| CITY OF PHILADELPHIA: NEIGHBORHOOD TRANSFORMATION INITIATIVE |
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Releases 2003 Click on a press release to view the details 10/27/03 10/27/03 Applauding these efforts, Mayor Street said, "Attacking litter is a crucial step in our battle against the blight that threatens our communities and neighborhoods." NTI represents an unprecedented investment of resources in neighborhoods. Through NTI, the City is taking aggressive action to address physical needs of its communities through better land management, affordable housing development, code enforcement, and other programs designed to remove blight from Philadelphia neighborhoods. NTI is paying attention to the essential ingredients that make neighborhoods strong and healthy -- public safety, affordable housing, business opportunities, cultural amenities, and quality schools and recreation facilities. Streets Department employees, in partnership with the Recreation Department, are training school-age children to lead the fight against litter in their communities. More than 1,100 young Philadelphians have signed the Streets Department's Anti-Litter Pledge during training sessions this summer. Sessions are being held at After School Programs, PAL Centers, and a number of recreational centers and other settings. "By reaching out to school age children with our Litter Awareness Training sessions, we can begin to instill good habits in the ‘next generation,' and also deputize children to spread our anti-litter message to their parents, families, and friends," said Streets Commissioner Clarena I. W. Tolson. The Streets Department efforts are paying off in several ways. In 2002, Keep Philadelphia Beautiful (KPB), a nonprofit affiliate of Keep America Beautiful, established a baseline Litter Index for the city of Philadelphia. Developed by Keep America Beautiful in 1998, the Litter Index is a simple tool to assess the level of litter that is present in a neighborhood. Trained volunteers drive and rate 20 percent of the street miles, randomly selected, within each Philadelphia zip code. Thirteen zip codes scored 3.0 or higher in the baseline survey. (On a scale of one to four, one equals no litter, and four equals extremely littered.) The citywide average at that time was 2.3. KPB completed the second annual survey in July 2003 and found significant improvement throughout the city. Only six zip codes scored 3 or higher. The citywide average is now 1.9. Annual use of the Litter Index can help track the progress and impact that various media and educational efforts are having on reducing litter. "This formal process specifically quantifies the problem of litter in individual Philadelphia neighborhoods, and provides a real benchmark by which future improvements can be measured," said Mark Viggiano, Executive Director of Keep Philadelphia Beautiful. Keep America Beautiful is a nonprofit organization
whose network of 500 local, statewide and international programs educate
individuals about litter prevention and ways to reduce, reuse, recycle
and properly manage waste materials. Through partnerships with citizens,
businesses and government, these programs motivate millions of volunteers
annually to clean up, beautify and improve their neighborhoods, creating
safer and more livable community environments. CITY, PHFA ANNOUNCES $59 MILLION IN LOW-INCOME HOUSING TAX CREDITS FOR NINE AFFORDABLE HOUSING DEVELOPMENTS AND FUNDING FOR TWO ADDITIONAL DEVELOPMENTS PHILADELPHIA — Mayor John F. Street today joined Brian Hudson, executive director of the Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency (PHFA), Councilman Darrell Clark, 5th District, Kevin Hanna, the city's secretary of housing and neighborhood preservation and Patricia L. Smith, the city's director of neighborhood transformation to announce $5.5 million dollars annually of Low Income Housing Tax Credits to nine affordable housing developments that will provide a total $59.4 million in leveraged funding. The City of Philadelphia submitted the winning projects as part of a statewide competition for funding and received nine of the 25 tax credits awarded throughout the state by PHFA. In addition to the Low Income Housing Tax Credits, the Board of the PHFA also announced funding for two other Philadelphia developments: $1.5 million dollars of PennHomes funds and $1.7 million dollars of Homeownership Choice funds. Vernon Apartments located in the historic Strawberry Mansion neighborhood of North Philadelphia and the backdrop for today's press conference is one of the nine projects to receive funding under the tax credit program. As part of the Mayor's Neighborhood Transformation Initiative (NTI), the City of Philadelphia has committed $2.3 million to support the development of Vernon Apartments with PHFA tax credits leveraging another $7.2 million over a 10-year period for total project development costs of 9.2 $million. The project will provide 68 units of affordable rental senior housing and will be developed by Pennrose Properties and the Strawberry Mansion Housing Coalition. "I am honored to stand here today besides one of our long standing partners, the Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency, to accept this magnificent award of $59 million in tax credits for nine very critical projects that are part of our ongoing Neighborhood Transformation Initiative," said Mayor Street. "NTI was intended to help spur investment from other public and private sources. Today's commitment from PHFA demonstrates their confidence in our ability to accomplish the goals we have set for reversing the decline and neglect of our neighborhoods." "Philadelphia will use these tax credits to accomplish two important goals," said Kevin Hanna, secretary, Philadelphia Office of Housing and Neighborhood Preservation. "They will help us to reverse or slow down the blighted conditions that exist in some of our neighborhoods and more importantly, they provide safe and decent housing for the residents we serve." PHFA also awarded $1.75 million for the development of the Twin Homes at Frankford Creek as part of its Homeownership Choice Program. This northeast Philadelphia project will convert an under-utilized industrial area into 51 townhouses along Frankford Creek; and $1.5 million under PHFA's PennHomes Program to develop the Fraternal Order of Police Senior Citizens homes. The 106-unit project will be wheelchair accessible to its residents. Altogether, the city has committed $12 million towards the new PHFA funded projects: $8 million in support of the nine tax credit projects and an additional $4 million in support of other projects which will leverage more than $82.4 in total development costs. Upon completion, the projects receiving PHFA funding will provide 392 affordable rental units, 50 new construction homeownership units and the modernization of 106 existing affordable elderly housing units. "Knowing that PHFA has played a part in Philadelphia's neighborhood revitalization efforts makes us proud," said Brian Hudson, executive director of PHFA. "Philadelphia is key to the Keystone State and we will do what we can to help make it a better place to call home."
