New $100 million Temple Student Housing

Philly.com reports, the Goldenberg Group has started construction on a $100 million student apartment building next to Temple University on the site of the former John Wanamaker Middle School with a 2014 completion date. The original plan was to renovate the school into student apartments, with community space and a charter school for the Bright Hope Baptist Church, currently located across the street.  The Bright Hope Baptist Church still remains part of the project as an equity partner with a 10% stake, money they say they will use to fund a new charter school.

The new 14-story residence will be located in the 100 block of Cecil B. Moore Avenue, adding 832 beds for Temple Students.  The project is the third to add much-needed housing for Temple.  The university is building a 1,000-bed dormitory on North Broad Street and Mosaic Development partners of West Philadelphia is finishing construction of Diamond Green Apartments for an additional 350 students near the Temple University train station.  The projects will  relieve pressure among Temple's rising ranks of students to find housing on or near campus, said Ken Lawrence, a senior vice president of government relations at Temple.  This will surely help to alleviate clashes between local residents and the over 5,000 Temple students living in off campus housing.