Behind the Scenes of Philly's New Land Bank Law
Philadelphia is about to become the largest city in the country with a land bank.
A land bank is a nonprofit or government agency whose sole function is to efficiently maintain, clear title to, assemble, and market vacant property in order to transfer it to responsible new owners for productive reuse. On December 12, 2013, after many years of organizing, negotiating, and compromising, the Philadelphia City Council finally passed an ordinance establishing one for the city. Mayor Michael Nutter signed the law on January 11, 2014, calling it “the start of a new era in Philadelphia.” City Council President Darrell Clarke told the large crowd of advocates at the signing ceremony, “I hear you. The city will get properties back online.”
This article describes the collaboration and compromise that caused this achievement and charts out next steps.
Topics
- Portland's Long-Term Transportation Plans Include a Downtown Subway
- Mapping the Tools of Discrimination
- Overcoming Density Opponents by Listening to Them
- Is This Really Penn Station?
- It's Too Hot to Fly in Phoenix Today
- Surveying the Suburban Office Market
- No Cars Allowed on Portland's New Street
- Google to Buy 300 Modular Apartments for Employees
- A Rap Song About Bike Safety? Yes Please.
- Urine Trouble: MARTA Station Elevators to Get Pee Alarms
- Seattle Adds Bus Capacity to Accommodate Amazon Interns
- New Tallest Building West of the Mississippi Now Open
- Tri-Cities Emerging as a Solar Demonstration Hub for the Pacific Northwest
- Business Owners Vote to Fund Sacramento Streetcar Operations
- The New Apple Store in Chicago Looks a lot Like a Laptop
- Invasive Fish Encroaching on the Great Lakes While Army Corps Study Languishes
- Bamboo Regulations Almost as Popular as Bamboo in New Jersey
- Los Angeles Councilmember Chooses the Side of Traffic Safety
- Cap Park Planned for I-579 Near Downtown Pittsburgh
- Will Alaska Return Millions of Dollars for Bike and Pedestrian Projects to the Feds, Again?
