Author Archives: Stephen

WANTED: Endangered Properties

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Do you know of a building or site in the Philadelphia region threatened by development or neglect? Every year, the Preservation Alliance compiles its Endangered Properties List from nominations submitted by concerned citizens like you. Released in December, the list draws attention to these irreplaceable historic resources and can help build public support for preservation solutions. Nominations are accepted through October 14 and can be submitted online here. For more information, contact ben@preservationalliance.com

Read more here:

WANTED: Endangered Properties | PlanPhilly: Planning Philadelphia’s Future.

W. Rockland Street

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Just stumbled on this site.  We applaud the efforts of the residents of W. Rockland Street and wish them every success.  This is a post from earlier this summer.

BREAKING NEWS: The blighted houses at 4817 and 4815 Greene Street at the corner of W Rockland will be torn down effective immediately! « W Rockland Street.

Want to Buy City-Owned Properties?

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The following content is taken verbatim from the City of Philadelphia’s website and it provides not-very-clear instructions on how to buy surplus property from the City.

There is a pdf document that has (as of July 27, 2011) 252 pages of properties that are allegedly available to purchase.  The actual process to purchase any of these properties, is not clear, but we do know some of the process, for those brave enough to venture into an exercise that can often prove frustrating.  Contact us for info.

The properties can be found at the following site: http://www.phila.gov/pdfs/propertyinventory.pdf

Disclaimer

Additional Terms of Use:

PLEASE READ THE PHILA.GOV TERMS OF USE AT http://www.phila.gov/tos/index.html AND THE FOLLOWING ADDITIONAL TERMS OF USE WHICH ARE SPECIFIC TO THE SURPLUS PROPERTY LISTING SITE (THE PHILA.GOV AND SURPLUS PROPERTY LISTING SITE TERMS OF USE ARE COLLECTIVELY REFERRED TO HEREIN AS “TERMS OF USE”). IF YOU DO NOT AGREE TO THE TERMS OF USE DO NOT ACCESS THIS SITE. THE TERMS OF USE ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE BY THE CITY AT ITS SOLE DISCRETION AT ANY TIME. USE OF THIS SITE AFTER IMPLEMENTATION OF

SUCH CHANGES CONSTITUTES YOUR ACCEPTANCE OF THE CHANGES. PLEASE CONSULT THE TERMS OF USE REGULARLY.

The information provided on this site is compiled from a variety of sources, including sources beyond the control of the City, and is subject to change without notice from the City. The City reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to modify or remove properties from this site at any time and for any reason or for no reason.

The City of Philadelphia makes every effort to provide the most accurate property information available on this site. Please notify the respective department, Department of Public Property at publicproperty@phila.gov; Redevelopment Authority at  http://www.phila.gov/rda/expressionOfInterest.html or the Phildelphia Housing Development Corporation at 215-448-3000 with any inaccuracies in the information provided.

The property information provided on this site is for informational and convenience purposes only.  The information  is not intended to indicate the quality of property or priority of interest in any property; you are advised not to rely on any surplus property listing for this purpose.

Commercial use of the information provided on this site is strictly prohibited without the prior written permission of the City of Philadelphia. To the extent you use, apply, or implement this information in your own information system or other setting, or otherwise for your own purposes, you do so at your own risk.

Disclaimer:

THE INFORMATION PROVIDED THROUGH THIS WEB SITE IS PROVIDED ON  AN “AS IS” AND “AS AVAILABLE” BASIS. THE CITY MAKES NO REPRESENTATION OR WARRANTY WHATSOEVER, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, WITH RESPECT TO THE QUALITY, CONTENT, ACCURACY, SUFFICIENCY, VERACITY OR COMPLETENESS OF THE INFORMATION PROVIDED ON THIS SITE OR THE AVAILABILITY OF ANY OF THE PROPERTIES LISTED ON THIS SITE.

Limitation of Liability:

IN NO EVENT SHALL THE CITY, OR ITS AGENCIES, OFFICERS, EMPLOYEES, AGENTS, OR REPRESENTATIVES BE LIABLE FOR ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT, SPECIAL, PUNITIVE, INCIDENTAL, EXEMPLARY OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES ARISING OUT OF YOUR ACCESSING OR USING THIS SITE OR ANY INFORMATION DISPLAYED ON THE SITE.

OPA Data Liberator: the hackathon project that fills in where city property records leave off [VIDEO] : Technically Philly : mike : Portfoli

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Technically Philly

OPA Data Liberator: the hackathon project that fills in where city property records leave off

via OPA Data Liberator: the hackathon project that fills in where city property records leave off [VIDEO] : Technically Philly : mike : Portfoli.

