Title
Amending Title 16 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled "Public Property," by adding a new Chapter, entitled "Philadelphia Land Bank," authorizing the creation of a land bank and providing for its appointment, powers, and duties, all under certain terms and conditions.
Body
WHEREAS, Evidence demonstrates that the persistently high rate of vacant lots and structures has harmed the safety and economic strength of individual blocks and neighborhoods, as well as the City of Philadelphia as a whole; and
WHEREAS, Community members, business owners, and private and nonprofit developers alike face the challenges of navigating multiple City agencies with different procedures, policies, and inventory lists; and
WHEREAS, A municipal land bank would ensure clear, transparent, and efficient operations by serving as a single entity to acquire, hold, and dispose of vacant land with the approval of City Council; and
WHEREAS, Consolidation of publicly-owned land in a municipal land bank would reduce the administrative cost related to that land, and allow a greater proportion of public funds to be invested directly into community revitalization; and
WHEREAS, Extensive grassroots community planning over the last decade by local Community Development Corporations and advocacy groups, with the support of the private sector, supports the creation of a municipal land bank as necessary for the strategic redevelopment of Philadelphia; and
WHEREAS, A municipal land bank should prioritize long-term community and economic development over short-term revenue generation, and should adopt disposition policies that encourage a range of beneficial uses by extending nominal or reduced price disposition to side and rear yards, community gardens and agriculture, nonprofit and small business development, as well as creative leasing options for start-up businesses; and
WHEREAS, A municipal land bank should ensure ...
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