Land Bank Sends Out First RFP

June 2, 2016 | by Steve Currall | Morning Blend | Delaware Valley Regional Planning Authority, East Passyunk, land bank, Martin Luther King Drive, Old City, Old City District, Parks and Recreation

“This vacant lot in the 1900 block of Brown Street is one of eight the city’s Land Bank is offering free to developers, in the process advancing Council President Darrell Clarke’s workforce housing initiative.” | Google Maps image, via Jared Brey, for phillymag.com

Philadelphia magazine’s Jared Brey tracks the Philadelphia’s Land Bank torturously slow approach toward functionality, reporting that yesterday’s release of a Request for Proposals for eight vacant properties near 19th and Brown streets in Francisville marks the first gesture towards actually fulfilling the entity’s dispensary purpose. In a press release, City Council President Darrell Clarke, who has pushed for such “workforce housing” projects in Francisville for some time now, applauded “the Land Bank for taking this important step toward ensuring all of Philadelphia’s neighborhoods can become communities of choice.”

On Tuesday Old City District joined with members of Philadelphia’s arts community to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the first First Friday, notes the Business Journal. If arithmetic serves, tomorrow evening marks the 301st opportunity to sample the aesthetic wares in what Old City District executive director Job Itzkowitz touted as “Philadelphia’s premier arts district.”

Jim Saksa reports that the Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission approved today a $500,000 grant—to be matched by the City’s Department of Parks and Recreation and, if approved in October, by the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources—for the $1.5 million rebuilding of four miles of the increasingly bumpy trails along Martin Luther King Jr. Drive.

The Passyunk Post helps promote a fundraising event for the award winning South Philadelphia Older Adult Center’s volunteer-run garden community space at East Passyunk Avenue & Dickinson Street on June 8.

About the author

Stephen Currall recently received his BA in history from Arcadia University. Before beginning doctoral studies, he is pursuing his interest in local history, specifically just how Philadelphians engage their vibrant past. Besides skimming through 18th century letters, Steve is also interested in music and travel.

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