►
Description
March 4, 2014 - The Philadelphia City Council Appropriations Committee heard testimony from Administration officials on Bill No. 140025. For more information about this bill and this hearing, visit https://phila.legistar.com.
A
B
Other
council
members
will
probably
join
us
as
we
go
through
the
discussion.
Someone
say
good
afternoon
to
all
of
the
panelists
who
are
here
and
guests
and
I'd
like
to
thank
you
for
being
here
to
testify
regarding
at
135
or
the
Pennsylvania
abandoned
and
blighted
property
conservatorship
law.
Your
input
is
vital,
as
we
begin
a
conversation
during
this
period
of
the
city
budget
hearings,
to
discuss
how
we
can
better
utilize
this
economic
redevelopment
tool
during
the
hearing.
B
Although
we
will
discuss
these
topics
for
me
today
is
also
a
discussion
regarding
parties
for
those
of
you
who
may
be
too
young
to
remember.
Artis
artist
was
a
retail
clothing
store
in
the
city
and
in
the
ninth
district,
ninth
Council
Matic
district,
an
artiste
store,
was
located
at
the
corner
of
Oakland
Avenue
and
Washington
Lane.
B
The
owner
held
on
to
the
property
and
literally
did
nothing
with
it.
Well,
he
did
do
something.
He
paid
the
property
taxes
and
that's
it
in
1983,
Dwight
Evans
created
the
O
cons,
Avenue,
revitalization,
corporation
or
or
canned
began
to
develop
the
community.
However,
the
old
artists
property
remained
abandoned
and
blighted
as
the
business
corridor
improved.
B
Finally,
and
due
to
the
leadership
of
representative
Taylor,
governor
rendell
and
other
stakeholders,
act,
135
was
fined
into
law
in
2008
in
a
short
period
of
time,
the
ol
artis
property
was
redeveloped
into
a
Tang
pharmacy
and
a
medical
office.
In
my
opinion,
if
it
were
not
for
the
conservatorship
law,
the
old
artis
property
was
still
being
abandoned
and
blighted
property
on
Oh
God
Xanadu
through
today's
hearing.
B
I
hope
that
we
will
be
able
to
discuss
other
examples
and
began
a
conservative
conversation
on
how
to
improve
and
better
utilize
the
Pennsylvania
conservatorship
law
as
a
redevelopment
tool
for
our
communities
and
our
city.
So
I
really
I'm
excited
to
hear
what
you
have
to
say.
Your
experiences
dealing
with
this
law
and
again,
thank
you
all
for
coming.
B
C
After
noon,
so
I
coordinated
with
my
colleagues
here
on
our
testimony
so
I'm
gonna
start
us
off
alright
well
good
afternoon,
and
thank
you,
of
course,
for
the
opportunity
to
testify
about
Pennsylvania
act,
135
also
known
as
the
conservatorship
act.
My
name
is
Beth
McConnell,
the
policy
director
at
the
Philadelphia
Association
of
CDC's,
and
thank
you
chairman
and
tasko
for
convening
nice,
earrings
and,
of
course,
the
leadership
of
all
of
City
Council,
councilman,
Sanchez,
councilman,
Greenlee
and
attacking
blight.
C
We're
gonna
hear
more
today
from
the
expert
witnesses
about
how
the
conservators
should
act
is
used,
but
just
very
briefly,
of
course,
it's
a
tool
that
allows
an
interested
third
party
which
could
include,
but
is
not
limited
to
CDC's,
to
be
given
permission
by
a
judge
to
improve
a
property.
That's
in
serious
disrepair
when
the
lawful
owner
is
unwilling
or
unable
to
bring
his
or
her
property
into
compliance
with
local
property
maintenance
codes,
and,
as
we
heard,
the
Act
was
passed
by
the
state
legislature
under
the
leadership
of
representative
Taylor
who's.
C
Actually
working
on
right
now
to
strengthen
that
bill
in
Harrisburg,
strengthened
the
act
in
Harrisburg
here
in
Philadelphia.
We
need
an
awful
lot
of
tools
in
our
anti
blight
toolbox,
as
City
Council
is
well
aware,
I'm
going
to
repeat
some
numbers
that
you
may
be
familiar
with.
We
have
about
40,000
vacant
properties
scattered
throughout
the
city,
including
vacant
lots
and
blighted
buildings,
of
which
roughly
30,000
are
privately
held,
privately
owned,
and
the
cost
of
dealing
with
these
properties
is
enormous.
C
A
2010
report
prepared
by
eConsult
corporation
for
PA
CDC
and
the
Redevelopment
Authority
estimated
that
the
city
spends
more
than
20
million
dollars
each
year
in
maintenance
of
vacant
properties,
including
waste
cleanup
and
pest
control
and
police
and
fire,
and
that's
of
course,
study.
It
was
done
more
than
four
years
ago,
so
the
numbers
may
be
higher
and
the
neighbor
of
the
vacant
properties
also
drain
neighboring
households
of
their
wealth.
C
So
AK
135
gives
organizations
that
have
the
capacity
to
improve
related
properties.
Just
one
more
option.
Conservatorship
can
be
a
complex
and
risky
and
lengthy
process
and
might
not
be
the
right
tool
in
in
many
cases.
In
fact,
some
of
our
members,
PA
CDC's
members,
have
looked
at
whether
they
could
use
act
135
on
a
few
properties
but
found
that
the
cost
of
settling
the
municipal
liens,
as
well
as
investing
tens
of
thousands
of
dollars
in
rehabilitating
the
property,
would
just
exceed
the
property's
market
value,
exposing
them
to
financial
loss.
C
Additionally,
the
legal
costs
associated
with
pursuing
conservatorship
through
the
courts
can
also
deter
potential
redevelop,
and
so
it
might
be
worth
looking
into
whether
some
amount
of
limited
funds
or
pro
bono
legal
assistance,
more
assistance,
could
be
made
available
to
help
again.
I
want
to.
Thank
you
very
much
for
convening
the
hearings
today
on
a
Qin,
35
and
continuing
the
fight
against.
D
The
Housing
Alliance
is
a
statewide
nonprofit
organization
that
works
to
increase
the
availability
of
homes
within
reach
of
that
that
works
to
increase
the
availability
of
homes
within
reach
to
all
Pennsylvanians,
especially
those
with
low
incomes.
We
also
advocate
for
policies
to
advance
community
revitalization
efforts.
D
The
Housing
Alliance
spent
more
than
a
decade
working
to
put
more
tools
into
the
fight
blade
toolbox,
starting
with
small
tweaks
to
the
state's
ancient
tax
sale
laws.
We
then
worked
on
conservatorship
the
blight
law,
known
as
act
90
and
land
bank
enabling
legislation
these
and
other
effective
tools
are
in
the
our
quick
guide,
which
you
have
a
copy
of,
and
also
brought
you
a
copy
of
our
conservatorship
handbook,
which
explains
the
process
of
using
the
tool.
D
D
That
light
is
actually
the
common
denominator
in
Pennsylvania
doesn't
matter
if
you're
in
a
big
city
or
a
small
town,
the
solicitor
who
represents
the
eclair
and
several
other
municipalities
in
Schuylkill
County
has
now
done
about
14
cases,
conservatorship
cases,
and
he
has
said
that
in
his
13
in
his
30
years
of
practice,
that
this
is
the
best
law
he's
come
across.
So
what
is
it
that
makes
it
so?
Good
conservatorship
is
flexible
as
you'll
hear
from
from
a
variety
of
folks
today
and
it's
relatively
inexpensive,
at
least
as
far
as
the
court
proceedings
go.
D
That's
not
a
comment
on
what
it
may
take
to
rehab
or
demolish
a
property.
It
also
does
not
put
the
liability
of
ownership
on
the
conservator.
The
conservator
has
possession
of
the
property
and
the
right
to
work
on
it
under
court
supervision,
but
does
not
own
it.
I'll.
Give
you
a
few
examples
of
how
conservatorship
has
worked
around
the
state.
I'll
leave
the
Philadelphia
examples
to
later
testifiers.
The
model
generally
followed
in
Schuylkill
County
is
to
have
the
buyer
identified
prior
to
filing
suit.
D
The
municipality
is
the
petitioner
and
the
conservator,
and
the
court
authorizes
transfer
of
title
to
the
buyer,
with
the
promise,
with
an
agreement
to
do
the
work
after
titles
transferred.
When
that
relieves
the
municipality
of
the
cost
of
doing
the
work.
The
buyer
gets
clear
title,
which
is
one
of
the
most
important
functions
of
the
law
in
Butler
County
on
the
western
edge
of
the
state.
The
Redevelopment
Authority
has
done
at
least
seven
conservatorship
cases
there.
D
They
do
the
work
themselves,
usually
demolition
because
of
the
properties
that
they
have
chosen,
but
the
demolition
leads
makes
land
available
for
other
uses,
including
commercial,
residential
and
side
yards
in
Columbia
County
in
the
middle
of
the
state.
The
Redevelopment
Authority
used
conservatorship
for
an
old
historic
property
for
a
home
they're,
currently
seeking
a
buyer
who
can
do
the
work
himself?
Basically,
a
sweat
equity
type
of
case
and
they're
looking
into
the
legal
mechanisms
for
making
sure
that
the
work
actually
gets
done
after
title
is
transferred.
D
Conservatorship
is
a
highly
effective
tool,
but
it's
not
the
only
answer
forever
and
it
is
not
the
answer
for
every
property
code
enforcement
should
always
come
first.
If
code
enforcement
does
not
result
in
compliance,
the
conservatorship
petitioner
can
use
Illinois's
documents
to
make
the
case
for
conservatorship.
D
Also
the
threat
of
a
conservator
ship
action
is
a
very
effective
way
of
motivating
an
owner
to
comply
with
codes
or
to
negotiate
a
sale
as
effective
as
conservatorship
is.
There
are
improvements
that
can
be
made
better
to
a
bill.
