Community Ventures, Old First Reformed UCC, and Depaul USA are pleased to provide this update on Old First House. This project provides 34 units of much-needed affordable housing for formerly homeless individuals at the intersection of N. 4th Street and Race Street in Old City.
Old First House will be a mixed-use building redeveloping an underutilized portion of Old First Reformed UCC’s property along the 100 block of N. 4th Street. Since the 1980s, when then-Philadelphia Mayor Wilson Goode called on congregations to open their doors to the homeless population, Old First Reformed UCC has sheltered 30-45 homeless men in their social hall, located on the first floor of the church, during the six coldest months out of every year. This project will be an extension—and an improvement—of Old First Reformed UCC’s long-term efforts to shelter the homeless.
Permanent supportive housing, is an evidence-based intervention that has been demonstrated to be effective in improving the lives of chronically homeless individuals, and there is a significant need for more permanent supportive housing in Philadelphia. The Philadelphia Office of Homeless Services estimates that there is a need for 2,290 more units of housing to meet the current demand of people experiencing homelessness. Old First House will move Philadelphia closer to its ultimate goal of welcoming all of its citizens off the street and into safe and affordable housing.
Historically, the corner of 4th & Race has been a densely-developed area of mixed commercial, retail, industrial and residential uses, with Old First Reformed Church as an anchor. This development will recreate that density while providing commercial, residential and Church office and multiple-purpose space.
View from 4th Street 
View from Race Street
The Old First House building will include 2,656 square feet of ground floor commercial space at the corner of 4th & Race and new ground floor offices and multipurpose room for the Church. The second through fifth floors will include 34 small efficiency units ranging in size from 277 SF to 353 SF and a residential community room.
In order to accommodate the new building, the project will include the partial demolition, relocation and rehabilitation of a circa 1760 three-story building known as 151 N. 4th Street and the demolition of a second 1970s rowhouse. The Philadelphia Historical Commission approved the treatment of these two existing buildings in June 2019 and the new construction in June 2022. The relocated and rehabilitated 151 N. 4th Street will be fully incorporated into the new building and will provide office space for Old First Reformed Church. It’s first floor 1970s-era façade will be rebuilt to replicate its earliest documented design as a commercial storefront.
The project has received funding commitments from the City of Philadelphia’s Division of Housing and Community Development (DHCD), Low Income Housing Tax Credits and additional funding from the Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency, and operating subsidy from the Philadelphia Housing Authority (PHA). Old First House will also include a construction loan from TD Bank, equity investment from the National Equity Fund, and a permanent loan from Community Lenders.
OZ Collaborative is leading the design team and the project anticipates green building certifications from Enterprise Green Communities, WELL, and Passive House Institute US. The project will be built by Domus and building relocation by Wolfe House & Building Movers.
Construction began in July 2023 and is scheduled to be completed by December 2024.
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