Community Development

PECCDC's Mission

PEC Community Development Corporation is the real estate arm of PEC. On its own, or through contractual relationships, PECCDC acquires, sells, rents, rehabilitates and manages properties in the West Philadelphia community in which PEC carries out its programs and services.

PECCDC strengthens West Philadelphia communities through projects that expand housing opportunities, stimulate economic growth, create wealth and improve the quality of life for all residents. A powerful catalyst for change, PECCDC builds on neighborhood assets and responds directly to the needs of the community to transform West Philadelphia into a Community of Choice—one where people choose to live and work.

Fattah Homes Update

With the cost of energy continually on the rise and the big impact that buildings have on our environment, PEC is making strides to build more green. In fact, our latest development, Fattah Homes, is on track to being certified by LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design). LEED is an internationally recognized green building certification system that aims to save energy and water efficiency, cut CO2 emissions, improve indoor environmental quality, and responsibly use resources.

PEC is taking several measures to ensure Fattah Homes, a mixed-use, commercial and residential project currently under construction on Lancaster Avenue and 40th Street, achieves LEED certification. Both the Lancaster Avenue and 40th Street buildings are reusing vacant land and will provide their future occupants with easy access to transit and other community resources like shopping and park space—cutting down the need for a car for everyday trips. Whenever possible, we are using locally-sourced materials and recycling construction waste. The buildings themselves will reduce energy use with high-efficiency plumbing and insulation. To make sure these special features are used to their capacity, tenants and building managers will be trained in how to operate the buildings to maximize efficiency.

For more information on the specific strategies PEC is pursuing to make Fattah Homes green, click here.

Our Neighborhood

Located in West Philadelphia, we focus our work on the West Powelton, Saunders Park, and Mantua neighborhoods within these boundaries: 44th Street to the west, Market Street to the south, 37th Street to the east, and Lancaster Avenue (west of 40th Street) and Wallace Street (east of 40th Street) to the north.

Community Plan

All of PECCDC’s work is guided by our resident-driven neighborhood plan. Following a multi-year process in which community leaders, government officials and institutional partners identified neighborhood needs related to housing, transportation, commercial development and quality of life issues, PECCDC released the West Powelton/Saunders Park Neighborhood Plan. The plan provides a comprehensive framework for neighborhood improvements over the next five years. The community planning process was spearheaded by NeighborhoodsNow and funded by the William Penn Foundation.