Vacant Land Management and Reclamation in Philadelphia

Transcription

1 Vacant Land Management and Reclamation in Philadelphia J. Blaine Bonham, Jr. New Partners for Smart Growth Conference Building Safe, Healthy, and Livable Communities Washington D.C. February 7 9, 2008

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3 Philadelphia Green Art Museum Gorgas Park JFK Creating, restoring, and caring for open spaces. 36 Years of Building Community through Horticulture Spring Garden 4 th & Cecil B. Moore Streets Peace Garden

4 The Spring Gardens 18 th and Wallace Streets

5 The Spring Gardens 18 th and Wallace Streets

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8 Gas Station Garden

9 Gas Station Garden

10 JFK Boulevard

11 Columbus Boulevard

12 Columbus Boulevard

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16 Philadelphia Green Reclaiming Abandoned Land Positioning and Advocacy Cost Benefit Analysis Blight Elimination Committee

17 Management of Abandoned Vacant Land Added up: Vacant Lots represent millions of square feet ,000 Vacant Lots

18 Cost Benefit Analysis ,900 vacant lots $1.8 million spent annually with little impact A 20 year investment cost of $106.7 million could yield $158.7 million tax revenue benefit

19 Why manage vacant land? Improve Curb Appeal Retain existing residents Attract new residents Attract community investment

20 Philadelphia Green Reclaiming Abandoned Land Demonstrating Best Practices New Kensington Open Space Management Model ( ) Testing a Neighborhood Model American Street Empowerment Zone ( ) Adapting the Model Neighborhood Transformation Initiative ( ) Going to Citywide Scale

21 New Kensington Testing a Neighborhood Model

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26 The Situation in New Kensington 1996 Over 50% population decline in 40 years 1,100 vacant lots More than 70% of vacant property privately owned and tax delinquent Despair and anger in neighborhood

27 New Kensington Project Goal Create a community based vacant land management system to address local problem and test a model for other neighborhoods

28 Community Gardens

29 Community Gardens

30 Community Gardens

31 Community Gardens

32 Side yards

33 Community Garden Center

34 Community Garden Center

35 Community Garden Center

36 Urban agriculture Greensgrow Farm

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42 New Kensington Results Out of 1100 vacant parcels. 370 parcel cleaned and greened 108 parcels converted to sideyards 62 parcels as community gardens Community Garden Center Greensgrow Hydroponic Farm

43 Philadelphia Vacant Land Management and Reclamation The American Street Empowerment Zone Adapting the Model

44 Philadelphia Vacant Land Management and Reclamation American Street Empowerment Zone Clean and Green vacant lots along corridors and business areas Partners: city agencies, Philadelphia Green and community-based organizations Funded by the Philadelphia Empowerment Zone and State of Pennslyvania

45 Philadelphia Vacant Land Management and Reclamation

46 Philadelphia Vacant Land Management and Reclamation

47 Philadelphia Vacant Land Management and Reclamation

48 Philadelphia Vacant Land Management and Reclamation

49 American Street Empowerment Zone Land Stabilization Project Impact Since 2000, a total of 423 parcels (13 acres) stabilized Business contributions to maintenance New partnerships and practices involving city agencies, community organizations, and Philadelphia Green Model for NTI land management program

50 American Street Empowerment Zone Land Stabilization Project Impact Since 2000, a total of 423 parcels (13 acres) stabilized Business contributions to maintenance New partnerships and practices involving city agencies, community organizations, and Philadelphia Green Model for NTI land management program

51 The Neighborhood Transformation Initiative (NTI) Going to Scale

52 Former Mayor John F. Street s Neighborhood Transformation Initiative A five year plan to rebuild Philadelphia s neighborhoods as thriving communities with clean and secure streets, recreational and cultural outlets, and quality housing.

53 Real Estate Market Clusters Drill Down Regional Choice High Value Steady Transitional Distressed Reclamation Non Residential Transitional Up Transitional Steady Transitional Down

54 Six Target Areas South Philadelphia West Philadelphia Eastern North Philadelphia North Central Philadelphia Mt.Airy/Germantown/ Tioga Frankford

55 NTI Vacant Land Stabilization Criteria for Site Selection Prominent locations Community interest Adjacent to development Near schools Major thoroughfares Pedestrian routes Size of lots

56 4 th and Cecil B. Moore Avenue

57 4 th and Cecil B. Moore Avenue

58 7 th and Germantown Avenue

59 7 th and Germantown Avenue

60 2200 Mascher Street

61 2200 Mascher Street

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63 Philadelphia Green Community LandCare 2008 Centro Pedro Claver, Inc. East Park Revitalization Alliance New Kensington CDC Ready, Willing & Able SELF, Inc. Susquehanna Clean Up/Pick Up Tioga United, Inc. Nicetown CDC Village of Arts and Humanities Mantua Community Improvement Committee Men of Mill Creek Friends of East Park Francisville NDC HACE Impact Services Corporation

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69 Philadelphia Green PWD Partnership Mill Creek Farm Recruits stormwater from street into bio filtration swales Demonstrates a variety of green and sustainable building techniques

70 PHS Site Selection Criteria for Stormwater Management Parcels Contiguous parcels > 5,000 square feet 50 feet away from buildings Long term open space Pilot Project: 5 sites totaling 86,400 Square Feet

71 Infiltration testing

72 2300 North 3rd Street, Eastern North Philadelphia

73 2300 North 3rd Street, Eastern North Philadelphia

74 2300 North 3rd Street, Eastern North Philadelphia

75 Philadelphia Green Vacant Land Management Citywide Impact ,000 abandoned 12,000 initial clean up 10,000 managed 18,000 abandoned or being developed Today Initial clean up conducted by City Under management system Vacant/Being developed New community and economic development

76 Economic Benefits Increases property values Attracts investment 8 th and Berks

77 Public Investment Strategies: How They Matter for Neighborhoods in Philadelphia Identification and Analysis Effects of Greening on Home Values in Philadelphia Variable Adjacent to Derelict Vacant Lot Adjacent to Vacant Lot Transformed into a Clean & Green Lot <= 50 feet of New Tree Value 20% +37% +9% Conducted by Professor Susan Wachter Wharton School University of Pennsylvania Funded by The William Penn Foundation

78 Greening Gains: Direct and Indirect Benefits Quality of life gains From an eyesore to an amenity Brings nature to the neighborhood Expansion of the city s property tax base Action sparks re investment and neighborhood renewal

79 The Pennsylvania Horticultural Society s Green City Strategy Investing in the city s Green Infrastructure is critical to Philadelphia s future success.

80 Green City Strategy I. Manage vacant land as a community asset and interim redevelopment strategy.

81 Green City Strategy II. Support development and preservation of community managed green spaces. Aspen Farms, Mill Creek

82 Green City Strategy III. Promote and invest in a localized approach to storm water management North 3 rd Street

83 Green City Strategy IV. Invest in the city s parks as valuable and highly productive assets for Philadelphia and the region through leadership, partnership, and resources.

84 Green City Strategy V. Restore Philadelphia s urban forest as a dynamic element of the city s ecosystem. 7 th and Market Streets

85 Green City Strategy VI. Promote public and private investment in the city s civic landscapes that exemplify world class cities. Courtyard at the Art Museum

86 Green City Strategy VII. Develop and implement GreenPlan Philadelphia to guide the development and stewardship of Philadelphia s green infrastructure. Kelly Drive

87 The Philadelphia Region Blooms All Year Long!