Abandoned City | PlanPhilly: Planning Philadelphia’s Future

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The Redevelopment Authority of Philadelphia (RDA) is undergoing an overhaul by the administration of Mayor Michael Nutter, aimed at making its inventory and dispoal policies more transparent and accessible to the public. The state-chartered entity, which has the power of eminent domain and to dispose of property for less than market-value, has conveyed thousands of vacant properties over the past few decades to individuals, companies, and organizations. Most have been redeveloped – but not all. The map below shows about half of all properties (data source errors currently make a complete list impossible) which were conveyed by the RDA since 1986, but remain vacant today. Please note: many approved redevelopment projects consisted of the acquisition of vacant lots as private side yards, which still show up as “vacant.”

Abandoned City | PlanPhilly: Planning Philadelphia’s Future.

Why are we a city full of holes?

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There are more than 40,000 abandoned lots in Philly. Why are we a city full of holes?

Theres maybe no single issue that permeates every facet of city life — crime, politics, gentrification, development, happiness — more deeply than Philadelphias 40,000-plus vacant and abandoned lots. Theyre arguably our biggest problem, and also our biggest opportunity. An empty lot is usually one dream gone bad and another unfulfilled. Its nothing and anything.

via The Vacant Land Issue | Philadelphia City Paper | 07/21/2011.

Housing Alliance of Pennsylvania – The Conservatorship Act

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A Primer on HB2188 – Conservatorship for Abandoned Properties

posted by: Cindy Daley

05-04-2010 @ 10:46 am

In small cities, large cities, and rural towns throughout the state, 300,000 buildings stand vacant. Too often properties sit vacant because the tools for dealing with them are not appropriate for the job. The tax sale process is too unpredictable; there is no control over what will happen to the property once it is purchased. Conservatorship allows a community to take control of its future by addressing the problem of abandonment.

via Housing Alliance of Pennsylvania.

Housing Alliance of PA Guide to New Tools

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Housing Alliance PA New Tools Quick Guide FINAL Feb 2011

This NEW TOOLS QUICK GUIDE provides a compilation and brief description of state laws recently enacted for Pennsylvania’s communities to address the problem of vacant, abandoned and blighted private property.

Curious About What PHA Owns?

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So were we.  So, we did a quick search of public records in the 19121 zip code.  This is the area that includes the fast-growing Temple University Main Campus, west of Broad to 33rd Street, roughly bordered by Girard Avenue to the south and Dauphin to the north.  Vacant property only.  What do you think we found? Take a look for yourself.

If you see something you like, contact PHA and get in line.

PHA-Owned Vacant Property in 19121 Zip Code

Is PHA Finally Going to Sell?

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If recent events are any indication, it just might come to pass that the Philadelphia Housing Authority, which owns about 4,000 vacant properties, will sell off some and hopefully all of its unwanted parcels.  This disgraceful policy of holding them has been an affront to Philadelphia’s residents who face plenty of obstacles in stemming the creeping deterioration of the housing stock and the fabric their neighborhoods.

Community groups and non-profit developers are eagerly waiting for more information.

Let’s hope Michael Kelly, PHA’s new Administrator, has the will and political muscle to see through the initiative he started to sell these properties.

Read more: PHA Looking for Takers

Seeking answers on blight in one section of Phila. | Philadelphia Inquirer | 05/13/2011

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A recently formed coalition called the Campaign to Take Back Vacant Land recently released a report, “Put Abandoned Land in Our Hands.”  According to this report, 25 percent of the properties in the section from Girard to Lehigh Avenues and Front to 10th Streets are vacant or blighted.

They are seeking support to turn this deplorable situation around.

Seeking answers on blight in one section of Phila. | Philadelphia Inquirer | 05/13/2011.

A Plea from Parkside

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This posting is from a neighbor in the Parkside section:

I am with the Viola Street Residents Association a grassroots community group in the East Parkside section of West Philadelphia.  We have at least eleven (11) abandoned properties (most of them for years) and 7 vacant lots on our street alone!   We are desperately trying to find a solution to slow down the deterioration of these properties and hopefully saving them for future rehabilitation. We DO NOT WANT ANY MORE DEMOLITION!  We want and need development that will benefit the current residents.   We already had an abundance of “tear downs” due to the condition of the property and demolition under NTI.   I can send you the addresses.  There is no need for me to point out how this saturation has impacted residents on our street and the health of our community.
4272, 4230, 4268, 4218, Viola Street and more..

In North and West Philadelphia, two urban renewal plans move forward | PlanPhilly: Planning Philadelphia’s Future

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Community organizations in North and West Philadelphia came a step closer this week to turning blocks of mostly vacant or abandoned properties into new housing, a health and wellness center and a mixed-use development.

The Philadelphia Planning Commission Tuesday approved an amendment to the Model Cities Urban Renewal Plan, authorizing the redevelopment authority to acquire 54 properties on the block bounded by 21st and 22nd streets, Cecil B. Moore Avenue and Nicholas Street in North Philadelphia. Project H.O.M.E plans to build a health and wellness center in cooperation with Thomas Jefferson University Hospital. The commission also approved the acquisition of 2804 West Oakdale Street, which will become part of a Philadelphia Housing Authority residential development project.

via In North and West Philadelphia, two urban renewal plans move forward | PlanPhilly: Planning Philadelphia’s Future.