Mayor Street says of the Green City Strategy, "My administration is committed to greening as an important tool for revitalizing Philadelphia's neighborhoods. Bringing green space, gardens and foliage into our neighborhoods is in the original spirit of William Penn's ‘Green Countrie Towne' and makes our neighborhoods more beautiful, desirable and livable! The Pennsylvania Horticultural Society has designed an effective, proven strategy for getting the job done. This is a wonderful partnership for our neighborhoods and our entire city." NTI is Mayor Street's unprecedented commitment of resources to neighborhoods. Through NTI, the City of Philadelphia is taking aggressive action to address physical needs in its communities through better land management, code enforcement and the elimination of blight. The effort will also give attention to essential elements such as public safety, recreation facilities, retail opportunities, transportation, secure streets, cultural outlets and quality schools that are necessary for a neighborhood to thrive. With more than 31,000 vacant lots in the City of Philadelphia, the Green City Strategy will focus on stabilizing 1,000 parcels totaling more than 1,000,000 square feet of land over a one year period and providing greening services to areas citywide. This ambitious effort will leverage the 30 years of experience PHS has in working with public and private groups to green derelict spaces with the NTI goal to stem the growth of blight in Philadelphia and begin the process of rebuilding communities. PHS, through its Philadelphia Green program, has been investing in Philadelphia neighborhoods since the ‘70s and is excited at the prospect of working in close collaboration with the City. With three decades of expertise in revitalizing communities through greening, PHS is embracing this opportunity to effect change on a scale greater than anything it has done before. This new partnership will expand greening projects, existing workshops, events, training sessions, programs and redirect them to overlap with other elements of the city's NTI program to enhance the actions and quality of the city's efforts. The Green City Strategy calls for three primary focuses of work: Working with the Mayor's Office and key neighborhood stakeholders, PHS will identify strategic corridors as well as sites adjacent to schools, churches, commercial and housing developments and gateways for land stabilization. The work will take place in six target areas located in Eastern North Philadelphia, Frankford, Mt. Airy, North Central Philadelphia, West Philadelphia/Mantua and South Philadelphia. The vacant land work will include clearing land of debris, replacing topsoil, planting grass seed and trees and erecting post and rail fencing. Outside of the six target areas and along commercial and transportation corridors throughout the city, a variety of greening projects will be developed and implemented. These projects include work on neighborhood blocks, in gardens and parks. A series of educational programs for residents and community development organizations will support the effort. As an approach to vacant land maintenance, PHS will manage a pilot program that will test the viability of hiring community organizations to maintain recently cleared land. More than 50 individuals have been hired by eight organizations. Participating in the program are: Centro Pedro Claver, New Kensington CDC, Ready, Willing and Able, Self, Inc., Tioga United, University City District/Mantua Improvement Assn., Universal Companies and Village of the Arts. Recognizing that resources are finite, the site selection process combined need with the potential for redevelopment. The process also considered citywide areas where PHS has a proven track record of success with local community organizations and where the City has committed NTI resources for demolition, housing preservation, small business development and new home construction. Following this initial investment of resources in greening activity, additional funding will be required to maintain this work and continue these efforts. J. William Mills III, President of PNC Bank, a strong supporter of the Neighborhood Transformation Initiative, also lauds this partnership, "PNC Bank, as a presenting sponsor of the Philadelphia Flower Show for the last 12 years, has seen the positive effects that Philadelphia Green makes in the local communities. Proceeds from the Flower Show are used by Philadelphia Green and invested back in the neighborhoods. It is an investment we can all embrace." For information on getting involved or supporting
these efforts, residents are urged to contact their local City Council
