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Project Challenge 

In response to the growing lack of adequate affordable housing, gentrification, and consequential residential displacement in historically Black communities, this project explored the prospects of an intergenerational, community-driven equitable development civic innovation in a university-adjacent community. The team conducted a cross sector community capitals asset map and analyzed narrative and archival data to plan a pilot project that will co-design an affordable co-housing strategy. The project addresses various community needs - affordable housing, aging-in-place, Black homeownership, generational wealth, and social cohesion- through a “placekeeping” civic innovation. 

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Placekeeping: A Co-designed Model of Co-housing and Coalition Building in a University-Adjacent Community​

West Philadelphia Promise Zone

Philadelphia, PA

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NSF Award ID: 2228709 ​

PI: Ayana Allen-Handy, Ph.D.

Drexel University

2022 Civic Innovation Challenge

Pilot Vision

  • Create a scalable arts-centered co-housing pilot for anti-displacement and community-driven equitable development​.

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  • Co-design activities and agreements that will weave together the community fabric of diverse homeowners, homesharers, and their support network of 18 homes within a 2-block multi-use development.

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  • The co-designed system will address the sharing of communal and third spaces and services supporting residents' daily needs and quality of life.​

Civic Partners:

  • Mantua Civic Association
  • Powelton Village Civic Association
  • Lomax Real Estate Partners
  • De’Wayne Drummond
  • Carol Richardson McCullough
  • Victoria Huggins Peurifoy
  • George Jenkins
  • Helma Weeks

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Research Partners:

Drexel University

School of Education

College of Arts & Sciences

Westphal College of Media Arts & Design

  • Rachel Wenrick (Co-I)
  • Chris Wright, Ph.D. (Co-I)
  • Destiny Bugg
  • Uk Jung
  • Kirsten Kaschock, Ph.D.
  • Lauren Lowe
  • Katie Mathew 
  • Kimberly Sterin

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Research Questions

RQ1:  What are the successes and challenges that diverse intergenerational, transdisciplinary, and cross-sector teams face in executing a comprehensive placekeeping strategy for community-driven equitable development in urban cities experiencing exponential gentrification and development?  

  

RQ2:   How and to what extent does a community-led community capitals asset mapping and resource needs assessment drive equitable development for historically marginalized Black communities experiencing displacement and loss of affordable housing options?