That's
currently
in
the
state
legislature,
representative
Taylor
has
sponsored
House
bill
1363,
which
will
address
some
of
the
concerns
that
practitioners
have
raised
over
the
last
five
years.
D
The
bill
will
bring
most
vacant
lots
within
the
reach
of
the
law,
speed
up
the
process
and
make
it
easier
for
the
conservator
to
hire
contractors
that
can
sell
finance.
As
you
will
hear,
financing
the
work
is
still
a
challenge.
In
many
cases,
House
bill
613
63d
passed
the
House
unanimously,
it's
in
the
Senate
Appropriations
Committee
other
testifiers,
we'll
talk
more
about
the
specifics
of
conservatorship
in
Philadelphia
I'm,
happy
to
answer
any
questions
about
the
lost
history
and
use
around
the
state.
Thank
you
for
having
me
thank.
B
E
My
name
is
Judy
Berkman,
managing
attorney
at
regional
housing,
legal
services.
Regional
housing
is
a
nonprofit
law
firm
with
unique
expertise
in
affordable
housing,
sustainable
housing
and
its
related
components,
Community
and
Economic
Development
utility
matters
and
preservation
of
homeownership.
We
also
work
on
innovative
policy
matters.
The
legislative
purpose
of
the
abandoned
and
blighted
conservative
property
conservatorship
Act,
which
is
act
135,
took
effect
in
February
2009,
and
it
uses
the
police
power
to
provide
a
mechanism
to
transform,
abandoned
and
lighted
buildings
into
productive
reuse
succinctly.
E
It
just
basically
means
that
the
conservator
who's
appointed
by
the
court
is
responsible
for
bringing
buildings
into
municipal
code
compliance
when
owners
failed
to
do
so.
Since
the
enactment
of
the
law
conservatorship
under
this
court,
supervision
has
become
an
important
tool,
as
Cindy
mentioned,
to
animun,
eliminate
blight
in
Philadelphia.
E
So
what
regional
housing
did
in
front
of
you?
You
have
an
orange
booklet,
which
is
the
best
practice,
is
an
implementation
manual
in
the
back
of
it
is,
and
it's
very
detailed,
far
too
detailed,
which
is
why
the
Housing
Alliance
Wow,
that
made
a
more
user
friendly
handbook.
But
initially,
when
attorneys
were
needing
to
be
trained,
we
developed
this
those
handbooks
so
that
people
could
could
have
a
comprehensive
look
at
how
exactly
to
go
through
every
step
of
implementing
the
law.
E
The
back
of
it
includes
an
appendix
with
the
law
itself,
and
also
that
we
worked
as
a
group
with
staff
at
the
Court
of
Common
Pleas
to
come
up
with,
what's
called
a
general
court
regulation
which
slightly
changed
the
procedure
from
what
was
in
the
law.
For
example,
the
law
had
service
on
the
owner
by
certified
mail
return,
receipt
requested
and
the
new
court
procedures
adopted
by
the
court
required
more
due
process
and
service
of
process
by
a
sheriff
or
advertising.
E
If
you
can't
find
the
owner
things
like
that,
so
we
also
developed
trainings
for
attorneys
and
for
for-profit
and
nonprofit
developers
on
how
to
use
the
law,
and
we
worked
with
licenses
and
inspections
to
come
up
with
sample
properties
of
different
kinds,
to
take
different
samples
as
pilots
through
the
court
system,
because
it
was
such
a
new
law
and
you
were
taking
owners
rights
away,
I'm
not
going
to
go
into
a
lot
of
detail.
It's
in
my
testimony,
so
you
can
look
down
the
bullet
points.
E
Like
I
said
an
adjacent
home
owner
or
business
and
the
Redevelopment
Authority,
then
there
are
nine
criteria
set
forth
in
the
long
you
have
to
meet
at
least
three
of
them
to
have
a
conservatorship
name
for
a
property
public
nuisance
and
need
substantial
rehab,
it's
unfit
for
human
habitation.
It's
a
hazard
of
various
kinds
and
in
the
manual
we
went
through
in
great
detail
how
to
meet
the
burden
of
proving
many
of
these
requirements.
In
addition,
as
you
might
imagine,
there
are
some
basic
conditions.
It
can't
have
been
legally
occupied.
E
So
once
a
property
is
identified
and
an
eligible
party
is
ready
to
proceed,
the
court
takes
over
the
petition
is
filed
and
the
court
has
something
that's
not
in
the
law,
but
the
local
courts
have
been
very
flexible
about
having
a
status
conference
first
to
bring
parties
together
to
talk
about
it
and
then
there's
preliminary
hearing
on
the
preliminary
plan.
At
that
point,
the
conservator
is
not
yet
appointed
and
can't
enter
the
property,
except
on
certain
circumstances,
with
court
permission.
So
it's
sort
of
a
a
wild
stand
as
to
what's
needed.
E
Then
the
conservators
appointed
and
has
authority
to
go
in
the
property
and
start
start
making
the
plan.
That
then
goes
back
to
the
court
to
get
the
final
plan
approved
and
all
along
people
are
given
notice
about
all
the
steps
that
are
taking
place
as
a
result
of
us.
The
regional
housings
implementation
manual,
which
is
posted
on
our
website
and
all
the
trainings
I've,
been
getting
a
lot
of
questions.
E
I
get
regular
questions
a
few
times
a
month
from
for
profits
and
nonprofits
neighbors
people
asking
questions
about
particular
properties
in
their
neighborhoods
that
are
blighted
and
they
want
to
consider
using
the
conservatorship
law,
and
so
it's
been
interesting
to
have
then
I
look
up
online
because
there's
so
much
information
available
on
the
city's
website.
A
lot
of
information
about
it.
Often
there
are
municipal
liens,
which
is
an
immediate
obstacle
to
proceeding.
E
E
One
is
funding
right
now,
there's
really
no
source
of
funding.
Unless
there's
an
investor
available
or
the
conservator
can
get
a
line
of
credit,
because
we
asked
a
lot
of
commercial
banks
and
they
won't
do
lending
and
and
and
it's
it's
just
not
possible.
One
reason
is
the
compared
to
Ohio,
where
federal
liens
are
the
only
liens
that
would
be
ahead
of
the
conservators
lien
in
Pennsylvania.
It's
federal
state
and
local
that
are
ahead
of
the
conservators
mean
so
anything
the
conservator
does
would
be
subject
to
federal
state
and
local
means.
E
Generally,
there
are
not
federal
or
state
liens,
so
it's
the
local
municipal
liens
that
are
the
obstacles
and
and
people
don't
want
to
be
behind
that
in
lien.
Priority
and
I
give
an
example
in
my
testimony
of
what
they
did
in
Massachusetts
to
try
to
form
a
collaborative
of
a
way
of
giving
funding
on
a
in
in
a
line
of
credit
to
people
doing
conservatorships
that
then
is
repaid
to
that
funding
source.
E
Tell
them
how
much
and
in
the
neighborhoods
they're
working
in
it's
just.
They
can't
go
forward
because
after
they
would
put
the
money
and
they'd
never
get
their
costs
back.
And
the
final
suggestion
I
have
is
something
that
may
be
being
worked
out
as
a
practical
matter,
but
needs
probably
some
City
Council
action.
Some
of
the
terms
in
the
in
at
135
are
inconsistent
with.
E
What's
in
the
city
code,
for
example,
public
nuisance
is
a
term
in
the
act
135,
but
I
think
it's
nowhere
in
the
Philadelphia
Code
so
doing
in
an
hour
of
the
act,
135
language
and
seeing
where
definitions
need
to
be
defined.
This
means
public
news.
If
it
meets
these
criteria,
it
means
it's
a
public
nuisance
for
purposes
of
act,
135.
That
kind
of
thing
could
be
very
useful
because
it's
hard
to
use
Illinois
violation
if
they
don't
have
the
same
language,
that's
in
the
code.
E
So
thank
you
for
the
opportunity
to
testify
today
and
provide
you
with
information
and
I
hope.
I
was
once
someone
in
California
once
was
interested
in
what
was
going
on
and
lighted
an
abandoned
property
in
Philadelphia
and
they
googled
Philadelphia
and
abandoned
and
blighted
property,
and
my
name
kept
popping
up
so
I
would
like
more
use
of
this
law
so
that
I
am
NOT
famous.
B
F
F
D
The
main
difference,
I,
think,
is
where
Philadelphia
and
Pittsburgh
have
strong
and
active
community
organizations
most
communities,
most
towns
around
the
state,
don't,
and
so
the
Redevelopment
Authority
has
taken
a
more
active
role
in
as
I
mentioned,
Butler
County,
Columbia,
County
I'm,
trying
to
think
of
where
else
that
might
have
done
some.
So
the
Redevelopment
Authority
or
a
non-profit
affiliate
of
the
RDA
steps
in
to
take
that
role
and
in
other
places
the
municipality
itself
has
has
done
the
work.
D
But
in
places
like
most
of
the
towns
in
Schuylkill
County,
you
know,
which
is
coal
country
up
a
few
counties
northeast
northwest
of
here.
There
just
aren't
any
community
groups
to
take
that
role.
So
I
think
in
Philadelphia
having
the
strength
of
the
neighborhood
organization
that
you
do.
It's
appropriate
for
them
to
be
involved
as
well,
but
I
know
that
the
Housing
Authority
I
mean
the
Redevelopment
Authority.
Sorry
is
stepping
up
and
doing
some
looking
at
conservatorship
also.
F
F
E
May
be
certain
case-by-case
times
when
they
have,
but
my
understanding
is
that
the
official
policy
is
not
to
so
it
would
be
good
to
have
criteria
for
when
they
would
or
wouldn't
or
to
parallel
the
land
bank
which
you're
so
well
aware,
does
resolve
the
municipal
liens
would
be
good
to
have
maybe
a
parallel
process.
That's
similar
for
this.
