Should we be questioning the Actions of the Philadelphia Redevelopment Authority?

The Philadelphia Redevelopment Authority has a plan to condemn and seize forty-three properties via eminent domain in the Point Breeze neighborhood. With a budget of 1.7M, the PRA finalized its list in their July meeting. Twelve out of the forty-three are already owned by city agencies, leaving the other thirty-one owned privately by individuals and developers. With several of these purchased within the last few months, the PRA have no concrete plans for the next steps. According to a quote from Councilman Kenyatta Johnson, 40% of the properties will be new construction for affordable housing and the other 60% will be for market- rate housing. The belief is that all of these lots are tabbed for affordable housing development which is a huge problem. Does it really make sense for the Philadelphia Redevelop Authority to seize privately owned lots only to resell them back to private developers? To read more…

Recycling Your Old Kitchen

Recently, have you looked around your kitchen and said, “It needs some updating”? Like you, many homeowners are saying the same thing and with the recent economy everyone is looking for ways to save a little cash. The most budget friendly way to update your kitchen is to use your old kitchen in the new one. Some items to consider would be; nice old cabinet doors, an old pastry slab, a piece of a butcher block, lighting, windows, doors, flooring (if its wood and can be refinished) and cabinet hardware.

Also, if your own kitchen isn’t offering intriguing possibilities for recycling materials, hit the salvage circuit. You can find cool items to incorporate without spending big bucks. An example would be to browse your local stone supplier’s collection of remnants, which are often discounted and can be used as island toppers, butcher blocks or pastry slab.

Read more about this DIY project…

Old Building near Wayne Junction in Philadelphia is Getting a Makeover

The former Max Levy Autograph Co. Building, located near the Wayne Junction Septa Station in Philadelphia, has a new owner. Developer Ken Weinstein, bought the now empty shell located on Roberts Avenue that has been sitting for more than ten years for $150,000 in June. Weinstein expects to put about $1.5 million just gutting the series of rooms. Workers have removed asbestos and other hazardous materials, but there is still machinery that is so heavy, they are not sure how they are going to remove it. With all the challenges Weinstein has been facing, he is forming a vision that this building will someday be a collection of offices, lofts and other uses.

To read more of this story…

11 New Philadelphia Homes can Hopefully Start to Stabilize Point Breeze

For many first time home buyers, it can be hard to get financing especially when it’s in a neighborhood hit hard by foreclosures. Thanks to a federal program, many Philadelphia, PA homebuyers were able to buy the new construction townhomes in the Point Breeze area of South Philadelphia, PA. The combined effort between the affordable-housing developer Community Ventures and the South Philadelphia H.O.M.E.S community organization has made this all possible. This is a transition in Philadelphia and its moving west to continue this movement. To read more…

Greener in University City Philadelphia

Shoemaker Green, An $8.5 million makeover on 33^rd Street between Spruce and Walnut was donated by the University of Pennsylvania. On the afternoon of September 20^th, 2012, Penn students, faculty and staff attended a picnic themed event on the 2.75- acre space. Shoemaker green has pavers and a rain garden to capture rainwater run off which they will recycle in a cistern system to irrigate the lawns, all apart of Penn’s plan to create a more sustainable campus. To learn more…

New development on Vacant Land in Graduate Hospital Area of Philadelphia

New homes are popping up all over Philadelphia, PA. With all the vacant lots available, builders are taking advantage of it. With two foundations poured and framing has begun on Carpenter Street, the construction on the third empty lot should be started soon. Familiar to the rest of the block, soon you will see three duplexes with roof decks according to the building permits. To view the whole story…

Is Philadelphia Seeing Green?

Yes football season is upon us and the Philadelphia Eagles start thier season this Sunday. But this is a different green for Philadelphians. They will soon be able to see green instead of concrete. The parking lot in front of the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, will become a beautiful park in the near future. The $2.5M Spruce Street Plaza between 33^rd and 34^th streets along Spruce St will feature benches, lighting, seasonal landscaping, decorative paving, and a lawn area. The project is planned to be completed this winter. To read more about this story and see pictures of the plans, click the link.