level has about 11,000 square feet of retail space. Jim Eby, senior project manager for Community Builders, said a restaurant/bar is expected to sign a lease, and letters of intent have been received from a local church that wants to establish an outreach facility, and a private financial firm.