If
that
could
be
worked
out.
B
B
E
B
B
G
Good
afternoon
everyone,
my
name,
is
John
Unger
I'm,
the
chief
operating
officer
of
the
ogon
Sava
new
revitalization,
corporation
or
orc,
and
just
want
to
state
upfront.
My
testimony
may
sound
very
familiar
because
the
Councilwoman
very
eloquently
told
the
same
story
about
Artie,
so
please
bear
through
my
testimony,
but
I
think
it's
just
a
compelling
case
and
obviously
councilman
feels
the
same
way.
It's
a
great
example
of
how
powerful
this
tool
is.
Anyway.
Orc
is
a
501c3
nonprofit
community
development
corporation
located
in
Northwest
Philadelphia.
G
We
were
founded
in
1983
by
Pennsylvania
State,
Representative,
Dwight
Evans,
specifically
to
address
the
problem
of
a
blighted
shopping
center
on
oguns
Avenue
orch
has
grown
significantly.
Since
then.
Our
mission
is
to
create
and
stimulate
economic
development
and
improve
the
quality
of
life
for
residents
of
West
Oakland.
Other
sections
of
Northwest
Philadelphia
we've
been
engaged
in
Community
Economic
Development
work
for
over
30
years
now.
G
Basically
I'm
here
to
testify
in
support
of
the
expanded
use
of
the
conservative,
show
back
and
basically,
let's
share
our
experience
with
the
act
just
near
the
corner
of
ogon
sava
near
Washington
Lane
as
the
Councilwoman
mentioned,
which,
by
the
way
is
a
fairly
it's
a
major
intersection
on
Avenue,
which
is
the
heart
of
our
commercial
corridor.
There
was
a
one-story
commercial
building
which
she'll
identified
as
artis,
and
it
had
abandoned
for
many
years.
I
started
working
in
orc
in
the
late
90s
and
as
long
as
I
was
there
everyone.
G
You
ever
asked
said
it's
been
abandoned
for
so
long.
No
one
knew
exactly
what
goes
back
at
least
to
the
1970s.
As
I
mentioned
you,
we
started
our
revitalization
work
in
the
early
1980s.
First,
with
a
shopping
center.
We
purchased
several
properties
ourselves
and
we
developed
them.
We
helped
several
other
property
business
owners
with
facade
improvements.
We
provide
street
cleaning,
we've
planted
trees
within
a
redevelopment
project.
Streetscape
project
with
you
know:
new
crosswalks,
sidewalks
pedestrian
light
scales,
light
poles
in
general.
G
You
really
brought
the
avenue
back
and
once
again
made
it
a
desirable
place
for
businesses
and
shoppers.
However,
this
one
significant
building
eluded
us-
we
had
tried
many
times
in
the
past
to
purchase
this
building
from
the
owner,
but
the
owner
always
wanted
an
astronomical
amount.
I'd
been
told
even
upwards
of
a
million
dollars,
probably
because
the
owner
was
aware
of
our
redevelopment
efforts
and
thought.
Oh,
these
folks
will
just
pay
me
whatever,
but
just
that
they're
like
a
black
eye
in
the
community.
G
So
finally,
the
councilmen
mention,
although
the
property
owner
did
not
take
care
of
the
property,
it
was
a
one-story
building
and
an
adjacent
parking
lot
was
both
of
which
were
completely
dilapidated.
He
did
keep
up
on
the
taxes
so
before
this
law
came
into
effect,
there
really
were
no
means
to
force
the
owner
to
the
table.
We
couldn't
bring
it
to
sheriff's
sale.
There
was
really
nothing
else.
We
could
do
it.
Just
sat
there,
this
person
making
unreasonable
demands.
You
know
trying
to
get
a
windfall
on
the
communities
back.
G
Fortunately,
in
2008,
a
state
legislature
passed
the
abandoned
and
blaze
property
conservative
ship
act.
So
finally,
there
was
a
tool
which
enabled
nonprofit
organizations
and
concerned
citizens
to
tackle
properties
which
were
bleeding
their
communities,
even
if
the
properties
were
not
taxed
delinquent.
G
We
knew
this
was
our
only
chance
to
development
the
property,
so
we
reached
out
to
the
regional
housing
legal
services
who,
in
turn
put
us
in
touch
with
the
law
firm
of
Morgan
Lewis
and
Bacchus
Morgan
Lewis
and
Bacchus
took
our
case
on
a
pro
bono
basis
and
we
filed
the
first
conservatorship
petition
in
the
city
of
failed
yeah.
Now,
happily,
we
didn't
have
to
even
go
through
the
entire
process,
because
finally,
there
was
a
means
to
bring
the
property
owner
before
the
court
and
force
him
to
do
something.
The
petition
was
filed.
G
Hearing
was
held
with
all
the
parties
who
met
the
judge
and
I
want
to
say
by
the
time
we
got
here.
This
property
was
in
such
horrible
shape.
Half
the
roof
was
gone.
The
parking
lot
was
a
mess.
The
floor
was
rotted
inside
was
infested
with
birds
and
other
animals.
I
actually
have
some
pictures.
What
on
the
outside
doesn't
look
all
that
terrible
and
I'll
submit
it
into
you
to
the
council
later,
but
you'll
see
on
the
inside
there's
really
nothing
left.
This
is
definitely
what
qualifies
as
an
attractive
nuisance
the
danger
to
the
community.
G
Anyway
said
by
time
we
got
to
court,
the
property
was
in
that
condition
and
meeting
was
held
with
the
judge
and
the
property
owner
realized.
Things
were
not
going
so
well
for
him.
The
judge
was
inclined
to
grant
or
petition
so
finally
started
talking
real-world
numbers,
and
we
had
initially
offered
$200,000
for
the
property.
He
wanted
the
property
appraised
and
we
said
sure
we
will
pay
for
an
appraisal
and
we
will
pay
you
the
fair
appraisal,
value
of
the
property.
G
G
I
think
it's
real
important
to
mention
that
you
normally
did
not
gives
property
taken
away
from
him
and
since
then,
about
a
few
years
ago,
we
sold
it
to
an
entrepreneur
developer,
which
is
the
Tang
family,
opened
up
their
actually
tore
down
that
building
brought
constructed
a
brand
new
building
resurfaced
the
parking
lot,
landscaping
signage
and
now
it's
their
5th
pharmacy
in
the
city,
along
with
two
other
offices,
two
medical
offices
so
before,
whereas
he
previously
had
the
property
taxes
being
paid,
but
a
blighted,
you
know
influence
the
community.
Now
property
taxes
are
paid.
G
There's
no
blight.
There's
you
know,
there's
payroll
their
jobs.
This
is
a
contributing
parcel
in
our
community.
We're
obviously
thrilled
I
want
to
add
that
work
once
again
has
an
opportunity
to
use
the
conservatorship
act
and
I
think
once
again.
This
is
a
situation
where
it
may
be
all
only
viable
tool.
So
it's
critical
that
we
continue
to
support
this.
G
We're
working
to
do
some
development
further
down
again
Savin
it
close
to
the
oginsky
ranch
of
the
fleet,
free
library
and
there's
about
four
or
five
properties,
all
in
a
row
owned
by
one
person
of
the
family,
and
some
of
them
are
behind
the
taxes,
although
at
least
one
of
them
is
current
in
the
taxes,
so
couldn't
thing
into
a
sheriff
sale
fee
tried
just
last
week,
one
of
the
corner
properties
collapsed.
We
met
with
L&I
and
they're
very
concerned
about
this
as
well.
G
We've
been
in
negotiations
with
the
property
owner
to
buy
these
properties,
but
our
concern
is
that,
since
the
other
properties
have
taxes
on
them,
I
ultimately
think
this
property
owner
is
not
going
to
be
interested
in
direct
purchase
and
I.
Think
that
conservatorship
is
going
to
be
only
tool
we
have
available
so
once
again
we're
very
happy
the
tools
there
I
support
the
expansion
of
it.
H
Madam
chair
and
members
of
the
committee,
thank
you
for
holding
this
important
hearing
on
a
matter
that
I
believe
with
some
improvements
could
offer
a
citywide
solution
to
our
long-standing
problem
of
blight.
My
name
is
Anna
scripta
I'm
executive
director
of
Manor
in
USA
Minor
USA,
is
one
of
Philadelphia's,
more
comprehensive,
Community,
Development
Corporation's,
with
a
focus
on
housing,
counseling
corridor
and
business
district;
revitalization,
a
public
school
improvement
initiative
and
real
estate
development
of
affordable
for
sale
and
rental
housing
and
affordable,
high-quality
commercial
space
for
small
businesses.
It
is
our
real
estate
function.
H
That
brings
me
here
today.
For
years
matter,
USA
has
been
rehabilitating
vacant,
platon
properties
untouched
by
private
developers,
into
new,
affordable
housing
opportunities
for
low
to
moderate
income
Philadelphians.
However,
the
City
Philadelphia
is,
over
the
past
two
years,
eliminated
most
of
the
funding
programs
that
allowed
this
work
to
continue
high
construction
costs
in
Philadelphia
make
it
difficult
to
develop
high-quality,
affordable
housing
or
commercial
space
in
areas
where
the
market
values
are
therefore
to
continue
this
much-needed
work
and
to
finally
utilize
an
effective
tool
in
the
fight
against
blight.
Manor
USA
has
turned
to
using
act.
H
135
act
135
offers
Philadelphia
its
most
effective
tool,
yet
in
remediating
plight,
not
only
does
it
put
negligent
property
owners
in
a
position
to
either
address
their
property
code
violations
or
potentially
lose
their
property.
It
can
also
allow
a
CDC
like
us
to
move
quickly
in
addressing
a
problem
property.
By
way
of
example,
in
May
2013
Mountaineer
USA
filed
its
first
petition
to
address
a
long-standing
border
of
vacant
property
at
59,
East
Phil,
Alaina
Street,
which
you
have
a
picture
of
in
its
initial
State,
should
be
with
your
files.
