Turn The Key In The News
Turn the Key Groundbreaking at 16th and Venango Streets
Fox 29 Article – Venango Views: 22 affordable homes break ground in North Philadelphia
The city marked a ceremonial groundbreaking Monday for Venango Views, the first Turn the Key project in Philadelphia’s 8th district. The development will bring 22 single-family homes to the 1600 block of West Venango Street as part of a broader effort to make affordable housing more accessible. Read and view the full news article.
WHYY Article: Philly homeownership program launches first project in 8th District
Elected officials and residents gathered Monday for a groundbreaking ceremony on the 1600 block of West Venango Street. The homes are being built on city land that was transferred to Civetta Property Group, one of the largest developers participating in the Turn the Key program. The initiative is designed to offer affordable homeownership opportunities in neighborhoods where residents have raised concerns about rising property values. View the article and comments.
Thank you to Shakeda G. for sharing your powerful story about the importance of homeownership. Thank you to Fox 29 Philadelphia, WTXF and Jeff Cole for covering TurntheKey. View the Video
2025
Philly City Council weighs zoning tweak for ‘Turn the Key’ projects
April 3, 2025
- The legislation is designed to make it easier for developers to build homes in certain sections of the city. Check out the article
Mayor stresses more inclusive housing policy at new homeowner’s ribbon cutting in North Philly
March 4 2025
- Parker and officials gathered to cut a ribbon in North Philadelphia for a Turn the Key participant. Shakeda Gaines went through the program, got certified for home ownership, and bought a property on the 900 Block of Turner Street. Check out the article
2024
Habitat for Humanity Philadelphia has gotten into the condo business. Here’s why.
December 12, 2024
- The local affiliate of the international nonprofit plans to continue offering condos in the future in its mission to provide affordable housing for first-time homebuyers. Check out the article
Community Bank Helps Cut Ribbon on Philadelphia Affordable Housing
October 15, 2024
- “Penn Community Bank is proud to be a key partner in the Turn the Key initiative, which is transforming lives and communities across Philadelphia,” said Lewis Cyr, Chief Lending Officer at Penn Community Bank. Check out the article
Press Coverage on Turn The Key Celebration of the Closing of the 100th House
September 6, 2024
Philly housing program celebrates selling its 100th property
- An affordable homeownership program, Turn The Key, has accomplished selling its 100th house in North Philadelphia. Check out the article
Philly’s Turn the Key affordable housing initiative hits 100 houses sold
- For Kenya Hinton, buying a new house seemed out of reach. Check out the article
Turn the Key initiative puts Philly residents into their own homes
Homeownership becomes reality as Turn the Key initiative celebrates 100th home sold
- Philadelphia celebrated the 100th Turn the Key (TTK) home that was sold to a North Philadelphia woman. Check out the article
This Program Is Helping Philadelphians Buy Affordable Homes
- One hundred Philly households have closed on newly built affordable homes through the Philadelphia Land Bank’s Turn the Key (TTK) program. Check out the article
Philly program marks the 100th price-restricted home sold toward goal of 1,000
- In 2022, Philly officials announced Turn the Key, a program that would give away city-owned land to developers. Check out the article
How a Hardworking Single Mom Connected the Dots on Her Home Ownership Journey
July 31, 2024
Sharon Lundy and her 16-year-old daughter were packing moving boxes, getting ready for the biggest gift Sharon had ever dreamed of providing them both: A brand new, two-story, three-bedroom home with a fenced yard. Check Out the Article
Is Mayor Parker’s Favorite Housing Program Ready for a Glow-up?
May 30, 2024
- The City’s Turn The Key workforce housing program has gained admirers for building homes affordable to middle income families. But can it really be the centerpiece of the city’s housing plan? Check out the article
Is Mayor Parker’s Favorite Housing Program Ready for a Glow-up?
May 30, 2024
Turn the Key has been praised by lawmakers — including Parker, who has been a champion of the program since its launch in 2022. She attended one of the program’s groundbreakings in February. Check Out the Article
Turning point: Philly developer wants to forge a legacy that transcends his past
May 24, 2024
Dawud Bey of Fine Print Construction builds market-rate developments and he’s about to start his largest project yet—he was recently awarded 50 vacant lots in Point Breeze to develop Turn the Key homes. Check Out the Article
New program offers Philly residents a path to first-time home ownership
April 24, 2024
The city and PHDC are looking for first-time buyers to take advantage of the Turn The Key initiative. They’re holding an open house on May 8 at SEPTA headquarters (1234 Market Street) in Center City, Check Out the Article
Philly’s racial wealth gap is wider now than in 1960. Here are programs working to fix it
February 28. 2024
Philly’s racial wealth gap is wider now than in 1960. This article looks into why that is the case and features programs like our own Turn the Key program. Check Out the Article
Philadelphia housing crisis: Mayor Parker, city leaders break ground on affordable housing initiative
February 20, 2024
There were big smiles everywhere at the city’s Turn The Key event Tuesday. Check Out the Article
How Local Labor Unions are Helping Members Buy Homes
The Philadelphia Inquirer, Jauary 29, 2024
The AGFE union (American Federation of Government Employees) helped a local member navigate the homebuying process by offering down-payment assistance and a loan (with no private mortgage insurance, to boot). Check Out the Article.
Turn the Key breaks ground on 17th affordable housing complex in Grays Ferry
February 22, 2024
Developments like these can help bring more Black and brown homeowners to the area, says one local developer. Check Out the Article
2023
City officials, developers break ground on new affordable housing development in Haddington
December 5, 2023
More affordable homes are coming to West Philadelphia thanks to the city’s Turn the Key program, which helps put vacant, publicly owned land back into use. Check Out the Article
Penn Community Bank & PHDC Creating More Affordable Homeownership Opportunities
November 29, 2023
“Community banks play a critical role in forging a path to fair and equitable housing for as many people as possible. In close collaboration with nonprofits, local governments, and dedicated developers, financial institutions like Penn Community Bank can serve as catalysts of change,” said Bernard Tynes, Penn Community Bank Chief Marketing and Impact Officer. Check Out the Article
Development for Good: Philly Workforce Homes
October 26, 2023
Growing up in Germantown, Alexis Smith-Williams heard a constant refrain from her mother and grandmothers: Buy your own house. “That was something they always talked to me about, Alexis, buy yourself a house,” Smith-Williams recalls. “Since the time I was grown, it was always, Buy yourself a house.” Check Out the Article
Philly officials celebrated the first house sold in a city initiative to build up to 1,000 price-restricted homes
The Philadelphia Inquirer, September 7, 2023
The first Turn the Key (TTK) home is complete! A Philadelphia Water Department employee will live in this rowhome near 4th and Snyder in South Philly. This program assists first-time homebuyers by subsidizing mortgages for homes developed on city-owned land. The goal is to build 1,000 homes. So far, 631 have been approved and 277 are under construction in Brewerytown, Grays Ferry, Port Richmond, Sharswood and West Poplar. Check Out the Article
2022
Affordable housing program in Philly makes ownership more than a pipe dream for some
The Neighborhood Preservation Initiative will give buying preference to Philly municipal workers looking to become homeowners for the first time. Check Out the Article
Affordable housing in Grays Ferry
November 24,2023
The ribbon was cut, celebrating the availability of 26 new affordable housing units in the Grays Ferry neighborhood of South Philadelphia. Check Out the Article
Philly City Council ‘turns the key’ on affordable housing program
April 30, 2022
A new city program, known as, appropriately enough, “Turn the Key” will provide 1,000 affordable houses through City Council’s Neighborhood Preservation Initiative (NPI). Check Out the Article
