Vacant Land Management and Reclamation in Philadelphia

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

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

The Spring Gardens 18 th and Wallace Streets

Gas Station Garden

JFK Boulevard

Columbus Boulevard

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

Management of Abandoned Vacant Land Added up: Vacant Lots represent millions of square feet. 1999 31,000 Vacant Lots

Cost Benefit Analysis 2000 30,900 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

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

Philadelphia Green Reclaiming Abandoned Land Demonstrating Best Practices New Kensington Open Space Management Model (1993 1997) Testing a Neighborhood Model American Street Empowerment Zone (2000 2006) Adapting the Model Neighborhood Transformation Initiative (2003 2008) Going to Citywide Scale

New Kensington Testing a Neighborhood Model

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

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

Community Gardens

Side yards

Community Garden Center

Urban agriculture Greensgrow Farm

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

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

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

Philadelphia Vacant Land Management and Reclamation

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

The Neighborhood Transformation Initiative (NTI) Going to Scale

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.

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

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

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

4 th and Cecil B. Moore Avenue

7 th and Germantown Avenue

2200 Mascher Street

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

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

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

Infiltration testing

2300 North 3rd Street, Eastern North Philadelphia

Philadelphia Green Vacant Land Management Citywide Impact 45000 40000 35000 30000 25000 20000 15000 10000 5000 0 40,000 abandoned 12,000 initial clean up 10,000 managed 18,000 abandoned or being developed 1950 1990 1991 Today Initial clean up conducted by City Under management system Vacant/Being developed New community and economic development

Economic Benefits Increases property values Attracts investment 8 th and Berks

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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

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

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

The Philadelphia Region Blooms All Year Long!