North Hills Manor, a redevelopment project in Glenside, has transformed a a 1950s-era public housing unit into a high-quality 50-unit affordable housing community. Located at 3115 Walnut Avenue, the site also includes a new 2,6380-sq.-ft. community building.

North Hills Manor’s 17-building site includes apartments with one to four bedrooms, as well as townhomes.

The high-quality homes will help address the county’s shortage of affordable rental homes. It is a widespread local concern; according to a 2021 report from Homes For All, a Norristown housing advocacy initiative, nearly 50 percent of Montgomery County renters are rent burdened.

The updated homes feature modern kitchens with electric range and dishwasher, spacious closets, ceramic tiled bathrooms, resident controlled heating and cooling, and in-unit washer/dryers. All buildings will be LEED certified for environmental impact mitigation purposes. Onsite amenities include a community room and a playground.

North Hills Manor offers residents excellent access to SEPTA public transportation and Route 152, providing easy access to Willow Grove Park Mall, the Upper Dublin School District, and Philadelphia itself. 

The three-phase demolition and construction at the original North Hills Manor public housing community began in 2017, with subsequent phases occurring over the next few years. The onsite relocation of residents allowed families to remain in the community during the reconstruction.

Pennrose, a Phila. developer of affordable housing, was also integral to the project.