News From Office of the Deputy Mayor for Planning
and Economic Development Continued from page 15
Home Buy Now (Employer Assisted Housing
Objective
One way to stimulate the housing markets and investment in neighborhoods to aid community economic
development is to involve local employers in providing
new homeownership opportunities for their employees.
Home Buy Now, an Employer Assisted Housing (EAH)
program, encourages both businesses and employees to
become active investors in Philadelphia neighborhoods
by offering a City match of housing benefits that participating businesses provide to their employees.
Home Buy Now can also be used in conjunction with
the Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency’s (PHFA)
Employer Assisted Housing program which will match
up to $2,000 of an employer’s contribution.
Program Description
The City of Philadelphia markets the program and
works with the Greater Philadelphia Urban Affairs coalition to support participating businesses. Home Buy Now
benefits are for ANYONE BUYING A HOME in the City
of Philadelphia that works for a participating employer.
The City matches employers’ contribution between
up to $5,000 per employee at settlement.
Update from the Department of Licenses
and Inspections (L&I):
Zoning File Room
L&I will have imaged the entire zoning file room by
February 1, 2009. The goal is to have the zoning files
available online for public access by March 1, 2009.
Plumbing and Electrical Permits
Plumbing and electrical permits will be available online
by March 1, 2009.
Housing Inspection License Renewals be available for online
purchase by February 1, 2009.
Standards
L&I issues a monthly scorecard on key standards in the
permit process.
• Residential plan reviews within 15 days 99% of
the time,
• Commercial plan reviews within 25 days 99% of
the time,
Partnerships
Although the program is available for any first time home
buyer buying any home, Participating communities have
agreed to match the employer/City contribution up to
$7,500. These participating communities would be marketed with the program and included in the printed materials.
Working with the Greater Association of Realtors, participating brokers have agreed to contribute by reducing
their fees making homes even more affordable.
Call To Action
We are asking that any developers interested in making one
of their projects a participating development please contact
Brian Flanagan at 215.683.2152 or [email protected].
If you are interested in participating as an employer or
know of any business that may be interested in participating, please ask them to contact Jim Flaherty at
215.683.2162 or [email protected].
Members Do Business
With Members
Spring 2009
17