representative. 6/30/03 Predatory lending practices include charging excessive interest rates and up-front fees and knowingly submitting incorrect financial information. Lenders target low-income, minority neighborhoods. Two new loan products, "PHIL-Plus," and "Mini-PHIL," are earmarked for homeowners with credit problems, or for those who do not meet the requirements for the Philadelphia Home Improvement Loan (PHIL) program. They will enable owners to borrow money for home improvements and debt consolidation at reasonable rates and affordable terms, thereby helping them avoid predatory loans. The Greater Philadelphia Urban Affairs Coalition (GPUAC) will oversee the loan process. The Home Equity Loan Preservation Program (HELPP) will allow individuals who have been victimized by predatory lenders to refinance their home loans at a reasonable rate. HELPP will be administered by the Homeownership Counseling Association of Delaware Valley, the community group ACORN and The Reinvestment Fund (TRF). "Predatory lenders are a scourge on Philadelphia when these high interest loans eventually go to foreclosure and people lose their homes. It is a source of vacancy and blight," said Mayor Street. "Fighting predatory lending is a key part of NTI's neighborhood preservation strategy. We will continue to educate, protect and provide alternatives for our most vulnerable residents." At the press conference was Olney homeowner Maria Rios-Colon who fell victim to the unscrupulous techniques of two national lenders. The family's total payment on three mortgage payment equaled nearly $900 a month. Threatened with foreclosure when they fell behind in payments, the family contacted Community Legal Services (CLS). CLS helped them file for bankruptcy protection and successfully sue the lenders. The Rios-Colon family resides in Councilwoman Tasco's district. Councilwoman Tasco sponsored new laws to fight unethical lending products that hurt homeowners. Tasco welcomed the City-banking partnership. "The creation of these new loan products clearly demonstrates the commitment of our mainstream banking institutions to combat predatory lending in Philadelphia. This is a major step in the right direction and my hope is that other lenders will follow suit, " she commented. NTI BOND FUNDS FOR LOAN POOL: Mini-PHIL offers loans up to $10,000. Borrowers with non-emergencies must apply first to a counseling agency. As of Aug. 1, those with emergencies can apply directly to a participating bank. "We are proud to have worked with the banks, the city and the housing counseling agencies to create these new anti-predatory loan products. Finally, there is an alternative to those sweet-talking predatory lenders, who prey on poor communities. Homeowners can now get no-fee home improvement loans at reasonable interest rates. And along with the loans come housing counseling, an honest home inspection and help finding a legitimate contractor," said Sharmain Matlock-Turner, GPUAC president. In addition, NTI bond funds of $250,000 for HELPP
will be matched by $220,000 from TRF. Housing counseling agencies and CLS
will refer clients; the average loan amount will be $20,000. The FY04 funding request includes: $32.2 million for demolition of residential and industrial/commercial vacant buildings, $60 million for land acquisition, $10 million for housing preservation, and approximately four million dollars to upgrade and create computer based land management information systems. See attached summary of the FY04 program budget. "We are ready to move forward and make more progress to change the lives of the people in neighborhoods throughout the city. In conjunction with Operation Safe Streets and the School District's capital improvement plans for our public schools, we are creating cleaner, safer, more livable neighborhoods. It is only fair that our neighborhoods reflect the vibrancy of the revitalization we experienced and continue to nurture in Center City," said Mayor John Street. "A great deal of progress has been made in the first year of NTI funding. We announced the first six large-scale housing developments, acquired thousands of parcels of land, and developed a partnership with Citizens Bank in which $104 million worth of homeowner loans and mortgages now are available," Street added. "The CLIP program has helped to maintain the quality of life for hardworking homeowners in the Northeast. Private developers who have traditionally built in the suburbs are coming into Philadelphia with real projects that will create a spectrum of housing options to attract potential homebuyers here." This year's funding request will build upon the foundation and progress made through FY03 actions to create 21st century neighborhoods. "The past year has been an exciting and challenging time for those of us who are part of Mayor John F. Street's Neighborhood Transformation team," said Patricia Smith, Director of Neighborhood Transformation. "Since June 2002 when City Council approved the NTI bond legislation, we've made some of the progress we expected and we've had a stunning success or two. In other instances, we have not made the progress we desired, but we have taken on the task, learned lessons that are invaluable to the success of this project and we remain committed to accomplishing this transformation for the residents of our neighborhoods." Demolition and Stabilization In FY04, the City will use NTI bond proceeds to demolish approximately 1400-1600 dangerous residential properties and 6-8 large, vacant industrial buildings throughout the city. While Hill International will continue to manage the bid and de-construction process for demolition and stabilization of the most deteriorated housing stock, the City has appointed an experienced project manager to be its internal link between Hill and all operating departments. Jay McCalla, the new Deputy Managing Director for Neighborhood Transformation will work