Some Philadelphia blocks are about to get the kind of curb appeal you usually only see in real-estate listings. The city has launched a new Curbside Appeal Program that will give selected residential blocks up to $100,000 for neighborhood cleanups, greening and small repairs, as part of Mayor Cherelle Parker’s H.O.M.E. housing push. Applications are open now and run through June 26, 2026, with organizers saying winners will be picked this summer and work is expected to start in the fall.
According to the City of Philadelphia, the money can cover debris removal, lawn restoration, downspout planters, selective tree trimming, fence installation and repair, certain sidewalk fixes and other improvements that benefit the whole block. The Division of Housing and Community Development says applications are being collected from May 11 through June 26.
In a statement to NBC10 Philadelphia, Mayor Cherelle Parker put it plainly: "Every Philadelphian deserves to live on a block they can be proud of." Program organizers told NBC10 they expect roughly 10 blocks to be chosen. They say winners should be announced in August, with shovels and rakes hitting the ground in the fall.
There is a catch, though, and it is all about neighbor power. Organizers told NBC10 that teams need to show strong buy-in. At least 50% of households on a block should be part of the team applying, and any selected block will need about 75% of households to sign a petition acknowledging the planned work.
Who Can Apply?
Per the Division of Housing and Community Development, homeowners can apply directly, and renters can join in if they have written consent from the property owner. The program is aimed at blocks located in census tracts where more than half of residents are at or below 100% of the area median income.
Where This Fits In
The Curbside Appeal Program is one piece of the larger H.O.M.E. Initiative, the mayor's broader housing plan that emphasizes block-level and façade-level investments. Coverage has detailed the $2 billion proposal and how it fits into the city’s wider housing strategy, including the mayor's $2 billion housing push and reporting from PhillyVoice.
How To Apply
Organizers say neighborhood teams can submit applications through local Neighborhood Advisory Committees or at the city’s Neighborhood Community Action Centers in the 9th and 10th Council Districts, with application materials available both online and at those centers, as reported by NBC10 Philadelphia. For questions, the Division of Housing and Community Development lists [email protected] as the contact, and officials say funding decisions will move quickly, so blocks that want in are being urged to organize now.
