When Campus Planning Becomes City Planning

The University of Pennslyvania "is the largest employer in Philadelphia and has a $3 billion budget, the same as the city." Out of "enlightened self-interest," i.e. in order to boost the image of its surrounding neighborhood in order to improve its own image, Penn has built a multi-million dollar school, "increased the number of street lights and hired more university police officers to increase safety [in West Philadelphia]. The university also added trees and signage along the sidewalk and streets." Penn also "created a program called the Neighborhood Housing Preservation Fund" to encourage homeownership in the area, and implemented a "Buy West Philadelphia" program, in which "the university purchases all of its goods, such as catering services, from local stores," dumping millions of dollars into the local economy. A win-win situation for university and neighborhood, or just another case of gentrification? Guess what the "Neighhbors Against McPenntrification" think.

Thanks to David Gest