A few years back, Marcus Presley and the North Philadelphia organization for which he works, the
Women's Community Revitalization Project, began to grow increasingly frustrated with the large concentration of blighted vacant lots in the neighborhood. As a result, the WCRP decided to commission a
land-use plan. And as Presley explains, the results of the plan were more than shocking.
"We realized that 25 percent of the land in our neighborhood is vacant," he says. "And 25 percent of that land is owned by the city."
The problem with having city-owned land in your neighborhood is that the city is essentially obligated to sell it to the highest bidder. In other words, the chances of a pocket park or a children's playground being built there are decidedly slim. And that's why Presley, along with fellow activist Nashanta Robinson, launched the
Campaign to Take Back Vacant Land earlier this year. One of the group's initial goals, says Presley, was to "talk to as many (political) candidates as (possible) about the idea of establishing
land bank legislation in Philadelphia."
To put it simply, Presley and Robinson want "to pass a law that gives communities control of vacant land in their neighborhoods." The way that actually happens -- city council would need to help create a Philadelphia Land Bank, which would parcel out land to community groups -- is a bit more complicated. Here in Philly, it may or may not ever happen.
In the meantime, Presley's group has already begun its own land trust, and is hoping to have 40 units of affordable housing built on land it owns at 5th and Diamond streets. Adds Presley: "We're really trying to push council to get to work on crafting a bill that could benefit people all over Philadelphia."
Source: Marcus Presley, Campaign to Take Back Vacant Land
Writer: Dan Eldridge
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