to ensure the demolition process proceeds expeditiously and is sensitive to community concerns. "Our challenge remains to ensure the program can meet the aggressive timelines we continue to set and that we can produce the results for which our communities are so desperate," McCalla said. One of McCalla's jobs will be to maximize NTI contracting opportunities for small minority and women owned businesses. He will also work to create safe and meaningful ways to increase the number of community-based jobs available in the course of the demolition work. To date, NTI has exceeded the ambitious goals it has set for MBE and WBE participation and for employment of disadvantaged workers. Contracting goals were established at the following levels: 35% minority, 12% women and 2% disabled business participation. A total of $6 million in demolition contracts have been awarded; of that total, $4.7 million (78%) have gone to minority and women owned firms. The NTI plan also established a workforce goal of 75% minority and 10% female workers as well as 80% participation for Philadelphia residents. Those goals have also been met or exceeded. Land Acquisition and Assembly In FY04, the City is requesting $60 million in funds to acquire properties to assemble parcels for specific development projects, for land banking, and for rehabilitation by private developers and non-profit community development corporations. Residential properties will also be acquired and targeted for stabilization. In FY03, the city introduced ordinances to acquire more than 5500 parcels of land. The demand for cleared parcels of land is so great, the NTI staff has increased the acquisition request from $50 to $74 million over the course of five years. "The need for land acquisition exceeded our expectations. The rate at which we acquired land last year is faster than any year in the past two decades," said Herb Wetzel, Executive Director of the Redevelopment Authority. The adjustment in the number of proposed properties to be acquired also changes the total amount of bond proceeds requested in the NTI five-year plan. The five-year request for bond proceeds to be issued is now $275 million. The spending level has been revised down from $295 million to reflect different mix of taxable/tax exempt bonds to be issued. Neighborhood Preservation To accomplish its neighborhood transformation goals, the City is changing the way it does business in the delivery of affordable and market rate-housing services. The December 2002 appointment of Kevin Hanna as Secretary of Housing and Neighborhood Preservation was a significant step in that direction. Hanna manages large-scale housing development and is implementing a reorganization of housing agencies to create state-of-the-art-housing delivery systems. "We have had success in attracting suburban developers to the city for large scale development projects such as we announced in February," Hanna said. "The City will be innovative in providing incentives for private, market rate development while insuring the quality of publicly subsidized housing construction. The new agency will continue to finance the preservation and stabilization of existing housing." Hanna estimates the creation of a new housing agency will take 12 more months to complete, but a major component of reorganization, a computer-based system to manage vacant properties, will be in place by September. "This summer, we will bring on line a new, streamlined process for the acquisition and disposition of property. I am delighted that a single data management system, the Vacant Property Management Information System, will be completed. The benefits of an interactive computer data base for the management of vacant properties are enormous," Hanna told the Council committee. NTI bond funds will also be used to make strategic investments in neighborhood preservation by providing help to homeowners who need funds for major home maintenance projects. An additional three million dollars is requested for the Basic Systems Repair Program to assist low- and moderate- income homeowners. $750,000 is proposed to support GPUAC with the implementation of its first year for the City's Employer Assisted Housing Program; $550,000 would provide settlement grants to more than 600 low- and moderate-income first time homebuyers. The city will expand the successful PHIL loan program that is making home improvement loans available at competitive interest rates. Homeownership counseling and predatory lending victim assistance through City sponsored lending alternatives will continue. The City will also support a joint project with the School District to retain graduating college students and attract new teachers to work in the public schools. One of the major projects to be undertaken by NTI this year is the repair of approximately 8-12 retaining walls for a total budget of one million dollars. The blight, decay and danger of deteriorating retaining walls have plagued the City for more than half a century. NTI has had to establish viable policies to address the problem of defective retaining walls. In FY03, the Streets Department identified three imminently dangerous retaining walls for which reconstruction will begin in July. The department also completed a survey of more than 70 walls in need of repair.
