Help Arrives for Sharswood Homes After NBC10 Investigation

Philadelphia, PA – Help is coming to the Sharswood neighborhood in North Philadelphia after NBC10 reported on the deteriorating conditions of several homes. Residents expressed their worries about four rowhomes located at 24th and Turner Street, which have been neglected for a long time.

The Philadelphia Housing Authority owns all the affected homes. On Tuesday night, officials from Licenses and Inspections (L&I) placed caution tape around the properties following NBC10’s inquiry. Neighbors voiced their urgent desire for repairs before someone gets hurt. “It’s horrible. I don’t want to live here no more,” said Dorothy Jordan, a resident of the area.

Residents on the 2400 block of Turner Street have been facing issues such as broken windows, damaged boards, and fallen bricks from the houses on a daily basis. “They’re falling down,” said Jordan, adding, “Rats and everything coming in people’s houses. Everywhere. It’s just really crazy.” Another neighbor, Cierra Howard, noted that previous caution tape put up by the fire department was removed by squatters seeking shelter in the vacant homes.

Overall, residents reported that little has been done to resolve their concerns. Howard expressed frustration after trying to reach out for assistance for more than a year. “We’ve called, we’ve emailed, we’ve done everything that we can do, and nobody wants to do anything,” she said.

NBC10’s investigation discovered that L&I has two active violations for one of the homes: one for failing to properly display the address and another for not having a vacant structure license. An independent structural engineer Review indicated that the situation is dangerous based on photos of the crumbling brick façade.

After neighbors documented the clean-up of fallen bricks on Tuesday morning, L&I inspectors visited the area that evening to inspect the properties, though residents believe it has taken far too long. “It’s very frustrating,” Howard said. “As a mom of six, it’s very frustrating. And with at least 35 children in this block, it’s frustrating.”

The Philadelphia Housing Authority released a statement regarding the situation, indicating their commitment to safety across their communities. They expressed disappointment that neighbors had chosen to publicize these matters instead of contacting them directly. PHA claimed they had not received any notices from L&I about unsafe conditions.

According to L&I, inspectors had initially followed up on a call regarding one of the homes but did not observe any issues in September 2025. However, they acknowledged a building façade collapsed on a different property nearby without being documented.

Residents feel neglected in their cry for help. “Nobody cares. Nobody cares about us,” Howard remarked, adding that she had halted her attempts to contact the city. The Philadelphia Housing Authority mentioned plans to redevelop these properties into homeownership units as part of their initiative to revitalize Sharswood. L&I inspectors stated that they need permission from PHA to conduct a more detailed inspection, likely scheduled for Wednesday.