On October 29th, 2021, PACDC submitted testimony regarding Bill # 210838 that addresses our need to find solutions to preserving community gardens and open spaces in Philadelphia as well as a broader issue of properties currently tied to Real Estate Tax liens sold many years ago.
PACDC calls on the City to spend the resources to reacquire all of these properties or to at least find ways to target those properties currently being utilized or which have plans to be utilized positively within communities. We agree that one part of the solution would be to authorize the Land Bank to acquire lien sale parcels at Sheriff Sale, which they are currently prohibited from doing. This also requires levels of funding that we see as important investments in our communities. Some of this will be returned in tax revenues over time as properties are redeveloped. More importantly, it will positively impact other properties and neighbors around these vacant properties when ownership and responsibilities are clear and these properties are promptly and positively reused and redeveloped as assets within their communities.