City of Philadelphia - File #: 041087

• File #: 041087
• Version: 0
• Type: Resolution
• Status: ADOPTED
• File created: 12/16/2004
• In control: Committee of the Whole
• Title: Authorizing City Council's Committee of the Whole to investigate legislative solutions to support the longtime residents of gentrifying neighborhoods, and to retain a consultant to conduct the investigation's financial analysis.
• Sponsors: Councilmember Kenney, Councilmember Kenney, Council President Verna, Councilmember Clarke, Councilmember Reynolds Brown, Councilmember Goode, Councilmember Ramos, Councilmember Ramos, Councilmember Blackwell, Councilmember Blackwell, Councilmember Krajewski, Councilmember Krajewski, Councilmember Rizzo, Councilmember Rizzo, Councilmember Miller, Councilmember Miller, Councilmember Tasco, Councilmember Tasco, Councilmember Kelly, Councilmember O'Neill, Councilmember O'Neill, Councilmember Nutter, Councilmember Nutter, Councilmember Mariano, Councilmember Mariano, Councilmember Cohen, Councilmember Cohen

Date	Ver.	Action By	Action	Result	Tally
12/16/2004	0	CITY COUNCIL	ADOPTED & REFERRED
12/16/2004	0	CITY COUNCIL	ADOPTED & REFERRED
12/16/2004	0	CITY COUNCIL	READ
12/16/2004	0	CITY COUNCIL	READ
12/16/2004	0	CITY COUNCIL	Introduced	Pass
12/16/2004	0	CITY COUNCIL	Introduced	Pass

Title
Authorizing City Council's Committee of the Whole to investigate legislative solutions to support the longtime residents of gentrifying neighborhoods, and to retain a consultant to conduct the investigation's financial analysis.
Body
WHEREAS, Over the last several decades in many of Philadelphia's neighborhoods, longtime owner-occupants of principal residences have faced the real threat of losing the financial ability to remain in their homes by virtue of the rising market values and consequent property tax assessments which are the hallmarks of the process of neighborhood change known as gentrification; and

WHEREAS, In 1982, in response to Philadelphia legislators' concerns regarding the issues surrounding gentrification, the Pennsylvania General Assembly approved placing a question on the statewide ballot, which received approval on November 6, 1984 by the state's voters, officially amending the Constitution of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania; and

WHEREAS, Consequently the Pennsylvania Constitution was amended to include Art. VIII, § 2(b)(v), which reads that the "General Assembly may, by law, establish standards and qualifications by which local taxing authorities in counties of the first and second class may make uniform special real property tax provisions applicable to taxpayers who are longtime owner-occupants as shall be defined by the General Assembly of residences in areas where real property values have risen markedly as a consequence of the refurbishing or renovating of other deteriorating residences or the construction of new residences"; and

WHEREAS, Pursuant to these powers, the General Assembly approved the act of Dec. 13, 1988, (P.L. 1190, No. 146), which authorizes counties of the first or second class "to adopt uniform special real property tax relief provisions in order to allow longtime owner-occupants of residences to remain in peaceful possession of their homes," and which establishes standards and qualifications by whic...