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Approving the eighth amendment of the redevelopment proposal for the Morton Urban Renewal Area, being the area generally bounded by Germantown avenue on the southwest, High street on the northwest, Belfield avenue and Musgrave street on the northeast, the Chestnut Hill Branch of the Reading Railroad on the east, and Chelten avenue on the southeast, including the eighth amendment to the urban renewal plan and the amended relocation plan, which provides, inter alia, for the additional land acquisition of approximately ten (10) properties for residential and related uses; the provision of certain relocation services, as required by law; and declaring that condemnation is not imminent with respect to the Project.
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WHEREAS, The redevelopment proposal, the urban renewal plan and the relocation plan of the Redevelopment Authority of the City of Philadelphia (hereinafter referred to as the "Redevelopment Authority") for the redevelopment of the Morton Urban Renewal Area (hereinafter referred to as "Morton") was approved by Ordinance of the Council on August 18, 1959, as last amended by Bill No. 525, approved March 15, 1977; and
WHEREAS, The Redevelopment Authority has prepared a eighth amendment of the redevelopment proposal, including the detailed redevelopment area plan, the eighth amended urban renewal plan, the amended relocation plan, the maps, and all other documents and supporting data which form part of the said proposal, for Morton, dated October, 2007 (hereinafter collectively referred to as the "Eighth Amended Redevelopment Proposal"); and
WHEREAS, the Eighth Amended Redevelopment Proposal provides, inter alia, for the additional land acquisition of approximately ten (10) properties for residential and related reuses; the provision of certain relocation services, as required by law and declaring that condemnation is not imminent with respect to the Project; and
WHEREAS, The Eighth Amended Redevelopment Proposal has been submitted to the City Planning Commission of the City of Philadelphia and has been certified by the Commission to the Council; and
WHEREAS, The Eighth Amended Redevelopment Proposal will forward a central objective of the Community Development Program and Neighborhood Transformation Initiative of the City of Philadelphia with respect to the elimination of blight and the materialization of the City's stated housing and other redevelopment and urban renewal goals; and
WHEREAS, The Eighth Amended Redevelopment Proposal promotes sound urban renewal and redevelopment, and the elimination of blight in Morton; now therefore
THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA HEREBY ORDAINS:
SECTION 1. The eighth amendment of the Redevelopment Proposal dated October, 2007 (appended as Exhibit "A" hereto), including the detailed redevelopment area plan, the eighth amended urban renewal plan, the amended relocation plan, the maps, and all other documents and supporting data which form part of the said proposal (hereinafter collectively referred to as the "Eighth Amended Redevelopment Proposal") submitted by the Redevelopment Authority for the Morton Urban Renewal Area (hereinafter "Morton"), having been duly reviewed and considered, is approved.
SECTION 2. Council finds and declares that the Eighth Amended Redevelopment Proposal for Morton:
a. Is in conformity with the redevelopment area plan for the Morton Redevelopment Area.
b. Meets all of the conditions and requirements imposed by Title VI of the United States Civil Rights Act of 1964, the regulations and policies of the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development effectuating the Title, and Chapter 9-1100 of The Philadelphia Code, relating to non-discrimination and fair practices.
c. Forwards the objectives of the Community Development Program and Neighborhood Transformation Initiative of the City with respect to the removal and prevention of blight through the revitalization, renewal, redevelopment and transformation of blighted areas within the City which are detrimental to the health, safety and welfare of the residents of the City and for which the use of Neighborhood Transformation Initiative Program funds may be utilized.
SECTION 3. Council finds and declares that:
a. The eighth amendment of the urban renewal plan will afford maximum opportunity, consistent with the sound needs of the locality as a whole, for the redevelopment of the area by private enterprise under the circumstances.
b. Financial aid is necessary to enable the land located within the urban renewal area to be redeveloped in accordance with the eighth amendment of the urban renewal plan.
SECTION 4. Council finds and declares that the amended relocation plan:
a. Provides for the proper relocation of individuals and families displaced in carrying out the urban renewal activities approved herein in decent, safe, and sanitary dwellings in conformity with acceptable standards, is feasible and can be reasonably and timely effected to permit the proper prosecution and completion of the undertakings in Morton, and that such dwelling units available or to be made available to such displaced individuals and families are at least equal in number to the number of displaced individuals and families, are not generally less desirable in regard to public utilities and public and commercial facilities than the dwellings of the displaced individuals and families in the urban renewal area comprising the undertakings herein, are available at rents or prices within the financial means of the displaced individuals and families, and are reasonably accessible to their places of employment.
b. Adequately provides for assistance to aid in relocation and to minimize the displacement of business concerns which are to be displaced.
SECTION 5. The Redevelopment Authority is authorized to take such action as may be necessary to carry out the terms of the Eighth Amended Redevelopment Proposal, including but not limited to:
a. Proceeding with minor changes in substantial conformity with the Eighth Amended Redevelopment Proposal, so long as said minor changes are in conformity with the current area redevelopment plan for the Morton Redevelopment Area.
b. Preparing or causing to be prepared for introduction into the Council such ordinances or resolutions as may be necessary for changes in zoning, streets, alleys, public ways, street patterns and location and relocation of public utilities in order to implement and facilitate the Eighth Amended Redevelopment Proposal hereby approved. Accordingly, the Council hereby declares that it will cooperate in helping to carry out such proposal and requests the various officials, departments, boards and agencies of the City having administrative responsibilities in the premises likewise to cooperate to such end and to exercise their respective functions and powers in a manner consistent therewith.
SECTION 6. Council is cognizant that condemnation, as expressly provided for in the hereby approved Eighth Amended Redevelopment Proposal, is not imminent with respect to Morton, such condemnation being subject to the availability of public funds. Council is further aware that general and special notice of the imminence of said condemnation will be publicly announced by the Redevelopment Authority through all appropriate news media as may be required by law.
SECTION 7. The Chief Clerk of City Council shall keep on file and make available for inspection by the public the Eighth Amended Redevelopment Proposal approved by this Ordinance.
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