HDC believes deeply in collaborating with community partners who share our values and vision of a world where a safe, affordable place to call home is available to everyone through the creation and preservation of affordable housing. When we work together, leveraging our strengths, we are able to bring greater value to the communities we serve. HDC has entered into this kind of collaborative working relationship with Lancaster Lebanon Habitat for Humanity to bring affordable homeownership opportunities to Lancaster’s West End neighborhood at 913 Wheatland Avenue.
The site on Wheatland Avenue was initially planned to be a phase of HDC’s redevelopment of the former UPMC/St. Joseph’s hospital site, which included affordable rental and homeownership options. Through an open conversation with members of the neighborhood, we understood there was a great need for homeownership opportunities in this area of the City. Given that HDC does not specialize in homeownership, we began discussions with Lancaster Lebanon Habitat for Humanity, a peer nonprofit in the Lancaster area, about their potential interest in developing affordable homes at this location. After conducting their own due diligence, Habitat agreed to take over developing affordable homes on Wheatland Avenue.
“Habitat is committed to preserving old homes and building new ones, as we have for over 30 years in the City of Lancaster,” said Andrew Szalay, President & CEO of Lancaster Lebanon Habitat for Humanity. “We will look to the neighbors, the City, and our many construction volunteers and experts to build homes that suit the West End neighborhood and the future needs of the City’s homeowners.”
As the current developer with control of the site at Wheatland Avenue from UPMC, HDC will begin the process of transferring that control to Lancaster Lebanon Habitat for Humanity.
We are continuing to partner with Baltimore-based firm, Washington Place Equities (WPE), for the larger redevelopment of the former UPMC/St. Joseph’s hospital site. Total combined investment is expected to be $90 million for all phases.
Every voice matters. At HDC, we are committed to raising up resident voices and opening doors so that residents can actively participate in the democratic process, speak out on issues important to them and their communities, and communicate how policies affect their everyday lives. We believe it is important to make the time and space to listen, and to support resident leaders in effectively using their voices. We support resident advocacy opportunities through our Resident Academy of Leadership & Inspiration, Voter Registration Drives, and holding constituent meetings and tours with elected officials.
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Finding a place to live that meets one’s basic needs and budget can feel like a never-ending challenge. The complexity of lower-income families and individuals extend far beyond simply finding a safe, affordable, and welcoming place to call home. At HDC, we are committed to being an ally in speaking to issues, programs, and policies that improve quality of life of our residents. Issues that we know are important to our residents include:
We know we can’t solve the affordable housing challenge alone. We need champions to help change the conversation around what home means and why it matters. We are committed to educating elected officials to understand the needs and challenges of their constituents. We are here to provide solutions that work and offer affordable housing expertise that demonstrates the impact policy decisions have on lower-income families, seniors and those with disabilities. We work closely with and participate in alliances and coalitions to educate and advance shared policy priorities. Our advocacy partners include:
Wendy Smith serves as the Vice President of Property Management, responsible for the overall strategic direction for HDC’s management portfolio and the organization’s largest staff team. Previously, Wendy served as Asset and Operations Manager for a leading real estate firm based in New York City which owned over 11,000 affordable homes. Since 2008, Wendy has held roles in regional level operations for commercial and for-profit housing agencies. Wendy holds a degree in International Studies.
