Community Project Funding/Congressionally Directed Spending - Construction - In 2013, the Philadelphia City Planning Commission (PCPC) adopted The Philadelphia 2035 Lower Northeast District Plan. As part of that plan the city identified the need for an additional health center (Health Center 11) to service the Northeast section of the City. Health Center 11 would address major health-related issues and alleviate pressures from an overcrowded Health Center 10. The plan speaks to the “strong association” among land use, transportation, and issues of public health. Further, the study identifies the Frankford Transportation Center (FTC) as the “City’s second busiest transit hub” and suggests placing a health center adjacent to FTC to maximize accessibility to the Lower Northeast section of the City. In 2019 Philadelphia Department of Public Health (PDPH) ranked 46 neighborhoods based on health outcomes (length and quality of life), and health factors (health behaviors, clinical care, social and economic factors, physical environment); Frankford ranked 42 and 43, respectively. Frankford’s lack of access to fresh food and quality health care correlate closely with the neighborhood's rates of chronic illnesses that surpass citywide rates. 23.4% of adults (ages 18-64) in Frankford lack health insurance vs. 17.4% citywide; approximately 39% of adults in Frankford are obese vs. 30% citywide. Frankford’s physician to resident ratio vastly exceeds the citywide rate (1/2576 vs. 1/1460). Only about 70% of residents reported having a recent routine medical checkup compared to 75% citywide. FInally, Health Center 10, the only health center servicing the entire Northeast section of the City has a waiting period of up to 12 months for a new adult patient appointment and up to 6 months for a new pediatric appointment. This represents a severe access barrier, leaving many residents of the area to suffer preventable complications. The Frankford CDC is now proposing to construct a municipal health center as part of a larger transit-oriented development (TOD) at FTC. The FTC/TOD project will consist of a mixed-use development, anchored by a 20,000 square-foot supermarket with a 40,000 square-foot City Health Center, and mixed-income housing. The Health Center at FTC will be a full service health center offering primary care services for adults and children, women's health and family planning, behavioral health, physical therapy and dental. Additionally, this health center will offer onsite pharmacy and laboratory services. Finally, this project will have a major positive impact on the area surrounding FTC and will also catalyze further development along Frankford Avenue. This mixed-use project will give local residents access to quality health care services, fresh food, affordable housing, additional retail, and living wage jobs. The health center alone is projected to create 43 jobs with annual salary ranges from $43,000 - $224,000. The project will have a significant positive impact on the area surrounding FTC and will catalyze further development along the Frankford Avenue commercial corridor.
