Paschall Village, the Philadelphia Housing Authority’s high-performance, green development in southwest Philadelphia, has received top honors from the Pennsylvania Association of Housing and Redevelopment Authorities.

Paschall captured PAHRA’s Bellamy Award for Housing, which recognizes the very best in design and new construction by affordable housing agencies across the state, in a close contest. Only one housing authority can win this singular, exclusive award. Pennsylvania has 89 housing authorities.

“We are thrilled to receive this award from our fellow professionals,” said Kelvin Jeremiah, PHA’s Interim Executive Director. “It’s always our goal to make a lasting, positive impact on neighborhoods and become a catalyst for long-term, local economic growth. Receiving this type of recognition from your peers for a sustainable, environmentally friendly housing development is a great honor and PHA is committed to doing more of this work in the future.”

Paschall Village, which opened in late November 2011, is PHA’s most ambitious green development to date.  It features high performance green products including central geothermal heating and cooling, solar domestic hot water, solar panels, rainwater harvesting/irrigation system, and Energy Star fixtures and equipment.

Projected savings at Paschall Village are 30 percent per month for a 2 bedroom unit and 35% per month for a 3 bedroom unit. Energy costs, relative to similar conventionally built properties, will be greatly reduced over time with greater long-term asset value, especially as energy costs increase. Scientists from Drexel University’s Department of Civil, Architectural, and Environmental Engineering provided technical assistance related to identifying and assessing energy efficiency strategies.

“The final product certainly improved the quality of life for [PHA] residents,” said Frank Aggazio, President of PAHRA. He also said that the judges were also impressed with the multiple sources of funding and the number of partnerships PHA formed to make this high-performing development possible.

PHA addressed indoor air quality health issues at Paschall by using materials like low- or no Volatile Organic Compound paints, primers, adhesives, and sealants; urea formaldehyde-free composite wood;  bathroom exhaust fans equipped with a humidistat sensor or timer; kitchen exhaust fans; and insulation that results in more efficient heating and air conditioning. Carpets were eliminated from the development to avoid issues with dust mites.

The use of green technology throughout Paschall Village helps the City of Philadelphia reduce its carbon footprint. The use of open space, trees, a rainwater harvesting/irrigation system, and pervious concrete fits in with the City’s wastewater management program, which was recently approved by the Environmental Protection Agency. The new development has over 92,000 square feet of pervious space/materials, a 47-fold increase over the old site.

Paschall Village also improves the aesthetics of the neighborhood with an attractive network of open space. The design created a greater sense of community and improved safety conditions while strengthening the neighborhood’s character.

The new development replaced Paschall Apartments, which was built in the mid-1960s and was outmoded and energy inefficient.

Paschall Village is bounded by 72nd Street, Paschall Avenue, Cobbs Creek Parkway, and Lloyd Street in Southwest Philadelphia. 

10/8/2012