H
This
property
was
owned
by
corporate
investor,
with
suburban
address,
who
had
no
interest
in
caring
for
the
property
and
was
tax
delinquent
in
December
2013.
Nearly
seven
months
later,
Manor
USA
received
its
final
order
from
the
court
to
enter
the
property
and
begin
rehabilitation.
Construction
is
now
nearly
60%
complete
and
by
early
April,
a
brand
new
housing
opportunity
will
be
available
for
a
new
homeowner
with.
H
B
H
59
east
bill
elena
street,
so
about
75
yards
in
from
germantown
Avenue,
a
new,
a
new
housing
opportunity
will
be
available
with
stainless
steel
appliances,
energy-efficient
windows,
hardwood
floors,
etc.
As
a
veteran
of
city,
government
I
can
stay
with
some
measure
of
confidence
that
no
current
city
vacant
disposition
process
can
move
that
quickly.
Having
achieved
our
first
success
matter,
a
USA
is
now
determined
to
replicate
this
and
aggressively
address
blight
throughout
our
community.
There
are
a
number
of
steps
city
government
can
take
to
make
us
more
feasible
number
one.
H
Many
properties
eligible
for
conservatorship
are
upside
down,
because
the
statute
requires
that
all
governmental
liens
be
repaid
for
food
sale
proceeds
the
amount
of
liens
on
some
properties,
plus
the
construction
costs,
exceed
any
reasonable,
expected
sales
value.
To
date.
The
Department
of
licenses
and
inspections
has
been
an
excellent
partner
in
not
only
sighting
properties
for
code
violations,
but
also
working
with
potential
conservators
to
discuss
reducing
outstanding
liens
to
make
the
economics
of
rehabilitation
work.
H
Unfortunately,
other
city
departments
have
not
followed
suit
and
it
has
been
difficult
to
generate
any
interest
to
truly
unlock
the
potential
of
conservatorship.
The
Revenue
Department
water
department
and
Gas
Works
should
all
follow
suit.
We're
not
asking
for
unreasonable
waivers
or
reductions
of
liens.
Only
enough
to
make
the
redevelopment
of
the
property
work
number
2.
The
city
must
taut
stop
taking
a
short-term
view
towards
vacant
flighted
properties
in
June,
2013
Mount
Airy
USA
had
prepared
a
petition
for
conservatorship
for
another
property.
That
is
a
long-standing
eyesore
in
our
community.
H
The
back
of
the
property
was
on
the
verge
of
collapse
and
a
rear,
detached
garage,
and
they
come
down
all
together
in
the
next
storm
before
filing
the
petition
manner.
Us
they
learned
that
the
city
was
intending
to
begin
tax
foreclosure
proceedings
on
the
property,
a
step
that
would
put
a
halt
to
conservatorship.
What
matter?
H
Usa
requested
the
Law
&
Commerce
Department,
to
delay
the
tax
foreclosure
process
to
see
if
the
property
could
be
acquired
through
conservatorship
matter,
USA
was
told
the
city
would
not
stop
and
that
the
impetus
for
generating
funds
for
the
school
district
was
too
great.
This
is
a
short-sighted
approach,
while
a
tax
foreclosure
may
generate
some
immediate
relief
for
the
city
and
district,
it
does
nothing
to
ensure
that
the
property
is
redeveloped.
H
Conservatorship
would
have
required
not
only
the
repayment
of
outstanding
liens,
but
under
court
order
would
have
required
the
property
to
be
rehabilitated.
Now
because
of
this
short-sighted
decision,
the
property
continues
to
sit
deteriorating,
presenting
a
nuisance
and
blight
for
the
surrounding
neighbors
and
a
significant
safety
concern.
City
policy
should
sit
shift
to
prioritize
conservatorship
applications
over
tax
foreclosures,
as
conservatorship
will
ensure
the
repayment
of
taxes
and
that
the
property
is
put
back
into
productive
use
3.
H
Finally,
as
mentioned
all
the
city's
subsidy
programs
to
develop
affordable
housing
in
areas
where
the
market
is
not
working
have
largely
been
eliminated,
this
includes
the
HRP
program.
The
targeted
housing
preservation
program
and
the
Neighborhood
Stabilization
program
council
should
work
with
the
administration
to
restore
some
funding
for
this
important
work
by
Community
Development
Corporation's,
either
through
funds
slated
for
construction
or
general
operating
funds.
H
Madam
chair,
as
you
know,
all
the
CDC's
in
Northwest
Philadelphia,
a
significant
portion
of
our
city,
are
currently
disqualified
for
any
CDC
funding
from
the
Department
of
Commerce
because
of
their
interpretation
of
Community
Development
Block
Grant
rules.
Together
with
the
land
bank.
We
now
have
the
tools
in
hand
to
reverse
the
ravages
of
light
throughout
our
community.
With
a
few
easy
changes,
we
can
now
amplify
the
impact
of
act
135.
Let's
not
allow
light
to
consume
any
more
of
our
neighborhoods.
Let's
put
this
law
to
work
now.
H
I
I
Several
private
entities,
including
Stephen
Aaron,
halt
Universal
Building
Corporation
and
streamline
solutions
in
taking
a
tact
that
is
allowing
private
individuals
and
smaller
nonprofits
to
implement
the
act
to
effect
change
one
building
at
a
time
in
their
neighborhood
first.
It
was
touched
on
earlier,
but
I
would
like
to
say
that
the
Department
of
license
and
inspections
vacant
property
strategy
has
been
an
invaluable
resource
for
the
private
and
nonprofit
entities
that
have
been
putting
this
into
use.
I
Finally,
once
the
rehabilitation
is
complete
and
a
potential
out
sale
is
completed,
oftentimes
the
owner
realizes
proceeds
from
the
sale
of
the
property
where
it
normally
would
have
been
taken
through
tax
sale
and
they
probably
wouldn't
have
seen
anything
or
the
liens
from
L&I
demolition
would
have
taken
away
any
value
to
the
vacant
parcel.
So
in
most
cases
it
is
a
win-win,
and
it's
funny
that
artis
has
been
mentioned.
I
attended
that
hearing
as
I
had
filed.
I
The
second
petition
was
anxious
to
see
how
it
would
progress,
and
one
of
the
factors
is
that
the
well
not
factor,
but
the
owner
made
the
argument
that
the
property
was
not
abandoned
and
when
the
judge
turned
to
him
and
asked
him
why
he
said
well,
I
walked
by
it
once
a
week,
so
I
have
an
abandoned
now,
as
you
can
tell
from
the
photos,
especially
of
the
interior
I.
Don't
anyone
here
would
argue
that
it
was
abandoned
and
believe
it
or
not.
I
I've,
in
the
course
of
proceeding
with
around
50
of
these
cases
have
heard
even
more
interesting
exploit
explanations
of
why
their
property
was
not
abandoned.
But
that
is
where
the
court
has
come
in
and
we're
a
little
bit
of
funding
could
go
a
long
way.
Often
these
homeowners,
if
they
haven't
been
to
blight
court
or
even
when
they
have
they've,
found
that
they
can
get
away
with
keeping
their
property.
Well,
you
know
technically
barely
in
compliance,
it
still
would
by
any
definition
of
the
word,
be
blighted
and
vacant
or
abandoned.
I
But
when
we
get
some
of
these
homeowners
to
court-
and
they
see
that
you
know
they're
not
going
to
be
able
to
dance
around
and-
and
the
judge
really
does
a
good
job
of
bringing
them
to
task,
they
realized
that
a
we're
gonna
take
over
and
do
it
if
they
don't
and
be
that
they're
not
going
to
be
able
to
get
any
kind
of.
You
know.
I
Half
measure
passed
this
process,
which
you
know
for
the
slight
investment
of
bringing
it
to
court
as
opposed
to
what
it
would
take
to
fully
rehabilitate
a
property
or
even
the
city
resources.
It
takes
to
finally
get
a
property
at
a
tax,
sale.
I
think
the
cost-benefit
weighs
very
heavily
in
favor
of
conservatorships.
I
I
Unfortunately,
the
costs
of
a
private
developer,
rehabilitating,
in
addition
to
the
liens
on
the
property,
make
it
somewhat
prohibitive
to
complete
a
full
rehabilitation
under
the
conservatorship
process.
Now,
if
there
was
a
grant
or
some
sort
of
loan
guarantee
that
the
city
could
provide,
that
would
definitely
make
that
project
feasible
and
fully
restore
that
property.
I
Imagine
there's
a
PGW
lien
that
hasn't
been
recorded,
but
the
difference
between
making
that
project
full
green
light
and
a
you
know
trying
to
figure
out
what
we're
going
to
do
with
it
is
principal
and
interest
on
those
liens.
So
even
a
citywide
policy
for
conservatorships
in
regards
to
negotiating
the
principal
and
interest
on
liens
would
do
immeasurable
good.
I
As
far
as
breaking
one
of
the
log
jams
that
have
held
back
these
cases,
I
have
had
several
consulted
with
several,
especially
private
neighbors
of
these
blighted
property
who,
when
faced
with
the
prospect
of
having
to
fund
to
the
rehabilitation
themselves
and
without
the
prospect
of
having
commercial
lending
available
and
only
a
you
know,
hard
money.
Private
lender
possibility,
with
the
higher
interest
rates,
have
have
have
not
seen
themselves
as
having
the
ability
to
take
on
that
property.
I
I
I
You
can
look
in
and
see
all
of
the
trash
and
note
and
see
the
open
windows
that
have
let
rain
in
there,
and
you
know
that
that
property
is
going
to
be
a
hazard
for
first
responders,
but
without
evidence,
either
through
expert
testimony
or
even
better
a
citation
from
the
Department
of
license
and
inspection.
Saying
that
it
has
been
deemed
a
fire
hazard
by
the
city.
