State officials could transfer Philadelphia property for affordable housing

The Department of General Services could transfer the property to the Philadelphia Housing Authority with the Governor’s approval for $50,000. The property is the former Philadelphia Nursing Home at 2100 West Girard Avenue in Philadelphia, covering about 1.71 acres and its buildings. The transfer would remain subject to recorded easements, other property rights, and existing lawful leases or tenancies. The Housing Authority would pay the transfer’s costs and fees. The transfer would end the existing sublease between Pennsylvania and Philadelphia as of the transfer date. The transfer would occur only after the required approval and deed execution; the act would take effect immediately if enacted.

The Housing Authority would have to develop the property as senior living and mixed-income affordable housing, with a possible mixed-use part that supports that housing. The requirements would bind the Housing Authority and its successors or assigns, and the deed would prohibit use of any part of the property as a state-law licensed facility or similar state-authorized facility. The development would need certificates of occupancy for each component. If the project is not completed on time, or is used for another purpose, the property could return to Pennsylvania at the Department of General Services’ election. The Department could allow more time when the project cannot be completed with due diligence, but the total period could not exceed 10 years. The deed would make these conditions binding on later owners or assigns. The project would generally need completion within five years after the transfer; an approved extension could allow completion within up to 10 years.

If the authorized transfer is not completed within 24 months, the property could be sold through competitive bidding, and the proceeds would go to Pennsylvania’s General Fund. This fallback would apply to the same Philadelphia property covered by the proposed transfer. The competitive sale would follow the cited state administrative law process. The usual property disposition plan would not be required. The Secretary of General Services could add deed conditions and manage related easements. The competitive-bidding option would apply if the transfer is not completed within 24 months after the relevant subsection takes effect.