Alert - Properties Under Threat in Brewerytown

RDA Takes 132 More Properties

(taken from the most recent newsletter of the African American Business and Residents Association in Brewerytown)

On July 11, 2006, the RDA Board of Directors voted to condemn (seize via eminent domain) 132 properties in Brewerytown, Strawberry Mansion and other parts of North Philadelphia. Unless their owners fight the condemnation within approximately 30 days, the RDA will succeed in paying as little as $1,000.00 per lot, instead of the more realistic price of $25,000.00 - $100,000.00 per lot.

It is imperative that anyone reading this examine the list of addresses seized by the RDA and let the owners know that their options to protect their personal property are fast expiring. AABRA can assist once the owners are located. As a fundamental strategy, we recommend that all owners file preliminary objectionsand force the RDA to deal with 132 different cases simultaneously. They will likely commence negotiation.

A broader concern is that once taken, the RDA will not likely sell these properties to community members. Instead, they will find wealthy developers, corrupt non-profits, churches or friends of influential politicians and give away the properties for only $1.00. The fundamental strategy must be to convince the RDA that a policy change is necessary: local residents should have the first opportunity to obtain condemned real estate, not friends of politicians or wealthy developers.

In the interim, please examine the list below and take appropriate action immediately:

North 31st Street: 1709-11, 1733, 1741, 1749-51, 1801-17, 1802-10, 1814-22, 1825-37, 1841-43, 1900, 1906, 1914, 1915, 1923-29, 1926, 1933-43, 1934-38, 1961-65, 1962, 2000, 2008, 2012, 2016, 2018-24, 2029-33, 2114, 2115, 2124, 2132, 2143-53. North 32nd Street: 1629-33, 1836, 1901, 1932, 1943, 1944-46, 2032, 2115-19, 2116, 2135, 2166. North 33nd Street: 1517, 1535, 1849, 1901-09, 1933-35, 2011-13, 2023, 2029-31. Arlington Street: 3211-17, 3220-26, 3227, 3236. West Berks Street: 3045, 3052, 3100, 3225-27, 3233-37. Cecil B. Moore Avenue: 3107, 3104-10, 3115, 3125-31, 3126-28, 3139-43, 3140, 3200-02, 3205-07, 3212, 3218-20. Clifford Street: 3100, 3101, 3113, 3118, 3123-29, 3126, 3130-34, 3223. West Dauphin Street: 3200-04, 3216-18, 3147. Diamond Street: 3219, 3230-38.

Euclid Street: 3055, 3107, 3115, 3129, 3142, 3148-54. Fountain Street: 3051-53, 3214, 3223, 3232. French Street: 3144. West Montgomery Avenue: 3224. Monument Street: 3210, 3217, 3223-25, 3233-37. Morse Street: 3109. North Napa Street: 1901-03, 1931. North Natrona Street: 1638, 2120, 2138-40, 2201, 2220. West Norris Street: 3210. West Oxford Street: 3201-07, 3216. West Page Street: 3103, 3107, 3121-23, 3126, 3131, 3134, 3233, 3239. North Patton Street: 1620, 1900, 1901, 1968. Ridge Avenue: 3028-34, 3108, 3122-26, 3201-03, 3212-34, 3213-27. West Susquehanna Avenue: 3201-03, 3212, 3220. Turner Street: 3200, 3223, 3231. Westmont Street: 3144