I
I
Don't
think
it
was
even
a
week
later
one
of
the
law
firms
that
represents
the
city
and
tax
collection
filed
their
notice
sheriff
sale.
I,
don't
know
if
any
of
the
councilmembers
have
tried
to
find
information
on
whether
or
not
a
property
is
going
to
sheriff
sale,
but
it's
not
always
as
transparent
as
one
would
like
long
story
short.
The
property
went
to
sale
and
it's
been
six
or
seven
months
now,
trying
to
negotiate
with
the
successful
bidder
as
to
what's
going
to
happen
with
the
property.
I
So,
with
those
in
mind,
I
would
like
to
thank
the
council
for
the
opportunity
to
testify
about
this
important
tool
that
I
have
seen
revitalize
many
properties
in
the
city,
either
at
the
hands
of
a
conservator
or
a
property
or
owner
who
has
come
around
to
the
standard
that
that
they
should
be
maintaining
their
house.
Thank
you.
J
Madam
chairwoman,
thank
you
very
much.
Thank
the
council
for
the
opportunity.
I'm
Joel
Palmer
I'm,
the
chief
executive
officer
for
Shirley
Turco.
We
are
a
501
C
4
corporation
as
a
conservative
for
lighted
properties
based
on
the
most
recent
tally,
with
fire
filed
more
than
half
of
the
Act
135
actions
in
the
Court
of
Common
Pleas
in
Philadelphia,
and
feel
qualified
to
speak
about
the
law
at
the
risk
of
or
not
to
be
human
of
to
the
other.
Testimony
you've
heard
I
would
like
to
ask
that
if
the
City
Council
could
they
codify?
J
J
That
sometimes
makes
the
difference
between
whether
a
project
can
be
accomplished
equitably
and
with
a
fair
return
or
not,
and
currently
it's
done
on
a
case-by-case
basis,
but
I
think
it's
something
that
the
City
Council
could
easily
put
into
a
code
and
then
it
would
be
done
automatically
if
the
City
Council
could
also
urge
the
Pennsylvania
Senate
to
act
without
delay
on
a
bill.
That
I
believe
has
no
opposition,
and
that
is
the
amendments
to
act.
J
135,
representative,
Taylor's
office
and
you'll
hear
from
mark
kolosso
later
on,
have
fine-tuned
and
streamlined
some
of
the
parts
of
the
Act
that
weren't
working
very
well.
That
has
passed
the
house.
It
is
in
the
Senate
I
think
I
speak
correctly,
and
if
there
is
no
opposition
to
this
amendment,
but
the
vote
on
it
has
been
delayed
and
until
it's
voted
on
past
and
then
the
governor
signs
it.
It
doesn't.
Do
anybody
any
good.
J
Third,
if
we
could
achieve
some
sort
of
a
waiver
or
a
deferral
of
witness
fees
that
are
paid
to
licenses
and
inspections,
we
call
them
as
expert
witnesses
and
pay
in
advance
and
since
99%
of
show
liter
köves
costs
are
our
legal
costs
in
bringing
suit
on
at
135.
It
becomes
a
bit
of
an
impediment.
L&Amp;I
has
been
stellar
Department
in
working
with
us
in
providing
witnesses,
and
testimony
we'd
like
to
be
able
to
settle
those
charges,
if
they're
appropriate
at
the
out
sale
of
the
property
and
not
in
advance.
J
Lastly,
I'd
like
to
thank
the
drafters
of
the
legislation
and
Judy
Berkman
and
all
the
organizations
that
work
to
implement
it
and
create
handbooks
Shirley
Turco
is
at
the
tip
of
the
spear
we
actually
filed
these.
These
cases
take
them
through
court.
I
have
a
son
and
two
brothers
that
are
attorneys
and
I've
spent
enough
time
in
court
to
know
it
is
often
a
very
thankless
job,
and
so
we
appreciate
the
opportunity
to
speak
with
you
today
and
to
ask
for
these
few
things.
H
Thanks,
madam
sure,
so
many
of
the
the
remaining
funding
programs
that
are
available
to
community
development
corporations
in
Philadelphia,
largely
through
the
Department
of
Commerce,
rely
entirely
now
on
federal,
Community,
Development
Block
Grant
funds.
There
are
no
city,
general
revenue
funds
put
towards
those
programs,
the
city,
the
administration's
interpretation
of
the
use
of
those
funds
and
what
sections
of
the
city
qualify
for
their
use
have
essentially
cut
off.
Most
of
Northwest
Philadelphia,
including
communities
served
by
orc,
Mountainair,
USA,
East,
Falls,
Roxboro,
Manayunk
and
Chestnut
Hill.
H
Of
course,
that's
not
to
say
there
is
a
need,
there's
tremendous
need.
You
certainly
know
the
need
in
in
your
district
around
our
office.
There
are
any
number
of
blighted
properties
on
Germantown
Avenue
on
the
residential
streets,
around
Germantown
Avenue
and
the
other
folks
in
the
other
communities
need
help
as
well,
but
right
now
there
is
no.
H
There
is
no
opportunity
to
apply
for
support
from
the
Commerce
Department,
largely
the
consequence
of
that
is
any
dollar
that
we
have
to
put
towards
operations
to
keep
the
lights
on
as
a
dollar
taken
away
from
potential
construction
capital.
We
would
like
to
be
able
to
expand
our
use
of
this
and
right
now.
It
is
entirely
constrained
by
capital
how
much
funding
we
have
available
and
how
much
we
can
put
towards
construction
so
that
that
was
my
as.
G
A
result
of
that
Anuj
and
I
work
in
other
CDC's
actually
formed
a
coalition
Northwest
commercial
corridor
coalition.
We've
met
with
a
number
of
council
people
as
well
as
alan
greenberg,
earth
department
of
commerce,
and
we
have
suggested
that
the
mayor
put
into
this
year's
budget
1
million
dollars,
I
believe,
to
be
allocated
for
all
the
CDC's
that
don't
meet
this
eligibility
to
compete.
For
that.
You
know
on
a
competitive
basis
through
a
grant
process,
the
Commerce
partners
to
the
support
of
it
basin.
G
We
have
a
lot
of
support,
but
you
know
it
all
depends
on
what's
going
on
with
other
financial
constraints.
But
as
you
know,
when
we
can
in
these
communities
we
can
leverage
the
dollars
a
lot,
we
can
get
a
lot
down
a
little
bit
of
money,
so
the
process
going
on
for
probably
about
a
year.
Now
we
came
to
the
table
a
little
too
late
in
last
year's
budget
process.
We
learned
from
that
and
we
so
hopefully
this
will
change.
B
F
Applaud
you
for
doing
that
work.
One
of
my
challenges
every
year
when
we
talk
about
CDBG
funding,
is
how
we
limit
the
capacity
of
you
guys
to
leverage
it
because
using
dollars,
as
opposed
to
general
operating
so
I'm
glad
to
see
that
and
hopefully
that
million
dollars
will
be
on
the
table.
I
think
that
all
the
money
that
we
put
out
in
the
street
should
be
general
operating
and
then
that
way
we
release
all
those
federal
regulations
until
we
figure
out
the
federal
policy
from
the
street
cleaning
to
the
corridor
management.
F
One
of
the
things
that
happens
is
we
set
up
these
good
programs.
I
know
the
mixed
commercial
development
won't
fund
money,
there's
a
lot
of
it.
That's
just
in
the
pipeline
because
of
the
of
the
regulations
so
I'm
glad
that
you
guys
are
advocating
for
that
and
I
think
the
Councilwoman
and
I
know
other
council
district
council
folks.
F
You
know
my
district
meets
all
of
the
eligibility
requirements,
but
I
don't
think
it's
a
good
utilization
of
staff
administrative
time
to
ensure
that
we're
meeting
all
the
federal
benchmarks
I
just
think
that
it's
not
good
best
practices
internally.
So,
to
the
extent
that
we
can
free
up
that
money,
I
think
it
will
help
the
entire
city
and
I
think
the
times
have
change.
We
now
have
a
trash
B.
You
know
we
want
to
be
able
to
tell
folks
that
trash
means
going
back
into
your
neighborhoods.
F
It's
a
perfect
example
of
where
we
want
to
see
it
used.
So
I
applaud
that
and
be
happy
to
kind
of
work
with
you
I
know
that's
an
area
that
I
continuously
challenge.
You
know
the
administration
around
thinking
about
how
do
we?
How
do
we
free
up
the
rags
so
that
you
guys
could
do
the
work
that
you
do
and
I
think
that's
a
good
one
to
target,
because
it's
an
easy
one?
F
F
What
what
I'm
getting
from
here
is
that
some
of
the
things
that
we
can
do
locally
I
mean
obviously
that
the
state
level,
there's
I,
think
there's
some
good
amendments
on
the
table,
but
as
that,
we
try
to
link
this
up
with
some
of
the
stuff
that
we're
doing
with
land
banks.
The
policy
for
the
forgiveness
of
liens
is
one
that
is,
is
you
know
cuz?
You
guys
have
asked
us
for
a
bunch
of
stuff,
so
you
guys
gotta
figure
out
absolutely
no
problem.
F
Is
the
policy
for
forgiveness
of
loans?
Obviously,
we
have
that
now
and
you
guys
in
the
CDC
world
have
helped
establish
what
those
rules
are
around
affordable
housing.
Do
you
foresee
a
situation
we're
coming
up
with
a
policy
and
and
having
some
limitations
about
affordability
or
accessibility
would
be
a
problem.
F
That's
something,
and
it
would
be
great
for
there
to
be
some
sort
of
formal
piece
by
the
CDC
world.
You
know
baffling
the
folks
to
say
an
under
conservatorship
policy.
You
know
the
current
policy
is
adequate
and
I.
Think
that
takes
helps
us
move
that
I
think
one
of
the
things
around
a
lining
of
the
codes
for
Illinois
for
someone
to
work
with
Illinois
and
figure
out.
