Developers call city’s Point Breeze eminent domain move a land grab
“Is this America?” asked Turlough Harte, a developer who just built two homes on Federal Street near 20th and who was hoping to soon begin construction on two vacant lots he’s owned for several years on 17th street near Latona that he recently learned the city plans to take. “I said, ‘They belong to me. Why do you need these lots when you have so many?’
Tasked with eliminating blight, the authority received approval from its board over the summer to proceed with a plan to build affordable housing in the Point Breeze Urban Renewal Area, which was created in 1971 and is south of Washington Avenue to Morris Street, between Broad and 25th.
Nearly two weeks ago, City Councilman Kenyatta Johnson, whose 2nd District includes the neighborhood, introduced legislation on behalf of the Nutter administration that would allow the authority to condemn 43 scattered lots in the area, 31 of which are privately owned and 12 of which are owned by the city. Fourteen of the properties are tax-delinquent, including seven with a balance of more than $1,000 in back taxes. A Council hearing on the plan has not been scheduled.
“It is unusual for [the] Redevelopment Authority to take property from developers who have work in progress,” said John Kromer, senior consultant to the Fels Institute at the University of Pennsylvania and the former director of the city Office of Housing and Community Development.”
Ransom, Jan. Philly.com 11 October 2012.