Philadelphia Land Bank Favors Developers Over Community, Critics Tell Council

Mayor Sherell L. ParkerThe US administration promises changes at the Philadelphia Land Bank. perpetually beleaguered agency created in 2013 to streamline empty property policies.

That promise came at a packed City Council hearing Wednesday, where the land bank was the target of relentless criticism.

council member Jamie Gauthierwho called the hearing, and many of those called to testify, argued that the land bank privileges private developers over affordable housing groups, community gardeners and neighborhood associations.

“The same groups that fought for the land bank in the first place regularly receive unfriendly and restrictive service from the agency,” Gauthier said in her opening remarks.

“Applicants fortunate enough to go through this process can expect the land transfer to take between one and five years,” Gauthier said. “These long time frames are not as problematic for large commercial companies… which means their applications are coming to the forefront.”

The land bank was created to make it easier to return Philadelphia’s rich vacant lots to productive use and end the previous system, which relied on behind-the-scenes machinations that benefited politically connected developers.

Although an improvement over the previous regime, the land bank was often paralyzed by city council interference, bureaucracy and a divided council struggle for influence between interest groups.

The situation has worsened during the COVID-19 pandemic, the mayor said. Jim Kennythe Russian administration neglected the agency, and sheriff’s sales, which allow the land bank to acquire more property, stay.

The agency’s strategic plan, which was supposed to be updated every three years, has not been updated since 2019. Annual progress reports required by law have also not been published since then, while the city “Land Management Dashboard” website offers conflicting data. The map of available land is difficult to navigate.

“What I went through (trying to acquire land from the city) is just terrible,” said Tayib Smith, director of Smith & Roller, a local development group. He said he dealt with a bureaucracy that didn’t know exactly how much property the city actually owned, forcing him to revise his plans multiple times.

“We cannot move forward with this level of incompetence in the city of Philadelphia,” Smith said.

new director of urban planning and developmentJesse Lawrence promises change. In the works are increased transparency, a new strategic plan and annual reports, a user-friendly website and perhaps a stronger staff.

Lawrence, a land bank veteran, acknowledged that the current system is confusing and committed to addressing some of the agency’s underlying problems.

“We’re looking at what the front page of a land bank looks like, understanding that the website is important, how people understand what’s available and what’s not is important,” Lawrence said.

When Gauthier asked when he could expect an update on the annual budget performance reports or the three-year strategic plan, he promised to “report by the end of the year.”

Land bank executive director Angel Rodriguez said the agency should again have priority access to properties listed for sheriff’s sale by the end of the year.

The land bank has been funded at the same level and has had the same staff since its inception. While the agency has not previously requested additional resources, it is considering asking for a larger budget next year.

“I need more lawyers. I need more money for property management, outside legal services and an updated website, which will cost money,” Rodriguez said.

All this happens against the backdrop of Parker’s quest build and renovate 30,000 housing units in the city during her term, and the administration is considering thousands of vacant land bank lots as an integral part of that plan.

Details are unclear—Lawrence said the delayed plan would be implemented in early 2025—but property removals from the land bank have increased sharply under the Parker administration.

In the last 10 months, 364 housing units have been signed or are in the approval process, Rodriguez said. Most of these units were using Turn The Key programcreated by the city council to support affordable homeownership.

The Building Industry Association, which represents developers, defended the land bank. Mohamed “Mo” Rushdie noted that the reason private developers often have an easier time getting properties is because they have the resources to start building quickly, add new properties to the tax rolls and get rid of vacant lots that blight neighborhoods.

He also argued that land bank staff are not where the process is delayed: “Recent changes to the Bank Board have made it easier…approvals. However, the final actions required remain the responsibility of the City Council.”

The dominant role of the city council itself in the sale of council land was not addressed at Wednesday’s hearing. If members of the district council do not like the project, they can refuse to pass the relevant law. No explanation required.

During a quiet fall city council session, preoccupied with national elections and 76ers arena debateThe only legislation of note was the 55 land disposal bills, mostly for turnkey projects.

Of the 55 land sale bills that came before the Council this session, city records show that 12 remained unintroduced.

But many of those present at Wednesday’s hearing said the surge in activity resulting from the Donate a Key program is bittersweet. Organizations seeking access to city land for other reasons remain frustrated. As of June, the land bank had dedicated only 23 properties to community gardens since its inception.

“The more property values ​​go up, the harder it is to get these parcels,” said Mike Moran of Iglesias Gardens Land Security Group, which is seeking 13 parcels from the land bank starting in 2021. “Prioritize community members, prioritize community gardens, prioritize additional lots because developers are already winning.”