We
just
did
the
whole.
I
I
Right
now,
there's
one
pending
in
brewery
town,
where
you
know
it's
guys
from
DC
who
bought
it
as
an
investment
property
and
I've
been
sitting
on
it
for
10
years.
Meanwhile,
my
clients
been
developing
a
significant
number
of
the
properties
in
that
neighborhood,
and
you
know
the
these
properties
are
the
last
ones.
There
that
you
know
holding
up
this
neighborhood.
F
F
We
want
the
deal
to
work,
but
I
want
the
deal
to
work
for
that
person,
who's
going
to
live
in
that
house,
so
how
we
get
there.
We
can
kind
of
talk
about
it,
but
I'm
open
to
that.
As
long
as
we're
clear
I
mean
I
think
the
PRA
has
been
very
creative
and
I'm.
Sure
Brian
will
speak
to
this
around
you
know:
do
you
do
you
saw
Faline
some
of
this
stuff
to
assure
affordability,
long
term
what
we're
trying
to
get
to
in
20
years?
F
You
know
so
that
lien
is
on
the
property,
so
people
are
not
buying
it
and
flipping
it
on
us
right
so
that
we
can
meet
the
mutual
goal,
particularly
if
the
city
is
going
to
subsidize,
because
you
know
a
forgiveness
of
a
lien
is
a
subsidy.
We
may
not
have
the
cash,
but
if
we,
if
we
have
the
equity,
you
should
be
willing
to
put
it
on
the
table
again.
Assuming
the
end
user
is
the
person
that
we
want
to
help
and
the
subsidy
goes
to
that
person.
F
And
then,
in
terms
of
offsetting
of
some
of
these
costs,
has
anybody
had
a
conversation
with
our
office
of
Housing
and
Community
Development
about
Housing
Trust
Fund
support
around
this
because
I
know
we've
they've
been
redefining
that
kind
of
stuff,
as
anybody
said,
can
we
create
a
pilot
going
back
to
you
know?
What
does
that
pilot
look
like
and
do
we
use
Housing
Trust
Fund
money
to
create
that
on
there
kind
of
don't
the
ten
different
means
we
had
so
no
one's
done
that
yet.
Okay,
thank
you.
B
L
Good
afternoon,
everyone
I
want
to
thank
you,
I,
think
I'm
speaking
for
everybody
here
for
convening
this
hearing
and
really
looking
into
this
issue
and
how
act
135
can
be
utilized
more
frequently
and
more
efficiently.
I
know
when
representative
Taylor's
just
realized
that,
as
I
was
talking
about
me,
Mark
Collazo,
chief
of
staff
and
district
office
manager
for
state
representative,
John,
Taylor,
Thank
You,
captain
that
when
representative
Taylor
introduced
note
this
law
back
in
2008
ultimately
passed.
L
The
goal
was
obviously
broad
how
we
can
take
these
blighted
vacant
eyesores
and
get
them
back
into
productive
use
both
by
people
utilizing
them,
as
well
as
getting
the
tax
rolls
more
fluid
and
flowing
again,
and
that
when
I
was
fortunate
enough
to
come
aboard
with
represent
a
tailor
in
2010
to
help
run
this.
What
you
found
is
very
little.
People
knew
about
it
and
ultimately
joke
that
were
sort
of
like
this
traveling
band
that
whenever
act,
135
comes
up.
L
It's
all
these
people
here,
so
we
sort
of
have
our
little
stick
down,
but
so
it
is
a
pleasure
and
one
of
the
things
that's
what
we've
found
and
I'll
kind
of
talk
about.
The
amendment
passing
housebroke,
1363
I,
think
you
all
know
just
by
having
here
the
benefits
of
what
act.
135
can
do
since
it's
been
utilized
by
many
people
in
this
room
and
certainly
I've
got
to
commend.
My
colleague
to
my
colleagues
to
my
left
here,
Ella
and
I
have
certainly
taken
a
leading
role.
L
There's
really
been
a
lot
of
symmetry
with
the
administration,
with
counsel
with
L&I
and
targeting
those
vacant
properties
issuing
violations
so
that
when
we
go
to
file,
we
can
have
our
proof
to
show
blight
and
I
really
have
to
commend
them.
I
know
mr.
Abernathy
will
be
speaking
on
the
efforts
they're
doing
in
the
filing
they
just
made.
What
we
found
is
like
anything
with
any
law,
it's
trial
and
error,
what
works
and
what
doesn't
and
what
we
really
wanted
to
do.
L
So
the
community
benefits
there'll
be
a
new
homeowner
because,
there's
you
know,
and
and
so
that's
great,
where
does
it
leave
the
petitioner?
Because,
as
we
know,
these
things
cost
money
and
they
become
less
cost
effective
when
people
are
putting
money
out
of
their
pocket,
getting
someone
to
court
getting
a
desired
goal
and
they're
not
really
getting
anything,
and
that's
really
what
led
to
House
bill
1363,
which
was
presented
on
May
8th
of
2013?
L
As
you
know,
conservatorship
is
the
appointment
of
a
third
party
to
take
control
of
a
blighted
and
abandoned
property
and
to
make
the
repairs
necessary
to
return
the
property
to
productive
use.
A
Court
of
Common
Pleas
appoints
the
conservator
after
a
formal
petition
process
and
hearing,
including
notice
to
the
property
owner
all
lien
holders
and
all
political
subdivisions
where
the
property
is
located.
L
Representative
Taylor
is
pleased
to
let
you
know
that
this
newer
law
act,
135
that
is,
is
in
use
throughout
our
state
as
a
result,
formerly
abandoned,
and/or,
blended
properties
have
new
owners
and
are
back
on
local
tax
roles,
specifically
House
bill
1363
to
amend
the
abandoned
and
blighted
property.
Conservatorship
Act
of
2008
is
based
on
close
observation
of
the
law
at
work
in
cities
such
as
our
own
and
communities
throughout
our
Commonwealth.
L
So
when
we
talk
about
what
the
developers
fears,
we
have
amended
in
house
for
1363
those
terms
actually
with
input
with
many
of
the
people
in
this
room.
A
developer's
fee
is
defined
as
a
fee
equal
to
the
greatest
of
an
amount
equal
to
$2,500,
adjusted
upward
by
2%
each
year,
a
20%
markup
of
cost
and
expenses
of
carrying
out
that
would
approved
conservatives
plan
or,
and
again
this
is
the
greater
of
20%
of
the
sale
price
of
the
property.
L
This
ensures
that
the
person
is
going
to
ultimately
carry
the
burden
or
is
proposing
to
carry
this
price.
Financial
burden
will
have
some
sort
of
reward
and
stake
in
the
property
that
they're
putting
so
much
time
into
and
making
a
commitment
to
the
neighborhood
and
to
the
city.
One
of
the
thing
we
also
wanted
to
do
was
expand
the
geographic
proximity
in
which
the
conservator
would
have
to
have
done
work
currently
under
the
Act.
A
proposed
conservative
would
have
to
have
done
a
project
within
one
mile
of
the
of
the
place
where
they
are
petitioning.
L
L
More
importantly,
what
we
wanted
to
do
is
get
these
cases
moving
and
right
now
the
Act
allows
for
120
days
from
the
date
of
filing
that
there
would
be
a
hearing
our
bill
or
amendment
I
should
say,
moves
that
up
to
60
days,
these
owners
most
often
than
not,
and
we
really
tried
to
stress
this-
you
know
you
all
know
this.
We
are.
These
are
abandoned
vacant
homes,
we're
not
looking
to
kick
out
aunt.
H
L
Or
Grandma
who
can't
pay
the
mortgage
or
her
taxes?
City
Council's
already
have
put
some
plans
in
place
to
help
those
people.
These
are
people
who
have
left
it,
left
it
to
decay
and
has
really
caused
an
eyesore
to
the
community.
We
look
no
further.
We
had
one
next
to
our
district
office.
In
bride's
burg,
big
beautiful
property,
the
owner
died.
Her
daughter
was
the
executrix
just
ignored
it
ignored
us
as
we
wrote
to
help
them
we'll
help
you
get
rid
of.
L
L
We
worked
with
the
local
CDC
and
Scholle
Turco
filed
on
that
property.
This
was
a
property
where
the
owner
unbeknownst
or
the
executrix
sold
it.
However,
we
made
sure,
through
court
intervention
that
the
property
was
fixed,
as
we
would
have
proposed
to
have
done
it,
we're
proud
to
say
that
house
was
renovated
and
sold
to
a
local
family,
a
family
for
$260,000,
and
it
is
gorgeous
and
one
of
the
things
that
we're
really
looking
I
guess
for
council
to
look
at
I,
know.
You've
heard
this
already
so
I
know
I'm
preaching
to
the
choir.
L
We
have
met
with
several
of
different
departmental
agencies,
revenue
et
cetera,
on
how
to
make
this
huge
backlog
of
properties
that
the
city
has
over
40,000.
We
move
and
part
of
our
biggest
problem
as
well.
There
are
white
right
properties
everywhere
in
this
city,
as
you
all
know,
for
act
135,
many
of
them
have
more
taxes
and
liens
on
them
than
the
worth
of
the
property.
We
can't
do
anything
with
them.
L
Our
hope
is
if
we
can
find
a
cohesive
plan
through
discussions
with
you
all
on
how
to
reduce
those
liens
and
taxes
so
that
we
can
or
other
preventative
groups
can
file.
You
know
it's
really
a
win-win,
because,
right
now
the
city
is
getting
nothing
from
those
properties
that
it's
holding,
except
to
paying
to
try
to
maintain
them.
L
L
Okay,
where
you
go,
someone
can
use
that
there
is
a
developer
or
a
contractor
who
now
gets
to
go
to
work
and
get
paid
for
it
as
a
result
of
that,
and
the
city
gets
a
continuing
revenue
stream
of
utilities
and
taxes
because
someone's
living
there
and
utilizing
it
and
I
think
that's
really
one
of
the
ways
I
think
we
can
really
work
to
start
using
act,
135
and
I
know.
