Thriven Design, Pennrose, Celebrate Groundbreaking for Good Shepherd Senior Residence
Thriven Design Principal Mary Johannesen, AIA, LEED AP, and Senior Associate and Project Manager Christopher Panella, were proud to attend the groundbreaking ceremony for Good Shepherd Senior Residence in the Overbrook neighborhood of Philadelphia on Tuesday, August 13.
The groundbreaking celebrates the beginning of construction for a new four-story, sustainable residence offering high-quality affordable apartment living for seniors. The residence is located on the former site of Good Shepherd Presbyterian Church, which was destroyed by a fire in 2016. Church leaders selected Pennrose to transform the site and help address Overbrook’s acute affordable housing shortage. Thriven Design is providing architectural and MEP engineering services for the residence, which is slated for completion in Fall 2025.
The design includes 55 one-bedroom dwelling units and a complete array of on-site amenity spaces including a community room, management office suite, fitness room, and outdoor patio. Philadelphia’s older adults can enjoy these amenities and more while remaining connected to their community in suitable housing that can meet their changing needs as they age.
Residents will also benefit from a robust offering of supportive services thanks to developer Pennrose, who is partnering with local nonprofit organizations Wynnefield Overbrook Revitalization Corporation and Neighbors of Overbrook Association to identify needed resources and improve the quality of life for its residents. Pennrose Management Company will identify a Community Impact Coordinator which will organize social, health, and education programming on-site, further strengthening a sense of belonging to bolster community engagement and lead to fulfilling lives for the residents.
The project is designed to meet Enterprise Green Communities and Zero Energy Ready Home standards, and is thoughtfully engineered to provide utility cost savings for residents for years to come.
Funding for Good Shepherd Residence was provided by: Low-Income Housing Tax Credits (LIHTC); State LIHTC; PHFA Perm Debt; PHFA PHARE funds; Philadelphia DHCD funds; PA Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program (RACP); Alexander G. Mercer Board of City Trust funds; and Developer Reinvestment.
As one of the leading multidisciplinary design firms in the Philadelphia area, Thriven Design has provided architectural and engineering services towards many affordable senior housing projects in the region including University Square in University City, Birchwood at Cedars Village in South Philadelphia, and Daniel B. Green House in Trevose, Pennsylvania.
Thriven Design and Pennrose have a decades-long relationship advancing affordable housing in the City of Philadelphia. In addition to Good Shepherd Senior Residence, their shared portfolio includes Tasker Village, Diamond Street Apartments, and Wynne Senior Residence, which is an Enterprise Green Community designed to meet Passive House building standards and was a finalist in the Delaware Valley Green Building Council’s annual Groundbreaker Awards.
