 The Name of the Place Is I Like it Like That: 20th and Annin Streets, Point Breeze There's neighborhood in Philadelphia called Point Breeze. By any measure, it’s been abandoned and
abused by the economy, government and the larger community for decades. The neighborhood itself is essentially no
longer owned by the people that live there.  Point Breeze: Overwhelmed by absentee owners It's not surprising that residents who are
left see how fragile things are, and can't be blamed for being suspicious of
change. There's been a lot of betrayal.  Point Breeze: Inventory of Vacant LotsEnter Ori Feibush, a developer active (and who lives) in this community
liberally sprinkled with vacant lots both privately owned or government owned. Mr. Feibush is not a particularly huge builder,
unlike bigger entities and nonprofits who march untrammeled through
Philadelphia.  One objectively good
thing he's done is to protect both his investment and the community by fixing
up a vacant lot owned by the city. The
trash strewn lot was cleaned up, new trees were planted, and a lot of the
people in the area seem to like it. It's
definitely an improvement, and considering the neglect by the city of
Philadelphia towards its public inventory of assets and land, seemed like a natural thing
to do. For
his temerity, the city is going after him, and essentially wants him to
restore the lot back to its Dresden-like state. Something’s out of whack here. A
property owner taking measures to protect their property value by sprucing up a value-reducing vacant lot generally does not end up in the crosshairs of the government. It happens all over Philadelphia. Mr. Feibush is not particularly beloved by some Point Breeze
activists. They fear gentrification, and there is always some justification
when one is limited in income and your property values even hint of going up.
It's paradoxical but understandable to want to continue to live as you have. At UrbanTools, we've discussed the issue with local
activists, and have discussed in particular how the land value tax could help residents even with people returning to Point Breeze and
therefore increasing values. Basic
Homestead exemptions would also go a long way to solving the divisiveness, and
perhaps creating a new and better community from the diversity sprouting up. Generally this has not been playing out well for the city. Technically,
they are correct that Mr. Feibush has no right to "trespass." Don't think the city was stupid, they know
what they are doing, it is just hard to understand who they're doing it for. Are they are trying to intimidate this guy because he is
rolling up his sleeves and getting the job done? Perhaps; millions of dollars
of public investment over the years have really not done anything to make Point Breeze
a better place to live for everybody. Any city that wants growth has to allow it under conditions
acceptable to the community and to the law. A city has to help markets work, and
markets come in many forms. The Great Society model of revitalization has for
the moment run out of steam and money. If they
don't want Mr. Feibush to have the land for whatever reason (and he claims to have asked to buy it) , at least sell it
or give it to someone who will use it. City-owned land is held in trust for all citizens, yet it
appears the City believes it should remain an Empire of Dirt. |
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