Mr.
Abernathy
will
talk
about
the
model
that
the
PR
PA
is
using
and
I.
Think
it's
a
good
one.
L
Ultimately
I
think
with
all
of
those
things.
We
can
really
start
to
see
some
productive
change
just
by
way
of
clarification
for
the
record
House
bill
1363
has
been
stated
earlier,
is
sitting
in
Senate
Appropriations.
After
passing,
the
house
we've
spoken
to
senator
Pileggi
and
we
expect
it
to
be
passed
and
ultimately
signed
into
law
by
the
end
of
this
session
in
June,
hopefully
sooner
than
June
than
later.
So
we
expect
to
really
be
able
to
go
to
work
in
the
fall
and
I
think
that
will
encourage
a
much
bigger
umbrella
for
you,
so
I.
M
Good
afternoon
councilman
task
I
when
members
of
the
committee,
my
name
is
Rebecca
Swanson
I'm,
the
policy
and
communications
director
for
the
department
of
licenses
and
inspections,
I'm
pleased
to
have
the
opportunity
to
testify
before
you
on
the
important
issue
of
conservatorship
and
the
impact
it
will
have
and
currently
has
on
blighted
vacant
properties
throughout
the
city.
I'm,
the
director
of
L&I
vacant
property
strategy,
so
I
see
firsthand
everyday
the
negative
impact.
Why
did
vacant
properties
have
in
our
neighborhoods
and
the
positive
change
that
can
be
brought
about
by
returning
these
properties
to
productive
use?
M
The
vacant
property
strategy
is
one
of
our
most
successful,
successful
initiatives.
We
have
cited
more
than
13,000
vacant
properties
for
property
maintenance
violations,
including
violations
of
councils,
extremely
effective
doors
and
windows
ordinance.
We
have
a
dedicated
court
time
called
blight
court.
We
work
the
law
department
to
find
owners
of
these
blighted
properties,
ensure
that
they
repair
or
sell
the
properties
or
face
fines.
We
have
about
a
50
percent
compliance
rate
overall,
however,
not
all
property
owners
comply
with
our
citations
or
show
up
in
court.
M
Many
of
our
of
the
city's
blighted
vacant
properties
are
owned
by
individuals
who
are
deceased
speculators
who
purchased
that
sheriff
sale
and
then
abandon
the
property
or
by
blight
Ward's
who
purchase
dozens
or
hundreds
of
properties
at
a
time
and
then
let
them
rot
while
they
hid
behind
shell
corporations.
These
are
our
trickiest
cases,
because
we
do
not
have
a
viable
owner
that
we
can
cite
and
take
to
court.
Our
enforcement
literally
cannot
continue
because
there
is
no
one
who
will
take
be
able
to
take
responsibility
for
the
property.
M
Instead,
the
buildings
will
continue
to
deteriorate
and
that
will
often
force
Illinois
to
use
taxpayer
money
to
abate
the
property
in
order
to
protect
public
safety.
It
is
for
nuisance
properties
like
these,
where
our
enforcement
has
reached
a
dead
end,
that
creative
solutions
are
needed
in
the
city's
best
interest
to
get
these
properties
into
the
hands
of
responsible
owners
and
return
them
to
productive
use
as
quickly
as
possible.
M
M
We've
also
used
our
extensive
collection
of
data
on
vacant
properties
to
assist
potential
conservators.
We
have
reused
this
data
in
a
number
of
ways.
We
can
help
them
identify
properties
in
their
neighborhoods
that
are
vacant
and
would
be
have
the
property
mate
inviolate.
That
would
make
them
a
good
candidate.
M
We
can
provide
them
with
ownership
information
to
let
them
know
if
we
believe
the
owner
is
dead
or
a
defunct
Corporation,
which
would
make
that
a
more
attractive
candidate
for
conservatorship
than
a
property
with
an
active
owner,
and
we
can
also
give
them
our
complete
violation
history.
So
they
can
get
a
picture
of
what's
going
on
with
the
property,
whether
it
has
a
doors
and
windows
violation
or
might
have
some
more
serious
violations.
That
would
make
it
a
more
expensive
proposition
to
rehabilitate.
M
So
we
can
kind
of
give
them
a
picture
of
what
they'd
be
getting
into
before
they
can
file
the
petition.
Once
a
group
chooses
to
file
a
petition,
we
kind
of
serve
as
a
partner
going
forward
through
the
litigation
process.
We
provide
our
nose
as
a
violation
from
our
property
maintenance
citations,
so
they
can
use
them
as
evidence
in
the
filing.
We
also
can
provide
updates
on
the
property's
current
condition,
and
we
send
an
inspector
to
testify
at
the
hearings
as
to
the
history
of
blight
at
the
property.
M
In
this
role,
we've
participated
in
a
number
of
successful
petitions
and
we've
seen
some
of
our
most
problem
properties,
problems,
the
properties
that
we've
taken
to
court
and
gotten
judgments
against
the
owner,
but
have
seen
no
resolution
and
no
compliance.
We've
seen
them
get
returned
to
productive
use
in
responsible
hands
of
owners.
M
We
just
see
conservatorships
as
a
as
a
way
that
the
city
can
partner
with
community
groups
to
affect
real
change
in
neighborhoods,
and
the
practical
effect
has
been
that
neighborhoods
that
have
been
ravaged
by
boy
and
are
really
struggling
with
vacant
properties
are
starting
to
see
stabilization.
Revitalization.
So
thank
you
for
the
opportunity
to
provide
testimony
and
happy
to
answer
any
questions.
Thank.
B
M
B
M
May
show
up
in
court
for
the
conservatorship
hearing,
but
they
haven't
shown
up
in
response
to
L&I
citations.
We've
taken
them
under
court
to
our
Blake
court,
gotten
a
large
judgment
against
them.
They
never
showed
up
to
end.
They
were
served.
They
never
came
to
court.
They
never
responded
to
any
of
our
violations,
but
then,
as
soon
as
the
conservatorship
petition
was
filed,
they
magically
appeared
and
showed
up
in
court
bare.
So
once
we
take
some
of
the
court
and
get
a
judgment
and
they
still
refuse
to
comply,
there's
literally
nothing
else.
M
K
Good
afternoon
Councilwoman
tasks
on
members
of
the
committee
I'm
Brian
Abernathy
executive,
director
of
the
Philadelphia
Redevelopment
Authority
I'm,
here
to
testify
in
resolution
number
one:
four:
zero
zero
to
five
on
the
abandoned
and
blighted
property
conservatorship
Act
before
I
start
I
want
to
thank
representative
Taylor
and
Ross
and
their
staffs
for
their
leadership
and
innovation.
On
this
issue,
they
have
given
us
some
sharp
tools
to
deal
with
abandoned
properties,
conservatorship
Land,
Bank
estate
transfers,
I,
look
forward
to
continuing
to
work
with
representative,
Ross
and
I'm.
K
Sorry
to
see
representative
Ross
leave
the
assembly
we're
gonna
miss
his
leadership.
A
number
of
witnesses
have
testified
on
how
conservative
ship
works
on
on
proposed
amendments
they're
pending
in
Harrisburg,
and
rather
than
reiterate
any
of
those
comments.
I
wanted
to
touch
on
how
the
redevelopment
authority,
what
our
interest
is
in
conservatorship
and
what
are
our
hopes,
are
for
the
coming
fiscal
year.
K
Conservatorship
can
be
a
fairly
complex
process
for
the
average
community
organization,
the
legal
requirements,
the
amount
of
information
needed
for
the
petition,
the
capital
required
to
renovate
one
of
these
properties.
The
ability
to
sell
the
property
in
the
detailed
understanding
of
the
neighborhoods
market
to
ensure
that
the
conservator
doesn't
lose
money
or
all
important
aspects.
Fortunately,
the
PRA
is
ideally
situated
to
handle
this
type
of
work.
As
some
of
you
know,
the
the
PRA
has
filed
its
first
conservatorship
petition
a
few
weeks
ago
for
a
long
term,
blighted
property
and
councilman
O'neill's
district.
This
petition.
B
K
Some
of
you
know
the
PRA
filed
its
first
conservatorship
petition
a
few
weeks
ago
for
a
long
term,
blighted
property
and
councilman
O'neill's
district.
This
petition
is
a
test
for
us
to
better
understand
the
process,
as
well
as
to
better
understand
how
our
tradesmen
work
through
a
renovation.
We
hope
it's
the
first
of
many
but
recognize
that
the
current
conservatorship
law,
which
does
not
allow
for
a
developer's
fee,
it
makes
conservatorship
at
any
scale
difficult.
K
Should
the
law
change
and
should
the
PRA
identify
funding
I
hope
this
program
would
expand
rapidly
to
stabilize
neighborhoods
in
transition.
At
the
same
time,
the
PRA
wants
to
support
community
organizations
that
want
to
engage
in
this
type
of
work
by
themselves.
This
support
may
be
services
that
are
provided
for
a
fee
or
again.
If
we
can
identify
appropriate
funding.
This
may
be
a
loan
product
that
provides
upfront
cash
that
the
project
needs.
Whatever
the
case,
the
need
for
a
broader
use
of
conservatorship
is
undeniable
and
city
support
needed.
K
Since
I've,
been
at
the
PRA
I've
been
approached
by
council
members,
CDC's
community
organizations
about
how
they
might
be
able
to
deal
with
vacant.
Individual
vacant
structures-
this
is
one
tool
that
may
provide
some
relief
as
I
close
I
want
to
reiterate
that
this
is
one
tool
just
like
the
land
bank
is
one
tool.
This
isn't
a
silver
bullet
for
all
vacant
parcels
and
conservatorship
is
an
appropriate
for
all
vacant
parcels,
but
it's
an
important
tool
in
neighborhoods
that
are
either
transitioning
up
or
transitioning
down
to
stabilize
communities
as
we
move
forward.
