Filed under: Appropriation, Are You Kidding?, Displacement, Future Plans, Gentrification, University City Creep, University City District | Tags: creep, Gentrification, university city, war, west philly
Alert! Vandals have repeatedly struck the 4500-5000 blocks of Baltimore Ave in West Philly! Every lamp post on both sides of the street has been tagged UNIVERSITY CITY DISTRICT. Why oh why would merciless thieves and liars called University City District do such a thing??
“The intent is to increase illumination, reduce the perception and reality of crime and encourage private investment.”
Oh, that. But wait, there’s more!
“Lewis Wendell, University City District’s Executive Director noted, “This project demonstrates the results of a new level of collaboration between the major institutions in University City, Penn Dot, the City of Philadelphia Streets Department and PECO.”
We here at the UCD blog love collaboration, especially between private corporations and the government. But seriously folks, the vandalizing soul-sucking demons of the “left of center” University City District should really be reprimanded for their behavior. Replacing perfectly good, working streetlights with boutique, fake vintage gaslight-looking streetlamps for a million bucks so they can hang their crummy gentrification advertising banners… well what can we say, this shit is wack.
Peep the original press release via http://www.ucityphila.org/news/release/402
Filed under: Displacement, The Master Plan, University City Creep, University City District | Tags: upenn, west philly
We here at UCity blog always look forward to the month of May, when the birds and the bees feast on the vomit left on the doorsteps of UPenn fraternities and UPenn sororities. There’s also the super-bonus of UPenn Graduation, a time when the city streets are power-washed, the hedges are trimmed, and the University pays hundreds of cops overtime to look menacing. We find that this greatly helps the UPenn endowment/trust fund, as parents and grandparents, otherwise terrified of West Philly and its filth ridden tales of yore, give generously to their favorite Ivy school.
If you’re planning on attending graduation for any reason, be it heckling and booing, or skimming off some free catered food, make sure to look out for SUV-wielding psychpaths (read: parents) who don’t really get how to drive or park in a major city.
Filed under: Displacement, Gentrification, Real Estate, University City District | Tags: eviction, Gentrification, university city, upenn, west philly
From something called The Jewish Exponent. Exponent? You people have to get a little better at naming your newsletter…
“David J. Adelman is the president and CEO of Campus Apartments, a company, which provides housing for undergraduates, graduate students, faculty and support staff at various colleges and universities throughout the United States.
Under Adelman’s leadership, the company has broadened its focus to include mixed-used projects on campus that incorporate both retail and office space together.
The company has increased its revenues by 300 percent over the last five years.
Adelman’s commitment to his clients extends to initiating and funding other types of projects that enhance the quality of student life on American campuses.
One of them is the University City District, a partnership between the University of Pennsylvania and other institutions to improve the safety and cleanliness in communities around Penn’s grounds and immediate area.
Moreover, Campus Apartments is the largest private-sector supporter of the district, contributing more than $500,000 over the past decade.”
That’s really charming. Campus Apartments in Philadelphia is making so much money, they can throw a half-million dollars at a gentrification committee in 10 years. That’s basically like having an employee for ten years who is paid $50,000 a year. Ah, lobbying. I’m sure Adelman’s “commitment to his clients” lies more in their exploitative monetary relationship, rather than “student life.” It’s scum like Adelman who have created the notion in yuppie pea-brains that $1,000 per month for a “studio/1BR” is a good deal in West Philly.
Filed under: Displacement, Gentrification, Poverty, Race, Real Estate, University City Creep | Tags: creep, Gentrification, home prices, university city, upenn, west philly
Every once in a while something really funny comes across our news desk. Apparently one real estate agent for RE/MAX thinks that home buyers elbowing to get their kids into the UPenn run Alexander school are making a mistake. These special brand of West Philly gentrifiers are looking to get into the Penn Alexander Catchement Area, a strangely mapped zone that qualifies your special kid to get into that special school.
