Philadelphia 2035 (Girard: teenagers, real estate, city hall)

[MarketStEl]

Originally Posted by thedirtypirate

Philly's Tax Lien Sale Sucked* - Philadelphia Magazine

Holly Otterbein is one of the best political reporters in this city, and I've said so to her face. Guess I need to read my own colleagues more.

But as Otterbein herself notes in that article, most of the properties subject to the liens were owned by speculators and other investors who were just sitting on the land, not homeowners.

I think there's a big difference between punishing a real deadbeat and cutting off the legs of a homeowner who may have gotten in a jam, and I also think that the latter should be offered an option that allows them to keep their homes while repaying their obligations.

Now, I do understand that the city already offers repayment plans for delinquent taxpayers, and since that's the case, maybe the two-by-four across the head of a sheriff's sale warning might be the best way to handle these homeowners.

And don't get me wrong - I trust Clarke about as far as I can throw him on many grounds because I think that his main goal (besides the usual one of self-preservation) is not so much "poverty pimping" (though that does advance Goal One by keeping a lot of his base of support in his district) as making sure whatever benefits there are flow to his politically connected favorites. (Some of the issues he says he cares about are ones I care about too, like "workforce housing." But - despite my getting an announcement that he's going to do some ribbon-cutting on the first fruits of his initiative in this area over in West Poplar next week - I suspect whose interests he's working for when he had the city sit on vacant lots in Francisville that developers were ready to build on, and build units that were within range of single younger buyers to boot, and when he backed that recent downzoning that deprived Rahil Raza of much of his feedstock for the workforce housing he is building.) But when he does the right thing, even if for the wrong reasons, I will give him credit where it's due, hence my reporting on that city initiative to clear the basic-systems-repair-assistance backlog.

[thedirtypirate]

Originally Posted by MarketStEl

Holly Otterbein is one of the best political reporters in this city, and I've said so to her face. Guess I need to read my own colleagues more.

But as Otterbein herself notes in that article, most of the properties subject to the liens were owned by speculators and other investors who were just sitting on the land, not homeowners.

I think there's a big difference between punishing a real deadbeat and cutting off the legs of a homeowner who may have gotten in a jam, and I also think that the latter should be offered an option that allows them to keep their homes while repaying their obligations.

Now, I do understand that the city already offers repayment plans for delinquent taxpayers, and since that's the case, maybe the two-by-four across the head of a sheriff's sale warning might be the best way to handle these homeowners.

And don't get me wrong - I trust Clarke about as far as I can throw him on many grounds because I think that his main goal (besides the usual one of self-preservation) is not so much "poverty pimping" (though that does advance Goal One by keeping a lot of his base of support in his district) as making sure whatever benefits there are flow to his politically connected favorites. (Some of the issues he says he cares about are ones I care about too, like "workforce housing." But - despite my getting an announcement that he's going to do some ribbon-cutting on the first fruits of his initiative in this area over in West Poplar next week - I suspect whose interests he's working for when he had the city sit on vacant lots in Francisville that developers were ready to build on, and build units that were within range of single younger buyers to boot, and when he backed that recent downzoning that deprived Rahil Raza of much of his feedstock for the workforce housing he is building.) But when he does the right thing, even if for the wrong reasons, I will give him credit where it's due, hence my reporting on that city initiative to clear the basic-systems-repair-assistance backlog.

Idk if it is legal or not, but I would love to see the city prioritize the sale of delinquent lots owned by developers/speculators/etc. and not single family home owners.

I support the home improvement initiative and think fixing up backlogged houses is a novel idea especially if the .1% increase in the transfer tax is as marginal for most buyers.

[cpomp]

Behind the Stunning Fountain Makeover at Longwood Gardens - Philadelphia Magazine


Worth a visit for those who have never been.

[AJNEOA]

Originally Posted by kyb01

Run for office. Stop saying you're not a politician. Or encourage more people to think about running. Look what happened wrt Krasner.

Yeah, I'd rather not be surrounded by scumbags with the false sense that I'm going to sort this mess out. I'll vote and volunteer, and even talk about change, but I'm not getting into politics. I appreciate your drive on this stuff though.

[kyb01]

Originally Posted by AJNEOA

Yeah, I'd rather not be surrounded by scumbags with the false sense that I'm going to sort this mess out. I'll vote and volunteer, and even talk about change, but I'm not getting into politics. I appreciate your drive on this stuff though.

Younger people need to vote in every election. I really do not get the sense that they understand that.

[AJNEOA]

Originally Posted by kyb01

Younger people need to vote in every election. I really do not get the sense that they understand that.

I don't think that they're thinking about it all that much. Too many distractions.

[cpomp]

Hotel mulled for historic Girard Building at East Market development site

[kyb01]

Originally Posted by cpomp

Hotel mulled for historic Girard Building at East Market development site

Afaik, that entire block(11th-12th Market-Chestnut)including the Girard Bldg and the new East Market development, was part of the Girard estate assets.

[cpomp]

Philly police department HQ to move into former Inquirer, Daily News building on N. Broad

[kyb01]

Originally Posted by cpomp

Philly police department HQ to move into former Inquirer, Daily News building on N. Broad

So we're going to spend another bundle renovating another building that's been empty for years. Great.

There was a plan to move the city morgue and ME to 46th and Market too. Guess that won't happen now.