| CITY OF PHILADELPHIA: NEIGHBORHOOD TRANSFORMATION INITIATIVE |
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Press Releases 2005 5/23/05 5/20/05 4/1/05 5/23/05 WHO: Mayor John F. Street and Patricia L. Smith, Director, NTI WHAT: Celebrate the milestones and accomplishments of the NTI with:
WHEN: May 24, 2005 WHERE: 11:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. -- World Café Live, 3025 Walnut Street 1:30 p.m. to 3:45 p.m. – Media Photo Opportunities -- Members of the Media are invited to ride the bus with the Mayor to three “transformed” sites. In April 2001, the City of Philadelphia officially launched the Neighborhood Transformation Initiative (NTI), a multi-faceted, $300 million+ effort to improve the quality of life in all neighborhoods. Since then, under NTI the City has amassed a wide array of successes: more than 224,000 abandoned cars removed from its streets and 44,000 tons of debris cleared from 31,000 vacant lots; 23,000 dead trees cut down; 6,000 dangerous buildings demolished; and, at last count, more than 21,000 units of new housing, (either completed, planned or underway), to serve buyers or renters at all income levels--affordable, low income and market rate. Program Master Of Ceremonies: Kevin R. Hanna, Secretary of Housing and Neighborhood Preservation Video: “How We Live: Philadelphia,” originally aired in October 2002 on PBS' The NewsHour with Jim Lehrer. Journalist Ray Suarez introduced the nation to the Neighborhood Transformation Initiative. Welcome: John F. Street, Mayor Progress Report: NTI: A Vision Becomes Reality - Patricia L. Smith, Director of Neighborhood Transformation Conversation: “Neighborhood Transformation and Beyond” Mayor John F. Street discusses Philadelphia's past, present, and future with Ray Suarez, Senior Correspondent, The NewsHour with Jim Lehrer. Dear Mayor Street: 8th Grade Students from Thurgood Marshall Elementary School reflect on their neighborhood. Kathleen Daley, Teacher, Jack Hamilton, Principal. Poetry: Youth members from the Village of Arts and Humanities share their thoughts on neighborhoods in a spoken word presentation. David Gooch, Teacher, Kumani Gant, Director. Musical Tribute: Philadelphia's own Kindred the Family Soul Celebration: Mayor Street and Patricia L. Smith honor NTI Community Ambassadors Lunch is served! 2005 NTI Celebration -- Media Photo Opportunities – NOTE: Mayor will ride bus to all Photo Opportunities and be available for Q and A. Members of the media are invited to join him on the bus. Bus Departs World Café at 1:30 1:30 Depart World Café Live, travel (via expressway) to Reserve at Packer Park, 20 th and Pattison (South Philadelphia) 1:45 -2:15 Photo Opportunity. Greeted by John Westrum. Quick Tour 2:15 – 2:30 Depart Reserve at Packer Park, travel (via expressway) to Lucien E. Blackwell Homes, 48 th & Fairmount Sts. (West Philadelphia) 2:30-3:00 Photo Opportunity. Greeted by Carl Greene. Quick Tour 3:00 -3:15 Depart Lucien E. Blackwell Homes and travel to Pradera Homes, 8 th and Berks (North Philadelphia) 3:15-3:45 Photo Opportunity. Greeted by Jesus Sierra and Rose Gray, Association of Puerto Ricans on the March. Quick Tour. 3:45 Depart for City Hall. 5/20/05 Philadelphia – Today, Mayor John F. Street announced he has accepted the resignation of Patricia L. Smith, Director of the City's Neighborhood Transformation Initiative. For five years, Ms. Smith has led the Mayor's internationally recognized effort to bring dramatic change to every corner of the city. She leaves City government on July 1, 2005. “Pat has been a valuable member of my administration,” Mayor Street said. “When I took office, one of my most important priorities was revitalizing Philadelphia's neighborhoods. Pat accepted the challenge and went to work. Five years later, we have all benefited from her excellent work, unflinching dedication and solid leadership. Without question, Pat Smith has helped to make Philadelphia a better place. She will be greatly missed – but her hard work will endure for years to come.” Under her direction, NTI has amassed a wide range of accomplishments and changed the appearance and living conditions in countless communities across Philadelphia. In addition, the initiative has received international recognition in public policy circles for the innovative use of bond financing to improve City services. “I am proud of what we've been able to achieve in such a short period of time and I truly appreciate the wonderful help and support I've received from so many of my colleagues in and out of City government,” Ms. Smith said. “I am grateful for the opportunity Mayor Street extended to me to be part of this extraordinary experience.” Under Ms. Smith's guidance, NTI has accomplished many of its goals:
Ms. Smith will continue her career at the Reinvestment Fund, a national leader in neighborhood economic development financing. She will direct large scale initiatives in New Jersey, Baltimore, and Washington, DC. Mayor Street also announced today his appointment of Eva Gladstein, Executive Director of the Philadelphia Empowerment Zone, as the new Director of Neighborhood Transformation. Ms. Gladstein, who has led the Empowerment Zone since September 1998, has launched numerous community and economic development projects, including commercial corridor improvement programs, incentive plans to encourage businesses to locate in low income neighborhoods, and several successful models in NTI program areas. While taking on her new responsibilities with NTI, Ms Gladstein will continue to lead the Empowerment Zone and oversee the merger of a number of Empowerment Zone activities with those of NTI. Ms. Gladstein has spent 25 years leading efforts to empower residents and implement community revitalization programs. She is the co-founder of the Tenants' Action Group of Philadelphia (TAG) and former director of the Pennsylvania Low-Income Housing Coalition (PALIHC). “Ms. Gladstein is a consummate professional and I welcome her to this new and expanded role in my administration,” Mayor Street said. “Together, we will continue the work of the Neighborhood Transformation Initiative, recognizing the progress we've made and embracing the work ahead.” Under Ms. Gladstein's leadership, NTI will focus more on neighborhood economic development efforts in keeping with Mayor Street's commitment to make that a top priority of his second term. Ms. Gladstein will lead the City's effort to find new resources and stimulate investment in neighborhood commercial corridors. 4/1/05 This month marks the fourth anniversary of Neighborhood Transformation InitiativePhiladelphia — Today marks the beginning of a three-month celebration of the official launch of the Neighborhood Transformation Initiative (NTI) in April 2001. From April 1 through June 30, there will be more than 100 NTI clean up events, housing development activities and neighborhood park improvement projects. And, in what has become the signature NTI land stabilization treatment—grass seed, trees and low, wood rail fencing—dozens of vacant lots will be transformed into clean, safe open spaces. In April 2001, Mayor John F. Street unveiled the five year NTI plan to revitalize Philadelphia neighborhoods. Backed by a creative financing plan to use a combination of nearly $300 million in bond funds, $50 million in general operating dollars, approximately $250 million in Community Development Block Grant Funds and other state and federal funds, enhanced by more than $2 million in corporate and foundation donations, NTI has been a catalyst for change in neighborhoods. “The Neighborhood Transformation Initiative has an impressive list of accomplishments,” Mayor Street said when announcing the anniversary. “Our neighborhoods look better than they have in many years. My goal is to keep working and keep building on our success year after year. Spring is the time of year when NTI is in high gear. We clean up, fix up and plan our projects for the next fiscal year.” Since Mayor Street's anti-blight effort began five years ago, our city's neighborhoods have flourished. As he promised in his 1999 campaign, Mayor Street has turned the City's attention toward the neighborhoods without turning its back on Center City. From improving the delivery of city services to reducing taxes to stimulating neighborhood development, his accomplishments over the last five years have made Philadelphia a better place to live, work and raise a family. NTI Director Patricia L. Smith says, “ When I joined the administration five years ago, the Mayor asked me to create an initiative that would help him coordinate city services and create a funding stream to support improvements to every neighborhood—to reach into every corner of the city in some way. And, that's exactly what NTI has done and that's exactly what we will continue to do.” A short list of NTI accomplishments from April 2000 through February 2005:
And, from today through the end of June, and into the summer months, hundreds more NTI sponsored community improvement projects will be underway. NTI director Smith says, “Let's spring into neighborhood transformation and show the world what a great place Philadelphia is to live, learn, work and play.” |