Except the wise folks at REMAX give their top reasons to AVOID the special real estate zone, besides saving money…
“You don’t like the smell of Dirty Diapers on Wednesday mornings. True, the Catchment Area has exploded with the arrival of little stinkers like the one below. If you don’t like the smell of streaky green diapers on garbage day, move a few blocks away…”
Wow. Could that pesky diaper smell actually serve to dissuade people from this elitist neighborhood? We can only hope. However, the Philly Weekly article that inspired our real estate blogger actually had to quote someone using a FAKE NAME because of how much they’re ripping off people.
“We bought our first home, which is in the catchment, eight years ago for $100,000,” says Frank, a property owner/manager who now lives outside the city and doesn’t want his real name used in this article. “When the school opened, we watched our house go up to $150,000, then $200,000. Now it’s worth $400,000. With home prices rising, our rental price is higher. I’m aware that there aren’t many people in the city who could afford to rent our house.“
Local parent Pat Warner says “People have more money,” says Warner. “It’s not a bad thing, necessarily, but it’s different. And it certainly seems less diverse.”
Gee, you think? Gentrifying the neighborhood isn’t bad, it’s just different. Whiter. Richer. Stinkier. Chew on that.
Filed under: Displacement, Gentrification, University City Creep, West Philly Cultural References | Tags: creep, expansion, Gentrification, university city, west philly
via Zine Library. Sounds familiar if you live in West Philly, right? Distribute freely.
Filed under: 4224 Baltimore Demolition, Displacement, Future Plans, Gentrification, Licenses & Inspection (L&I), Real Estate, Zoning | Tags: eviction, west philly
Pre-Civil War building at 4224 Baltimore Ave destroyed
As anyone who has passed by Clark Park recently knows, developers have destroyed the historic mansion at 4224 Baltimore Ave.
Photos of the demolition:
Flickr gallery from eye-of-thundera
A quick primer article from University City Review here.
Copy of the letter from L&I to nearby residents:
___________________________________________
City of Philadelphia
Department of Licenses & Inspections
January 28, 2009
NOTICE OF PENDING DEMOLITION FOR PROPERTY LOCATED AT:
04224 BALTIMORE AVE
Pursuant to the requirements of The Philadelphia Code, Title 4, Subcode “A,”
Section A-303-2, you are being notified by this Informational Bulletin that
the structure located at the subject address is scheduled for demolition to
begin on or after July 3, 2008. (Then, that date is crossed out, and this is
handwritten:) Jan. 28, 2009
In accordance with The Philadelphia Code, this notice is provided as an
informational courtesy only and does “not create any actionable right for any
resident or owner of the subject property or any neighboring property.”
For information concerning the demolition, please contact:
CAMPANELLA JAMES & ASSOC INC
1601 S CHRIS COLUMBUS BLV
PHILADELPHIA,PA 19148-1404
Klehr Harrison Harvey Ronald J. Patterson, Esquire
Perry Cocco (this is handwritten in, above the name below which is crossed
out):
Steve Gallagher, Supervisor
West District
43rd and Market Street
Philadelphia, PA 19104-2969
215-685-7680
________________________________________
This is the building on the south side of Baltimore which sits high up on a
hill, back from the street, and has the empty lot next to it which used to be a
community garden. The building formerly housed a women’s shelter. It’s
across Baltimore Ave. from the original Green Line, and across 43rd St. from
Clark Park.
>From the UC Historical Society website:
4224-26 Baltimore Ave
John Neil McGarvey, developer
c.1860
E.A. Wilson, architect for renovations
c.1920
Two, three-story, two-bay, brick with stone facade Second Empire, semi-detached houses. Distinguishing features include stone and iron fence around terraced yard, porch, segmentally arched windows, bracketed cornice, convex mansard roof with pedimented dormers and slate shingles, ground floor bay windows.
________________________________________
The site was purchased from developer James Campanella by Thylan Associates, a developer that has fingers in many, many pies, for a cool 3.5 million dollars. Thylan promptly demolished the residence, and one can only assume he wants to build condos overlooking the park. Thylan also owwns 4508 Chestnut, a building which is now rented out handsomely to the UPenn LIFE senior living center, as well as an abandoned warehouse at 13th and Callowhill which is planned to become luxury lofts. He also owns developments all over New York City and Putnam, Westchester, and Dutchess counties. Oh wait, I forgot, he owns 1111 Locust St and a bevy of properties in Connecticut. Lenard Thylan, the head honcho of the development company, had to go and brag about being a rich, soulless gollum to the New York Times a decade ago. What wonders Mr. Thylan must have worked since then in the lucrative field of gentrification, er real estate development.