6/2/03 The campaign, which launches Sunday, includes print and transit advertising, brochures for each neighborhood and a new Web site, www.phillyathome.com. The initiative was launched in conjunction with the city of Philadelphia's Neighborhood Transformation Initiative (NTI). "NTI addresses the specific needs of individual neighborhoods throughout the city. The Neighborhood Marketing Campaign will draw attention to the many great neighborhoods in our City and highlight their livability. This campaign will bring new residents to six of the city's most dynamic communities and to Philadelphia as a whole," said Philadelphia Mayor John F. Street. "Philadelphia has many vibrant and attractive neighborhoods," said CPDC Executive Director Paul R. Levy, "and this demonstration program aims to increase interest in six of these communities across the city. Every Sunday, the real estate sections of the newspapers are filled with large and impressive ads for suburban housing. This initiative begins to level the playing field by promoting the friendliness and attractiveness of Philadelphia's neighborhoods." Levy also noted that the program borrows from the approach that CPDC undertook in 1997 to promote living in Center City. Census figures show that Center City neighborhoods have continued to gain population at the same time that the city's overall population declined. The six neighborhoods represent a diverse cross section of communities across the city with a wide variety of housing types that can appeal to different types of households. The target audiences are families and households who have the opportunity to make a choice – either to stay in the city or move to the suburbs, or if they are moving to the region from elsewhere, to locate in the suburbs or make their new home in the city. Today's announcement is the culmination of a comprehensive two-year process based, in part, on the NTI real estate market analysis data. More than two dozen neighborhoods were considered. The target neighborhoods were chosen, and the campaign designed, working closely with advisory committees of residents, business people and civic groups in each neighborhood. A steering committee, consisting of real estate developers and brokers, city planners and representatives of city agencies, oversaw the process. (A list of members is attached.) The William Penn Foundation funded both the planning process and the development of the campaign. Stephen Kazanjian of Real Estate Strategies and Beverly Harper of Portfolio Associates served as consultants to the project. The Weightman Group, a Center City-based advertising agency, designed the campaign. Advertising space is being purchased in newspapers and on regional rail lines. Additional space is being donated by Philadelphia Newspapers, Inc. The Central Philadelphia Development Corporation
is a not-for-profit membership organization, supported by Philadelphia's
business leaders, that has been a force in the development and diversification
of Center City since 1956. It is managed by the staff of the Center City
District (CCD). The City of Philadelphia, Universal Companies, Fannie Mae, and Lender Partners Announce Initiative to Revitalize One of Philadelphia's Most Distressed and Historic Neighborhoods PHILADELPHIA, PA - In a vacant lot on South Broad Street, Mayor John F. Street joined state and local officials, Universal Companies Founder and Chairman Kenneth Gamble, Fannie Mae Vice Chair Jamie S. Gorelick, and several key lender partners today to launch a significant urban redevelopment initiative in South Philadelphia designed to complement the city's Neighborhood Transformation Initiative (NTI). NTI is a bold and historic five-year action plan to preserve and rebuild Philadelphia neighborhoods through blight elimination, improved city services, and residential and commercial redevelopment. Universal Companies plans to build or renovate nearly 400 homes in South Philadelphia over the next three to four years. The revitalization of this community is part of an ambitious plan by the city of Philadelphia to restore the vibrancy of the 5th largest U.S. city by attracting workers and families back to downtown, as well as retaining existing residents and many of the young people who attend the city's colleges and universities. Universal Companies, founded by legendary music producer Kenneth Gamble, is leading the nearly $100 million effort. Since 1993, Universal Companies has helped strengthen the South Philadelphia neighborhood, where Gamble was raised, by providing educational resources, economic development, and affordable housing for the community. "This is a great day for the city and South Philadelphia. This initiative represents several milestones and a new beginning in turning our community around," said Gamble. "Homeownership and affordable housing are fundamental for thriving neighborhoods and this partnership with the city, Fannie Mae, The Reinvestment Fund, and Citizens Bank will not only help restore blighted neighborhoods in South Philadelphia, but serve as a model for revitalization for communities throughout Philadelphia and across the nation." The initiative will enable Universal Companies to leverage investments and financing for the construction of new and renovated homes and apartments. The Reinvestment Fund (TRF), a Philadelphia-based community development financial institution that provides capital for low- and moderate-income developments, through its subsidiary The Collaborative Lending Initiative (CLI), will provide development financing for this redevelopment effort. Fannie Mae, through its American Communities FundTM (ACF®), and Citizens Bank each have committed to purchase a one-third participation interest in the loans originated by CLI for the first phase of the redevelopment, which will result in the renovation or new construction of approximately 160 homes. As the initiative moves forward to subsequent phases, further investments are anticipated that