Title
Authorizing the Committee on Commerce and Economic Development to hold hearings which investigate the planning process, the 1997 HOPE VI application, and the current proposed development plan for the Schuylkill Falls Public Housing Authority site in order to determine if the current proposed development plan conforms to the 1997 application submitted to and approved by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, and to further determine the extent to which any amendments, development agreements, or any other documents related to this HOPE VI award materially modify any of the commitments, representations or promises made to the Schuylkill Falls Tenant Council, the East Falls Community Council, public officials or other interested parties; and, further authorizing the Committee to issue subpoenas as may be necessary to compel the attendance of witnesses and the production of documents to the full extent authorized under Section 2-401 of the Home Rule Charter in furtherance of such investigation.
Body
WHEREAS, The HOPE VI program is a key U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) initiative which seeks to transform public housing by changing the physical shape of public housing in order to complement surrounding neighborhoods; by providing comprehensive self-sufficiency services in order to empower residents and move them up and out of public housing; by promoting mixed income communities in order to end social and economic isolation of public housing residents; and, by forging partnerships with other agencies, local governments, non-profits and private business in order to leverage additional support and resources; and
WHEREAS, The Philadelphia Housing Authority (PHA) applied for a HOPE VI grant on July 18, 1997 in order to "transform the [Schuylkill Falls] site into a mixed-income neighborhood which provides housing for low income families blended with housing for middle income, working families and links families to the surr...
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