B
F
F
F
M
F
F
F
K
Policy
first,
we
actually
are
targeting
specific
neighborhoods
a
or
we
would
be
targeting
specific
neighborhoods
and
again,
those
are
would
be
neighborhoods.
That
would
generally
be
on
the
cusp
taking
a
look
using
NSP
as
the
model
of
how
we
choose.
Those
I
would
probably
be
a
little
bit
more
expansive
as
we
look
at
the
data
than
NSP
was
because
they
were
limited
by
federal
funds
and
and
census
tracts,
but
I
think
the
idea
of
MSP
the
idea
of
block
stabilization
is
certainly
the
one.
What
I
want
to
continue
to
push
forward.
F
F
K
Have
known
actually
specifically
engaged
o
H
city
on
Housing
Trust
Fund,
eight,
we
have
been
looking
at
potential
funding
sources
for
quite
some
time,
and
I
actually
did
to
be
very
forthright
thought
we
had
a
funding
source
that
would
work.
Unfortunately,
it
doesn't
look
like
that
funding
source
is
going
to
be
viable
after
all,
and
so
we're
beginning
the
process
to
re-explore
what
other
sources,
whether
that's
Neighborhood,
Stabilization,
Housing,
Trust
Fund.
In
certain
cases,
the
remaining
nti
funds
might
be
might
be
available.
But
again,
that's
a
conversation
with
bond
counsel.
K
F
K
I
think
one
of
the
things
that
mr.
van
de
Slice
said
that
I
had
not
been
thinking
of
it
was
a
secured
loan
product.
It's
not
we've
looked
at
that
for
other
for
other
mechanisms
or
for
other
projects,
but
not
for
conservatorship.
Specifically,
it's
something
I
would
be
interested
in
exploring
we've
also
spoken
to
some
financial
institutions
about
how
to
could
we
provide.
K
But,
yes,
I
think
all
of
those
those
are
strong
options
I've
actually,
as
far
as
support
to
two
novel
profits
and
CDC's,
we're
hoping
to
have
a
business
plan
and
more
information
in
place
for
the
beginning
of
this
next
fiscal
year.
So
it
is
something
I'm,
very
it's
very
high
on
my
party
list
it
to
move
forward.
F
K
May
not
be
part
of
the
content
because
it
may
not
be
federal
funding,
that's
funds
it
and
so
that
that
would
be
wide.
But
that's
part
of
the
conversation
and
again
I
think
this
goes
back
to
the
idea
of
the
PRA
repositioning
itself.
It's
in
a
definitely
a
state
of
transition
in
finding
our
role
going
forward.
B
Thank
you
very
much.
You've
come
here
with
educate
us
so
much
and
give
us
information,
and
surely
the
other
council
members
listen
on
there
in
the
office
and
also
watch
on
television.
So
then
I
hear
but
I
want
to
thank
my
council
members
for
coming
there.
One
any
Wells
here
to
testify
on
this
bill:
Oh
Lara,
Amy,
Lara,
Khan,
I'm,
sorry,.
N
B
N
And
hoppy
happy
Mardi
Gras
to
all
of
you.
Thank
you.
I
can't
resist.
I
am
offering
creative
conservatorship
concepts
today,
so
I
hope
to
live
up
to
that.
My
name
is
Amy
Laura
Conn
I
am
testifying
in
my
capacity
as
the
staff
attorney
with
the
public
interest
law
center
of
Philadelphia
through
our
garden
justice
legal
initiative.
I
provide
pro
bono,
legal
and
policy
support
to
Philadelphia's,
gardens
and
farms
I'm.
Also
the
chair
of
the
vacant
land
subcommittee
of
the
mayor's
Food
Policy
Advisory
Council.
N
The
city
for
years,
has
tacitly
accepted
gardening
and
farming
as
a
core
strategy
in
revitalize
revitalizing
and
repurposing
vacant
parcels.
Yet
community
groups
have
no
clear
path
to
legal
access,
much
less
permanence,
even
when
garden
spaces
have
become
undeniably
sewn
into
the
fabric
of
a
community.
Our
biggest
set
of
land
transfer
Quagmire's
are
privately
owned.
Parcels
tax,
delinquent
and
abandoned
the
land
bank
will
be
a
transport
transformative
tool,
but
we
need
all
the
tools
we
can
can
use.
N
I've
choose
quick
stories
for
you,
the
first
in
which
conservatorship
would
have
made
the
difference
and
the
second
one
in
which
we
hope
it
will.
The
first
is
my
was
my
first
client
at
the
Law
Center,
a
grace
Perry
institution,
central
club
for
boys
and
girls
incorporated
in
1947.
The
group
began
cleaning,
greening
gardening
and
stewarding
vacant
lots
back
in
the
1930s
these
Lots
were
the
sites
have
demolished
home,
some
of
which
last
changed
hands
as
long
ago
as
1911.
There
have
been
no
owners
and
evidence
for
many
decades.
N
The
organization
revitalized,
these
spaces,
teaching
youth,
gardening
and
other
skills
for
over
70
years
in
2005,
certain
parcels
came
up
for
sheriff
sale
purchased
by
speculators
who
have
enact
no
action
since
that
time,
eager
to
keep
community
spaces
in
the
community.
The
organization
obtained
title
to
some
of
the
remaining
parcels
through
a
lengthy
quiet
title
action.
However,
when
it
gained
title
Central
Club
was
saddled
with
someone
else's
tax
burden,
putting
it
at
risk
of
losing
the
properties,
which
is
when
the
loss
center
became
involved.
N
More
recently
about
a
year
and
a
half
ago,
I
was
contacted
by
a
Community
Development
Corporation
New
Kensington
CDC,
about
two
parcels
on
an
Street.
A
church
group
had
begun
gardening
on
them
primarily
to
combat
drug
activity
in
the
area.
The
church
and
the
families
involved
one
on
an
opportunity
to
legalize
and
make
permanent
that
solution.
N
The
problem,
which
is
a
familiar
story,
is
that
the
two
parcels
are
owned
by
an
LLC
that
is
unreachable
and
has
no
obvious
intent
to
take
responsibility
with
twenty
thousand
dollars
worth
of
tax
and
municipal
liens,
particularly
demolition
liens
between
the
two
Lots
and
new
market
for
development
in
the
area.
There's
no
timely
or
affordable
mechanism
to
put
these
parcels
in
the
hands
of
the
community
groups
sheriff
sales
are
not
always
the
best
option
when
the
debt
is
significant,
proportional
to
the
market
value.
N
Further,
a
sheriff's
sale
pits
community
based
groups
against
speculators
who
purchase
land
only
to
leave
it
abandoned
and
neglected
once
again,
conservatorship
actions
combat
these
scenarios
because
they
require
the
implementation
of
a
court
monitored
plan
that
plan
and
the
courts
involvement
serve
as
an
accountability
mechanism
for
any
type
of
petitioner
community
group
for-profit
developer.
Individual
conservatorships
would
have
made
all
the
difference
for
central
club
to
take
action
and
continue
their
important
work
on
an
street
with
the
support
of
the
CDC
and
the
department
of
licensing
and
inspections.
N
Vacant
property
strategy:
the
church
group
is
poised
to
preserve,
pursue
a
conservatorship
action
when
the
time
is
right.
Yet
my
clients
do
face
barriers
in
utilizing
this
tool.
First,
we're
waiting
to
see
the
act
amended
to
include
vacant
lots
on
which
a
building
has
been
demolished.
That
amendment
will
open
up
another
set
of
opportunities
to
put
conservatorship
to
work
in
Philadelphia.
N
Second,
as
the
best
practices
manual
created
by
regional
housing,
legal
services
makes
clear,
there's
more
guidance
needed
about
the
process
for
public
and
private
sales
of
these
properties
at
the
end
of
the
concern,
particularly
for
conservatives
or
petitioners
who
actually
want
to
purchase
at
the
end,
who
want
to
be
the
the
end
user.
Third,
we
need
a
mechanism
to
clear
the
debt
where
appropriate.
N
We,
as
everyone
has
said
over
and
over
again,
the
municipal
liens-
are
the
barrier
even
a
garden
or
green
space
takes
capital
investment,
for
example,
to
take
proper
precautions
to
remediate
lead
dust
or
other
environmental
contaminants.
We
should
provide
incentives
for
potential
conservators,
not
just
to
take
action,
but
to
be
fully
resourced
when
they
do.
I
would
also
like
to
act
out
of
the
testimony
of
McConnell
and
PA
CDC
that
pro-bono
leaf
legal
resources
are
also
an
issue.
N
Finally,
as
a
public
health
issue,
Philadelphia's
brownfields
are
some
of
the
most
abandoned
space
that
some
of
the
band
and
spaces
most
in
need
of
attention,
resources
and
a
plan.
Conservatorship
could
provide
the
structure
to
remediate
and
repurpose
brownfields,
but
organizations
and
developers
will
appropriately
shy
away
from
these
spaces
without
support.
We
need
a
policy
and
programmatic
framework
in
which
to
support
petitioners,
who
want
to
take
that
step.
I
appreciate
the
efforts
of
City
Council
to
take
leadership
on
these
issues
and
thanks
for
the
opportunity
to
speak.
Thank.
B
Okay,
so
we'll
certainly
be
moving
working
with.
You
know
the
various
organizations
to
see
and
we'll
wait
for
representative
Taylor's
amendment
and
then
we'll
see
what
we
can
do
to
move
to
incorporate
triangle.
Great.
Some
of
the
suggestions
made
here
today,
and
certainly
you
know,
improve
this
this
program
on
the
local
level
level
because
it
seems
to
be
effective,
but
it's
still
cost
dollars,
Thank
You.
Anyone
else
here
to
testify
on
this
bill
I
mean
this
resolution.