South Philly

Originally posted at Young Philly Politics:
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I updated this post to include the finding that a charge that Asian students had beaten up an African American student the day before was based on hearsay. See below.
 

Save Hawthorne Park

Community Rally

12 noon on Saturday, October 20th

At the park (12th and Catharine)

Several community meetings put on by the Don't Tax Me Out Campaign of the Community Preservation Network have been in the news recently. Check them out here:

South Philly Review and Al Dia

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.

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

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.

I think there is some very interesting research to be done on the intersection of school reform efforts and the politics of 'taking back' the city for the upper social classes.