It’s clear that to buy a property essentially just for the double lot, and tear down a giant building in livable condition worth at least $600,000 in its standing state, must require a pretty elaborate plan. I mean, how many condos do you have to sell to break even on just the land? A lot. Residents of West Philly should expect big, tall, ugly things from Thylan Associates in months to come. RIP 4224-26 Baltimore.
Filed under: Appropriation, Displacement, Gentrification, Race, Real Estate, The Master Plan, UPenn Mortgage | Tags: eviction, expansion, Gentrification, home prices, ucd, university city, upenn, war, west philly
Using the power of the internet, anyone can find this snazzy article about how UPenn is a Zombie Flesh Eating Monster. According to the Philadelphia Business Weekly, the UPenn-subsidized mortgage program was already a smashing success way back in 1998.
“It’s just been overwhelming,” said D-L Wormley, Penn’s managing director of community housing. “It literally is people from every part of the university – professors, the housekeeping department, a vice president, the physical plant. And that’s the thing I’m most thrilled about.”
And what’s good for Penn is good for West Philadelphia’s residents, the banking community there, local construction contractors and neighborhood real estate values.
Part of the new program includes cash for faculty and staff already living in the area bounded by Market Street, 49th Street, Woodland Avenue, University Avenue and the Schuylkill River: Penn is offering up to $7,500 in matching funds toward exterior home improvements.”
Of course by 2004 this program was considered a battle plan against local residents (read: black people.)
“The change in the program is two-fold. First, the geographic boundaries originally set by the program are being extended. The new borders reach out westward to 52nd Street, northward to Haverford Avenue, and eastward and southward to the Schuylkill River. The old boundaries extended only to 49th Street, Market Street and Woodland Avenue in the west, north and south, respectively.
The second alteration of the program consists of a reduction in the maximum size of the loans available to those participating in the program from $15,000 to $7,500.
The forgivable cash loan “can be used for a down payment, to buy down points, or for interior or exterior home improvements,” according to the program’s policy. The loans are forgiven after seven years on the condition that the purchaser remains in residence during that time.”"
Wait, you mean if I own a house for 7 measley years and work for UPenn during that time, I get fifteen thousand dollars for free? That’s right. Doesn’t that mean that there’s some unfair advantage available to UPenn staff?
And of course, there is:
“Penn officials note, however, that it is not their intention to force people from the neighborhood. But, the program gives the Penn-affiliated buyer a clear advantage in the real estate market.
“If two buyers are competing for the same house … the Penn buyer is already $7,500 ahead,” O’Donnell said. “If there is a bidding war, the Penn buyer is going to win.”"
Aye aye, sir! Fire away! Move the negroes out of here! Move in the zombies with cash bonuses that they don’t have to repay!
end the upenn zombie monster parade
Let’s start with the basics, shall we?
The University City District is defined as a 2.2 square mile zone west of the Schuylkill. The “boundaries are, on the east, 29th Street and the Schuylkill River; on the west, 50th Street; on the north, Spring Garden Street (to 40th Street), Powelton Avenue (to 44th Street), and Market Street; and on the south, Civic Center Boulevard, University Avenue and Woodland Avenue.” [ref] The UCD also happens to be a “non-profit” corporation which shares a building with the Philadelphia Police, one block east of the UPenn Police station (FYI: UPenn cops are authorized by the State to make arrests up to 43rd St.) How ironic that the occupiers of historically poor/working-class, non-white lands would run marketing campaigns that redefine West Philly as the “left bank” and “left of center.” White liberalism knows no bounds, but can take pointers from Zionism in its mobilization and appropriation of the suddenly oppressed “victim” of crime. See, for those of you that don’t know, Gentrification goes a little something like this… young white artists and post-30-year-olds start to move into super-”cheap” neighborhoods that are predominantly POC (read: people of color) and/or industrial/post-industrial fallout zones. The script runs like this:
Whitey #1: “Wow did you know you can get a crazy huge warehouse at 34th and Spring Garden for like only 100 grand right now?”
