Developments

I came across this mind blowing article in The Bulletin newspaper about a new high-end real estate project on Rittenhouse Square. One thing that is particularly surprising is 300 people showed up for the unveiling including Dwight Evans, Chaka Fattah, Lynne Abraham, and Michael Nutter. What a strage array of folks for the opening of a condo building. What kind of interests are really involved here? Where is the money coming from? As one of the new purchasers quoted in the article "The general rules don't apply in this case". Fascinating!

Asfolks in New Orleans are fighting to keep public housing alive, and as we here of the attacks on protesters by police today in New Orleans during a city council meeting,here is some info on what the fight is really about.

Erika

Click on any link below.

Save New Orleans public housing

New Orleans Indymedia

In the May election Philadelphians voted on a referendum to overhaul the Phila zoning code (more on why this is a good thing). A reformed zoning code could potentiallyhelp developers and average people avoid the Kafkaesque red tape of the current zoning system but also give communities a healthier role in developing their neighborhood.

Some of you might be interested in this discussion happening on the Young Philly Politics blog about the city's declaration of the area around Broad and Washington as a redevelopment zone.

Following is from the New York Times:

By MELODY SIMMONS Published: June 17, 2007

BALTIMORE, June 16 — For nearly three decades, Charlotte Johnson witnessed the drug dealing and violence on the streets in front of her modest row house in East Baltimore. She rode it out only to face a new challenge today — the community' transformation under the largest planned urban renewal in the country, which could soon drive her out of the neighborhood.

Business owners and merchants of the 1100 and 1200 blocks of S. 9th street responded to a City Council bill that would look to redevelop an area that they say is no longer blighted. A broad coalition of concerned community membersaddressed CityCouncil, TuesdayApril 23rd, to contesta bill that would allowfor the redevelopment oftwo blocks of the Italian Market south of Washington Ave. The project is part of the 9th & Ellsworth Urban Renewal Area. City Council Bill No. 070168 was passed through the rules committee despite the community's resistance.

Opposition to the redevelopment plan centers around the labeling of the neighborhood and business area as blighted. A report compiled by the Mexican community organization, JUNTOS/Casa de los Soles and researchers from the University of Pennsylvania shows that only 1 of the 15 properties listed as vacant on the city's land use map is actually vacant. The rest of the properties are under construction and being prepared to open for business or are newly renovated, recently openedbusinesses. Those opposed to the planned redevelopment point out that this area has been a sucessful location of investment and growth by local entrepreneurs and those that they serve.

One suchbusiness owner addressed City Council and invited them to come visit the area. To read his comments in English followed by Spanish, click here

here is a message from some friends:

do you think philly's "success with blight" should be exported to new orleans? if not, here's an easy way to speak out against gentrification in philly AND in new orleans. ray nagin, the mayor of new orleans, recently visited philadelphia in order to learn from our city’s “success with blight” and is now hoping to emulate some of the programs which many of us have organized against. penn alexander (the private/public school near upenn) and the brewerytown condos are named explictly as the kind of projects nagin wants to see happen in new orleans. here’s the link to the article in the Times-Picayune:

full article

From Dicicio--Looks Like South Philly is up for some trouble. A lot of Immigrants in this community!

Bill Begins: Approving the redevelopment proposal of the Redevelopment Authority of the City of Philadelphia for the redevelopment of the 9th & Ellsworth Urban Renewal Area being the area generally bounded by Washington avenue on the north, Darien street to the east, Federal street to the south and the rear of properties fronting on the west side of Ninth street to the west; approving the urban renewal plan and determining that such plan and redevelopment proposal conform to the general locality plan and make adequate provisions for individuals, business concerns and families who are displaced; determining the necessity for changes in and for zoning, streets, alleys, public ways, street patterns, location and relocation of public utilities; determining that the urban renewal plan and redevelopment proposal meet all non-discrimination requirements of Federal, State and Local Laws and the regulations and policies promulgated with respect thereto; declaring that certain expressly designated and provided for condemnation is not imminent with respect to the Project; and declaring the redevelopment undertakings in the Project to be an important part of the City's program to remove and prevent the spread of urban blight.

Hey guys I'm sure someone knows about this...there is a proposal to blight all of 9th street from Washington to Federal because there's a 3 block section where he wants to build a mixed-use tall building, where apparently "nobody lives" because much of the property isn't owner-occupied. Some folks want to figure out how to buy the property. They are especially interested in learning about land trusts and cooperative owning that wouldn't fall apart if, say, one person were to leave the country.

PLEASE DISTRIBUTE TO EVERY COMMUNITY ORGANIZATION IN PHILADELPHIA

The Community Preservation Network has prepared the advisory below for your immediate attention. If you care about being able to control development in your community - wherever you happen to live or work in Philadelphia - then you have ONE week to contact your district Councilperson, at-large Councilpersons and the mayor to STOP this legislation from being passed.