Mon. March 10, 2014
Philadelphia, PA -
A housing facility for LGBT seniors officially opened last month in Philadelphia with a giant rainbow bow and a tag that reads "gift to the community."
The 6-story 56-unit housing facility was co-developed by the Dr. Magnus Hirschfeld Fund and Pennrose Properties. Tenants must be 62 or older and their yearly income cannot exceed $33,000. Monthly rents range from $192 to $768 based on income.
The L-shaped building, named the John C. Anderson Apartments after a city councilman who backed gay rights, features a lobby overlooking a 6,000-square-foot courtyard and includes retail space on the ground floor. The facility is located on 13th Street between Locust and Spruce in Philadelphia's predominantly gay neighbor.
"Being an LGBT friendly community, the largest development of its kind in the United States of America clearly shows Philadelphia as leading the way on human rights and LGBT rights issues," Mayor Michael Nutter told CBS Philly of the $19 million project.
Resident Bill Lowden called the facility "so beautiful" and "welcoming."
The facility joins similar projects in Los Angeles and Minnesota. Chicago and San Francisco are developing similar complexes.
(Related: NYC opens center for gay and lesbian seniors.)
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