Whitey #2: “Holy crap that’s really cheap! If I keep my center city job I can pay down that mortgage in 10 years. That’s a steal!”
Whitey #3: “Yeah let’s totally make it into a community space community garden show house artist residence!”
Whitey #1: “That would rock!!”
6 months pass…
Whitey #1: “So my Dad says we have to rent at least half of the space at market rate in order for him to continue paying the mortgage for us. But like we would totally be cool landlords and do affirmative action and stuff…”
All of a sudden, you’ve driven up property values 200%, raised median rent 100% in 6 months, and become bona-fide landlords. Oh yeah, but you totally still listen to indie bands and are down with the cause. Right. (Take note Fishtown and Kensington.) But as we like to say, “that’s America,” or “that’s life, right?” No, hell no! Ya’ll should get acquainted with Seth Tobocman’s amazing book You Don’t Have to Fuck People Over to Survive. Because you don’t.
But let’s get back to the basics about University City… today from the horse’s mouth we get:
“With its funky vibe and unique spirit, University City is one of Philadelphia’s most vibrant and diverse neighborhoods. Located on the west side of downtown Philadelphia, the area is a hotbed of education, science, medicine and research. This dynamic, close-knit community is home to college students, artists, and families who coexist amid world-class universities, dining, nightlife and cultural offerings.”
Wow I didn’t know it was that exciting! We all co-exist! We all get along! Obama, Obama, Obama! I guess America isn’t racist after all!
Let’s lay off the crack, shall we? What bigwigs actually contribute to the UCD, and make West Philly what it is today?
$1,000,000 and up
University of Pennsylvania (ed note: and by “up” you must mean…”)
$500,000-999,999
Drexel University
University of Pennsylvania Health Systems
The William Penn Foundation
$100,000-250,000
City of Philadelphia/Department of Commerce
INTECH Construction (ed note: strangely, the very same company that just built The Radian highrise directly adjacent to the UCD office building)
Pro-Med
The Science Center
University City Associates
University of the Sciences in Philadelphia
$50,000-$99,000
Campus Apartments
Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia
And that’s just the “major” donors… [ref] Well, gee, I guess I just didn’t realize how much money the UCD had to play around with. But then I did see those signs on I-95 for “University City” going north and south, and all those bridges painted with “welcome to University City” must have cost something…
Then again, our primer continues with the Housing Act of 1949, which instead of building better homes for people, ended up subsidizing a net loss in dwellings, and paid UPenn to raze houses in West Philly.
And this is the part where we lay the smackdown…
“Many residents of University City were still prepared to fight the destruction of their homes, however, and for the first time, student groups at Penn really seemed to take an interest in the situation just north of the University campus. Lawrence Beck and Stephen Kerstetter, two graduate students at the University, spent parts of their fall semester in 1966 visiting the “slums” of Unit 3 and interviewing residents. They published their findings in a five-part series entitled “The Quiet War in West Philadelphia” that ran in the Daily Pennsylvanian, the University’s student newspaper, from 23 January to 27 January 1967. “The Quiet War,” which was sympathetic to the displaced residents, stood out not only because the Daily Pennsylvanian rarely featured a series but also because its five articles were among the first in that paper to discuss the redevelopment proceedings in Unit 3. Felton Newman, one of the area residents whom Beck and Kerstetter interviewed, claimed that “the West Philadelphia Corporation is a front for the University of Pennsylvania” and that Penn was “fostering segregation by moving all Negroes out of the area.” The graduate students also found that other residents seconded the idea that “urban renewal means Negro removal.”" [ref]
This is why going to Penn must be a mindfuck–you have to write your papers to reference “University City” as a real tangible place, as you explore the vast racist destruction machine therein. And on the same page we find, “Conforming to the regulations established by the Housing Act of 1949 and its successors, this $12 million grant covered two-thirds of the RDA’s estimated $18 million net cost of preparing Unit 3 for redevelopment.” Oh gee, I’m glad that the Feds covered 2/3 of the multi-million dollar cost to destroy homes and replace them with UPenn science buildings.
the fight goes on and the saga will be continued
