Community Development Corporations (CDCs)

Founded in 1970 as Central Northside Neighborhood Council, Allegheny City Central Association (ACCA) aims to enhance the quality of life of all Central Northside residents.  In 2010, ACCA kicked off the redevelopment of the Garden Theater Block, a corridor characterized by vacancies and blight.  Today, the area includes a coffee shop, restaurants, and the Allegheny branch of the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh.  The next phase of redevelopment is now underway, which will include the nonprofit City of Asylum’s “Alphabet City,” a space that will include a literary center, performance space, classrooms, a restaurant, and bookstore.  In addition to commercial development, ACCA develops housing and works to restore or replace vacant lots and buildings within the community.

Committed to social and economic equity for low-income women and their families, the Women’s Community Revitalization Project (WCRP) develops affordable housing, provides supportive services, advocates for policy change, and honors and promotes leadership, dignity, and justice.  To date, WCRP has built 282 units of housing—investing $90 million in the community.  Its organizing and advocacy work is credited with bringing together over 60 organizations in campaigns that have secured more than $100 million for affordable housing development.

Beginning in 1966 as a grassroots movement responding to city-planned urban development, Philadelphia Chinatown Community Development Corporation (PCDC) has grown into a prominent nonprofit group, responsible for the planning and redevelopment of the Chinatown community. The group’s goals are three-fold: 1) to protect the neighborhood; 2) to preserve Chinatown’s heritage; and 3) to promote community businesses and residents.  PCDC’s accomplishments include the development of 219 housing units as well as commercial space.  In October 2017, PCDC broke ground on its largest project to date—a $75 million mixed-use space that will include a 17,000 square foot community center, 30,000 square feet of retail/commercial space, and 150 housing units.

Founded with a $12,000 budget and the goal of providing emergency shelter and food, the People’s Emergency Center has expanded its mission to nurturing families, strengthening neighborhoods, and driving change in West Philadelphia. To do so, the CDC advocates for public policy changes on behalf of families experiencing homelessness and provides area residents with affordable housing, job and technology training, financial education, and a range of social services.  Since its establishment in 1972, the CDC is credited with investing over $60 million in eco-friendly, mixed-use development and open spaces.

Founded in 1980 to restore dilapidated commercial storefronts, Mt. Airy USA Community Development Corporation has expanded its mission to preserve, empower, and advance a vibrant, diverse neighborhood by stimulating development responsive to community needs.  The CDC’s real estate development program aims to transform blighted, underutilized areas into local assets and has resulted in new commercial space as well as quality rental and “for sale” housing.  To help ensure area businesses succeed, the CDC also offers numerous business services including business marketing and promotion, affordable workspace, and business development assistance. The CDC’s Housing Counseling program focuses on foreclosure prevention, home improvement, and financial literacy, and is credited with serving over 6,000 low to moderate income community members.

Founded in 1992, The Partnership Community Development Corporation (TPCDC, and formerly known as the West Philadelphia Partnership) strives to build strong communities in West and Southwest Philadelphia.  To do so, the CDC develops affordable housing for low to moderate-income families, provides home ownership education to first-time homebuyers, develops retail space, provides technical assistance to businesses and community groups, runs a green job training program focused on energy efficient technologies, and formulates revitalization strategies for commercial corridors.  To date, TPCDC has developed 360 units of affordable housing and has leveraged over $65 million in private investment to support the revitalization of West Philadelphia.

BRIDGE Housing was originally founded to combat San Francisco's shortage of affordable housing. Since 1983, the organization has expanded its capabilities to include project financing, community outreach, planning, construction management, property maintenance, and asset management. To date, BRIDGE has successfully developed over 14,000 homes with an estimated market value of three billion dollars. Read more about BRIDGE Housing...

Formed in 1972 by concerned business executives and community leaders hoping to address the flight of jobs and businesses from the community, the South Bronx Overall Economic Development Corporation (SoBRO) has developed overtime to incorporate a more comprehensive approach to community development. Today, in addition to providing youth education services, job training and placement and other services, SoBro manages more than 700 units of affordable housing and has built or rehabilitated almost 260,000 square feet of industrial, retail space and office space in the Bronx. Read more about South Bronx Overall Economic Development Corporation...

Focused on a 2.5-mile area bounded on the north by Parkside Avenue, on the south by Avenue H, on the East by Flatbush Avenue, and on the West by Coney Island Avenue, the Flatbush Development Corporation was formed in 1975 to address what community members saw as the beginnings of neighborhood decline. Today, the organization is one of the largest providers of programs for youth in the area - offering opportunities for more than 1200 youth and young adults annually - and provides more than 500 tenants and homeowners with individual counseling each year. Read more about Flatbush Development Corporation...