South Philly School Conversion Will Create 84 New Apartments

The developer who purchased the former Childs Elementary School at 17th and Tasker streets plans to turn the building into apartments, with a mix of affordable and market-rate housing. Metal Ventures’ purchase of the vacant school was approved last month by the School Reform Commission.

The developer plans to create a mixed-income apartment building with 72 market rate apartments and 12 affordable apartments.

The company proposes rehabbing the existing structure and building an annex on part of the adjacent lot, said Councilman Kenyatta Johnson, who has been involved with the sale process for more than a year.

Metal Ventures will build 72 market rate units and 12 affordable units and plans to include 51 off-street parking spaces on an enclosed lot.

The School District was selling the building through a community process, when it stalled.

Ultimately, the councilman worked through several well-attended public meetings and this was the plan that was most supported.

The project stills need to go through the permitting process, as well as the community meetings and public input that go along with it.

The finished project would include a community room that will be accessible by the public by request, and at dedicated times for designated community organizations.

Metal Ventures also will provide an annual contribution to the new Childs Elementary School, at 1599 Wharton Street, as a way to give back to the surrounding community.