Committee advances rezoning to enable Habitat for Humanity to build about 20 affordable units on Montgomery Avenue

The Committee on Rules voted to report Bill 250,719 with a favorable recommendation and to suspend the rules to permit first reading, advancing a rezoning that Habitat for Humanity Philadelphia says would enable housing and community space on the north side of the 1800 block of Montgomery Avenue.

Ed Macaulay, identified in the hearing as director of real estate development for Habitat for Humanity Philadelphia, told the committee the organization owns several long‑vacant and underused parcels in the area and is seeking remapping from RSA‑5 (residential single attached) to a mix of RM‑1 and CMX‑2 to construct about 20 affordable residential units and to provide commercial/office space for programs, meetings and home‑repair workshops. Macaulay thanked Councilmember Jeffrey Young for sponsoring the bill and the Planning Commission for its support.

Paula Brumbelow Burns of the Philadelphia City Planning Commission told the committee the bill was introduced on 09/11/2025 and that the Planning Commission will consider it at its 10/16/2025 public meeting where staff will recommend approval. Macaulay said the proposal includes office space that would allow Habitat to expand its meeting and program capacity to serve residents.

Councilmember Scuola moved that the committee report Bill 250,719 with a favorable recommendation and suspend rules to permit first reading; the motion was seconded and the ayes carried. The committee did not record any public opposition in the hearing transcript.

If enacted, the remap would change allowable residential form on the specified parcels to enable Habitat’s proposed housing and community uses; the testimony described an approximate count of units and the intended program space but did not include a construction timeline or funding breakdown.