Press Conference announces increased city funding of community gardens
June 20, Philadelphia --
Council members and community leaders announced an agreement at Iglesias Gardens on June 20 that Philadelphia city government would buy back over 90 community gardens and green spaces currently held by bank liens. City Councilmembers Kendra Brooks, Darrell L. Clarke, Jamie Gauthier and Quetcy M. Lozada spoke at the event in front of dozens of community garden activists.
According to the Philly Voice (tinyurl.com/4hv42b4p), a failed effort to raise money for the School District of Philadelphia in 1997 resulted in city officials selling off 30,000 city-owned land parcels to U.S. Bank. Though it did not solve the funding problem for the District, the properties have been held by bank liens for more than two decades and are currently being sold off individually at sheriff's sales.
Many of the lots, which have sat dormant and neglected for years, were taken up by community residents who provide upkeep and maintenance. As the communities do not own the properties, they are often left with limited notification if the land is being sold at a sheriff's sale.
The agreement which costs the city $1 million would allow the city to reacquire some of the remaining properties and work with City Council and other neighborhood stakeholders to return the plots of land to the communities they're located in.
#RestoreCommunityLand
Press Conference announces increased city funding of community gardens
June 20, Philadelphia --
Council members and community leaders announced an agreement at Iglesias Gardens on June 20 that Philadelphia city government would buy back over 90 community gardens and green spaces currently held by bank liens. City Councilmembers Kendra Brooks, Darrell L. Clarke, Jamie Gauthier and Quetcy M. Lozada spoke at the event in front of dozens of community garden activists.
According to the Philly Voice (tinyurl.com/4hv42b4p), a failed effort to raise money for the School District of Philadelphia in 1997 resulted in city officials selling off 30,000 city-owned land parcels to U.S. Bank. Though it did not solve the funding problem for the District, the properties have been held by bank liens for more than two decades and are currently being sold off individually at sheriff's sales.
Many of the lots, which have sat dormant and neglected for years, were taken up by community residents who provide upkeep and maintenance. As the communities do not own the properties, they are often left with limited notification if the land is being sold at a sheriff's sale.
The agreement which costs the city $1 million would allow the city to reacquire some of the remaining properties and work with City Council and other neighborhood stakeholders to return the plots of land to the communities they're located in.
#RestoreCommunityLand