GENTRIFICATION IN PHILLY: GOOD, BAD, OR INEVITABLE? PHILLY THRIVE DEMANDS ‘SAFE, HEALTHY HOMES’ FOR ALL
Community advocacy group Philly Thrive, fights to preserve existing housing in Philly by supporting the Philadelphia Energy Authority’s (PEA) ‘Built to Last’ program.
Community advocacy group Philly Thrive, fights to preserve existing housing in Philly by supporting the Philadelphia Energy Authority’s (PEA) ‘Built to Last’ program. Built to Last is designed to repair housing damages for low-income homeowners in Philadelphia. This includes interior and exterior repairs.
The importance of beautification and home upkeep is at an all time high in Philly, now that gentrification is on the rise. Property developers are on the hunt to buy and flip homes. Not all people view gentrification to be bad. City development usually generates high-paying jobs, lessens crime and improves cleanliness, but it also pushes out long-term residents. Corner stores turn into coffee shops. Barber shops into dog salons. Historic Black and brown neighborhoods become high-rise apartment complexes or the cookie-cutter, “three stories and a roof deck” as Co-Managing Director of Philly Thrive, Shawmar Pitts, names it.
“The city would look nice, if it was invested in the same way you want to invest in it now for gentrification,” said Pitts in an exclusive with The Philly Download. Gentrification upticks the cost of living. What was once affordable becomes unaffordable for low-income Philadelphia natives. “They don’t want to leave,” stated Pitts. “If we took a walk around here – you’ll see the people from my community that are homeless. They grew up in this community. They live in a park.”
Displacement occurs when landlords raise rent costs and developers report homeowners for property code violations. Reports to License and Inspection turn into liens, and unpaid liens result in foreclosures. For this budget season, Philly Thrive is teaming up with OnePA Renters United Philadelphia. The groups are pushing city officials to re-invest $10 billion into PEA; $5 million of this money would be allocated to fund Built to Last.
The Mayor of Philadelphia, Cherelle L. Parker, has previously funded Built to Last but did not mention the program in her 5-year budget proposal that she unveiled in March. Members from both Philly Thrive and OnePA Renters United Philadelphia, are skeptical about the Mayor’s development plans for the City.
“She has some things that she’s saying will be great for lower-income renters, but you have to see it to believe it,” said Tyrese Rodgers from OnePA Renters United Philadelphia. “Philadelphia is an old city and it needs to be repaired, it’s time. But the homes that are there, have to be kept up also,” said Philly Thrive member, Sylvia Bennett. “What’s the difference between them and the Republicans?” questioned Pitts.
Conversations surrounding gentrification and redevelopment have become extremely tender subject areas since December of last year, when 12 of 17 Philadelphia City Council members approved the proposed development of a new 76ers arena in Chinatown. This decision came after years of negative public outcry from the community. Chinatown residents and store owners pleaded, knowing that the new arena would push them out and destroy their livelihoods.The project was eventually redirected after CEOs and private investors settled on a deal to keep the 76ers team at the Wells Fargo Center.
Is it possible to do both? Introduce new developments while maintaining existing neighborhoods in Philadelphia? Pitts says yes, but says that option looks to be off the table. “It’s only one or the other, because the people in authority chose it to be one or the other,” said Pitts.
Philly Thrive does have a few allies in government. “Philly Thrive is where it's at,” commented Councilman Nicolas O’Rouke during an interview after a budget hearing that took place earlier this month. Pitts urges the community to vote. He predicts that marginalized, low-income communities will cease to exist in Philadelphia if gentrification trends continue in this way.
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Rylee Curry
Rylee Curry is a journalist and policy enthusiast highlighting overlooked stories. With degrees in Journalism, African American Studies, and Public Policy, she creates work that uplifts, informs, and drives impact.