would result in the completion of additional housing units, bringing the total to 400 affordable housing units for South Philadelphia. In addition to its commitment for the participation interest in the current phase, Fannie Mae anticipates that it will be able to make additional investments under this initiative, particularly the purchase of eligible mortgage loans made to home buyers, that will result in an aggregate investment of nearly $100 million. Fannie Mae (FNM/NYSE) is the nation's largest source of financing for home mortgages. "NTI has provided us with a unique opportunity to rethink our neighborhoods and develop well thought out solutions to 50 years of decay and neglect; it was intended to be a catalyst, to help foster change, to spur development, to forge much needed partnerships with great organizations such as Universal Companies," said Mayor John F. Street. "Kenny and I have been talking about this Philadelphia renaissance for more than two decades. I am thrilled that our strategy to preserve and rebuild Philadelphia's neighborhoods as thriving communities with clean and secure streets, a world-class education system, vibrant retail, recreational and cultural outlets, and quality housing is becoming a bigger and bigger reality every day. I am grateful for the invaluable support we are once again receiving from Citizens Bank, TRF, and Fannie Mae. Today's announcement marks yet another opportunity for government, citizens and the private sector to work together, restoring civic pride and building community spirit for all Philadelphians." The city of Philadelphia, through the Philadelphia Redevelopment Authority, will make available $3 million in an NTI subsidy loan for the acquisition of properties to facilitate development. The neighborhood targeted by Universal Companies
encompasses an area west of Broad Street and south of South Street. Once
a lively and diverse community adjacent to Center City, this section of
South Philadelphia fell victim to a decline in population and suburban
flight following the 1960's. While many residents and businesses remained
committed to the community, more and more homes and storefronts became
vacant eyesores, leading to increased crime and neglect. Citizens Bank pledges $104.3 million for City's revitalization efforts The Citizens Bank Neighborhood Investment Program will support The Neighborhood Transformation Initiative PHILADELPHIA – Citizens Bank announced today that it is pledging $104.3 million over five years to support revitalization efforts in Philadelphia's most economically depressed neighborhoods and to help turn those areas into thriving communities with clean and safe streets, quality housing, small business development and job creation. This partnership represents one of the largest and latest long-term initiatives that Citizens Bank has formed under its Citizens Bank Neighborhood Investment Program. This initiative will provide more than $50 million in residential mortgage and home improvement loans, and $25 million in small business loans as part of Mayor John F. Street's Neighborhood Transformation Initiative (NTI). The residential mortgage loans will be offered at below market interest rates, targeted at low-and moderate-income census tracts. An additional $26 million in project financing for community development and property acquisition related to community development will be available over the five-year period. "We believe this major, long-term program will help serve as a catalyst for the ongoing renaissance of our City's neighborhoods," said Stephen D. Steinour, Chairman ¥of Citizens Bank. This particular Citizens Bank Neighborhood Investment Program will also provide approximately $850,000 in grant money for technical assistance for small businesses, initiate the development of the "Clean and Green" project and support an anti-predatory lending campaign entitled "Don't Borrow Trouble". The Small Business Technical Assistance Program will provide ongoing consultation sessions and seminars to businesses located in the 26 NTI planning areas. The seminars are intended to help make businesses successful, sustainable and better able to meet their financial obligations. The program will make use of neighborhood business associations and community development corporations. Another important neighborhood element will be the development and implementation of a "Clean and Green" beautification program using a model for reclaiming neglected land that has been created by the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society. Citizens Bank volunteers will work on these important neighborhood projects. The "Clean and Green" program in its first year, will focus on five community groups and/or neighborhoods: H.A.C.E, Hawthorne/Universal Companies, East Mount Airy, Frankford and Point Breeze. Projects will include clearing debris, spreading topsoil, planting bulbs and trees, building fences and development of long-term maintenance plans for reclaimed acreage. Under the new anti-predatory lending campaign, Citizens Bank will help expand the City's existing program to educate the public about the practice of charging excessive interest rates and up-front fees on loans secured by the borrower's home. Lenders often foreclose on their homes, increasing vacancy rates and abandoned properties throughout the City. Steinour announced the partnership along with Mayor Street at the offices of H.A.C.E., the Hispanic Association of Contractors and Enterprises Inc., a non-profit community economic development corporation which has developed a revitalization plan for two of Eastern North Philadelphia neighborhoods that include the commercial district, "Centro de Oro" surrounding Fifth Street and Lehigh Avenue. Since its formation, H.A.C.E. has invested and leveraged over $50 million in affordable housing and business development activities in both neighborhoods. The 5th and Lehigh neighborhood is one of 26 targeted for revitalization when Mayor John Street unveiled his Neighborhood Transformation Initiative in April 2001. NTI has as its goals blight elimination, blight prevention, redevelopment through land assembly, housing investment and neighborhood preservation, community-based planning, and leveraging resources. "Citizens Bank's unprecedented $104 million
