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space to operate, and they can
provide service directly to ten-
ants.”
Laundry was also a major topic
of discussion. Originally, Penn
Terra Group intended to pro-
vide laundry equipment in each
unit, but Bethlehem advocated
for communal laundry spaces.
“Laundry is an opportunity to
bring the community togeth-
er and make it stronger,” John
says. “So that’s what we did.”
Furthermore, taking Bethle-
hem’s advice, Penn Terra also
includes a room specifically for
storing electric scooters, the
kind used by residents with
mobility challenges. In other
affordable housing develop-
ments, residents are forced to
store those scooters in their
units, and that requires trans-
porting them through halls and
elevators, which can make a
mess. Having a separate room
for scooters close to an elevator
eliminates that issue.
The building also provides for
bicycle storage both inside and
outside – which is important in
an affordable development, as
a lot of the tenants do not have
automobiles.
Lastly, there’s a community
room, which includes a kitch-
en for cooking demonstrations,
and will also act as a meeting
space for tenants.
JUNE 2019