This year, the Collaborative joined the Philly Land Bank Alliance, a diverse partnership of allies to support the creation of an effective land bank in Philadelphia. These allies included for-profit and nonprofit builders, neighborhood civic associations, realtors, architects, environmental groups, and anti-blight organizations.
The Philly Land Bank Alliance got real results. On December 12, the Philadelphia’s City Council unanimously approved legislation to create the Philadelphia Land Bank. The new land bank represents major reform of the city’s broken system for putting vacant properties back into productive use.
"Philadelphians who have been plagued by vacant properties in their neighborhoods will soon have a powerful tool in the Philadelphia Land Bank. The land bank will make it easier and quicker for individuals, community groups, small businesses, community development corporations and market rate developers to turn vacant, blighted properties into vibrant, usable spaces,” says Rick Sauer, Executive Director of the Philadelphia Association of Community Development Corporation.
The Collaborative has helped many nonprofits and neighborhoods to rethink, redesign, and reuse vacant properties. We're looking forward to working with more communities as they unlock the opportunities of vacant land and buildings.
Become an informed advocate for vacant land redevelopment. Here are some key things to know about the new Philadelphia Land Bank, helpfully summarized by PACDC.
The Land Bank will ...
- Hold nearly 10,000 publicly-owned properties
- Have the power to efficiently acquire tax-delinquent properties
- Be led by a diverse, qualified board with community representation
- Transfer properties after approvals by City Council, the Vacant Property Review Committee, and the Land Bank, with public notice and opportunity to comment
- Develop a strategic plan each year to ensure land use decisions are equitable
- Offer flexible pricing to provide incentives for development that benefits the community