commitment certainly exemplifies why it has earned the tremendous reputation
of being a 'not so typical bank,'" said Mayor John F. Street. "On
behalf of my administration and the residents of this City, we want to
thank Citizens for sharing in our vision, supporting our Neighborhood Transformation
Initiative, and making a long-term commitment to the revitalization of
our City. The giant Neighborhood Investment Program Guillermo Salas Jr., President of H.A.C.E., praised Citizens Bank for its commitment to Philadelphia's neighborhoods and noted the partnership as a source of much needed private capital in the revitalization of our neighborhoods. "We want to commend Citizens Bank for planting seeds of hope in some of Philadelphia's most troubled neighborhoods by being a catalyst for positive change. H.A.C.E. has been working in the heart of the Latino community to empower people and improve their quality of life. This commitment provides much needed capital to leveraged NTI resources in many neighborhoods that are struggling in the rebuilding process," said Salas. This initiative with the City is the largest Citizens Bank partnership to date. In March 2003, Citizens Bank announced a $1 million, ten-year grant to Universal Companies in South Philadelphia. In January 2003, Citizens Bank announced a $2.5 million, ten-year grant to Philadelphia's Nueva Esperanza, Inc., a Hispanic faith-based community development corporation and in November 2002, Citizens Bank announced a sweeping, $28 million neighborhood revitalization program for University City and the surrounding area. Last summer, Citizens Bank invested more than $6 million in affordable housing construction, small business growth, childcare and education initiatives through a new partnership with The Reinvestment Fund, aimed at stimulating economic development in southeastern Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Delaware. About Citizens Bank Citizens Bank of Pennsylvania is a $22 billion bank
with more than 390 branches, 640 ATMs and a convenient network of commercial
banking offices throughout Pennsylvania. It also operates four retail branches
and four ATMs in southern New Jersey. It has more than 5,000 employees.
Citizens Bank of Pennsylvania is a subsidiary of Citizens Financial Group,
Inc., a $64 billion commercial bank holding company headquartered in Providence,
R.I. Citizens has more than 850 offices and approximately 1,700 ATMs, operating
as Citizens Bank in Connecticut, Delaware, Massachusetts, New Hampshire,
New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Rhode Island. Citizens is one of the 20 largest
commercial banks in the United States. It is owned by The Royal Bank Mayor announces Major Tree Planting 4,000 Trees to be planted Citywide as Part of NTI PHILADELPHIA— Today, at the Philadelphia Horticultural Society's annual Flower Show Brunch, Mayor John F. Street announced the city's plans for a major tree planting effort this spring as part of the Neighborhood Transformation Initiative. The City will plant over 4,000 trees and another 2,600 shrubs and will officially kick-off the effort April 24, when the Fairmount Park Commission commemorates Arbor Day. The Pennsylvania Horticultural Society's Philadelphia Green program is a major partner. Mayor John F. Street said, "Trees improve the quality of life in neighborhoods and are a major component of NTI's greening efforts citywide. We are mobilizing an array of city departments and agencies to plant an unprecedented number of trees in our city's neighborhoods and parks." The City manages 250,00 trees along streets and over 2 million trees in natural and landscaped parks. As part of NTI, the City has stepped up efforts to care for trees in neighborhoods, budgeting $13 million in tree planting and care, neighborhood park restoration, vacant land stabilization and other greening activities. The city has removed over 11,000 dead or dangerous street trees and pruned another 38,00 since FY 00. This has dramatically cut down on tree emergencies during storms. During the major President's Day snowstorm, the Fairmount Park Commission had only one major emergency tree request – past storms generated hundreds of tree emergencies. According to the USDA Forest Service, the tree canopy covers 21.6% of the land area of Philadelphia. The City's 2 million trees reduce building energy costs, with a net energy savings of $1.9 million per year. Trees and shrubs remove about 971 metric tons of air pollution per year. Components of the City's Tree Planting Plan: Fairmount Park Commission 1,000 large shade trees (630 along streets and 370
in parks). Philadelphia Green-trained Tree Tenders will assist the city
in caring for a portion of the trees. 144 large shade trees at eight neighborhood parks
in partnership with Philadelphia Green's Park Revitalization Program (Campbell
Square, Harrowgate, Norris Square, Disston, Womwrath, Carroll, Fotteral,
Clivden) 143 large shade trees and 181 shrubs as part of the
School House Land Reconstruction project, in partnership with Philadelphia
Green's Public Landscapes Program. 500 trees on vacant lots in the American Street Empowerment
Zone in partnership with Philadelphia Green and local businesses. 196 large shade trees at three affordable housing
developments. (Padera Homes, Cecil B. Moore, Ludlow IV c in partnership
with local community development corporations. 357 large shade trees at 33 PHA sites. 100 large shade trees along two neighborhood commercial
corridors (60th Street from Catharine to Arch Street and 5400-5900 Germantown
Ave.) in partnership with local businesses. 235 small tree seedlings along streets, in front yards, in parks and schools in partnership with citizen Tree Tenders 2/3/03MAYOR STREET LAUNCHES FIRST SEVEN LARGE-SCALE DEVELOPMENT SITES IN FIGHT AGAINST BLIGHT PHILADELPHIA - Mayor John F. Street today announced the first seven large-scale development sites of the Neighborhood Transformation Initiative (NTI), a comprehensive program designed to clean and strengthen Philadelphia's neighborhoods, reverse years of blight and decay and pave the way for future housing and commercial development. Speaking at the historic Church of the Advocate in North Philadelphia, the Mayor announced the future construction of more than 2,100 new homes and apartments and the proposed development of commercial space on approximately 350 acres of land in communities throughout the city. "We are here to deliver a major installment on our promise to build 21st Century neighborhoods," said Mayor Street. "In launching these seven projects we are literally getting down to ground level to utilize one of our greatest assets - our land. People deserve to have a variety of decent, affordable or market rate-housing options in Philadelphia and they will now have these options. Philadelphia is not just the city that loves you back, it's the city that wants you back. NTI is a cornerstone of our continuing efforts to improve the quality of life in our communities by making streets safer and cleaner, creating more after school activities for our children and improving our schools. Strengthening neighborhoods is a foundation for a healthy economy that will grow our city for generations to come." Mayor Street told the audience of housing advocates that the city is developing alternatives to serve many different needs. Alternatives will exist for suburban empty nesters who are tired of shoveling snow in the winter and mowing lawns in the summer and would rather live in a new townhouse community. There will be housing suitable for the young professional family that is growing but doesn't want to live far from the city's world-class cultural attractions. The new college graduate who is looking for a first home will have some support getting a mortgage. The city also wants life-long Philadelphians to see their property values increase as their neighborhoods are revitalized. "We cannot revitalize neighborhoods unless we pay attention to housing, public safety, education and recreation," said Kevin R. Hanna, Philadelphia's Secretary for Housing and Neighborhood Preservation. "We want to offer housing alternatives to those wishing to move into the city and to anyone wishing to upgrade their housing choices right here in Philadelphia. These 2,100 new housing units will provide alternatives to everyone, for low- and moderate-income homes to upscale townhouses. We will begin our housing growth by offering new properties in an array of areas - from South and West Philadelphia to North Central and Northeast Philadelphia." Seven development sites represent a combination of market-rate, affordable and public housing. One site proposes housing with mixed-use development while another proposes commercial reuse of vacant land. Market Rate Developments Brewerytown – 12 acres; several vacant industrial
properties, will be developed by Westrum Development Co. into 388 market-rate
townhouses, condominiums and apartments for sale starting in the mid-$100,000s.
Cecil B. Moore Homeownership Zone -- an area containing
43 acres of mostly vacant land will be transformed into 151 new affordable
homes for sale at a range of prices. Proposals from developers are due
Feb. 27, 2003. More than 145 new twin townhouses and rehabilitated rowhomes
have already been built or are under development in the Zone. Mill Creek -- 38 acres on which the Philadelphia
Housing Authority (PHA) will develop a new community of 788 homes, including
247 homes for sale starting at $65,000; 341 apartments exclusively for
senior citizens; and 200 rental units for families. PHA will soon issue
an RFP to developers. Logan -- a 35-acre site of mostly vacant land where
houses were sinking because they were originally built on ash fill. Demolition
of houses is nearly complete and the area is ready for reclamation. Community
stakeholders have suggested mixed uses encompassing commercial and retail
development and community, public and medical facilities. NTI was introduced by Mayor Street during his candidacy in 1999 and officially launched in April 2001. The bold and historic initiative is the first of its kind in the nation and was specifically created to reverse a 50-year long pattern of decay and population decline. NTI is Mayor Street's vision for creating a city of world-class communities whose residents have chosen to live, work and play in Philadelphia. It is a strategy designed to provide every resident access to quality housing, safe streets, and top-notch schools. NTI's goal is to have Philadelphia citizens see the benefits of economic development right in their neighborhoods. "We've reached a milestone in our efforts to transform Philadelphia," said Patricia L. Smith, Director of the Neighborhood Transformation Initiative. "This announcement is a direct result of the Mayor's leadership and more than two years of extraordinarily hard work and collaboration by a group of dynamic organizations and dedicated individuals in government and the private sector. When we started, the goal was to build thousands of new homes and apartments in five years and we're doing just that." In its first two years, NTI has begun to help transform communities throughout Philadelphia with the cleaning of over 32,000 vacant lots, the removal of 190,695 abandoned cars from city streets, the cleaning of 209,719 properties from graffiti, the pruning of 38,404 trees and the elimination of 11,888 dangerous trees. The City of Philadelphia has allotted approximately
$68.1 million of bond proceeds for FY03 and $60.2 Million for FY 04 for
NTI activities.
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