By Philadelphia Mayor John F. Street
April 15, 2002

The City of Philadelphia is making a real and lasting commitment to reclaim, restore and revitalize our neighborhoods. Our commitment comes in the form of the Neighborhood Transformation Initiative (NTI).

Although NTI was only recently passed into law in Philadelphia, its dramatically positive effects can already be seen and felt in our neighborhoods. We have already cleaned up 18,000 vacant lots, hauled away 11,000 tons of debris, and removed more than 100,000 abandoned cars from our streets.

NTI is unprecedented in terms of the $295 million commitment of City funds being made to get ahead of the problems that have been allowed to fester for decades. It wasn't always this way.

Philadelphia prospered during the first half of the 20th century. Fueled by the rise of the manufacturing economy, the city grew to meet the needs of an expanding population. Increased population spurred private investment, particularly in the housing market, producing sufficient stock to house 2.5 million people. City government, in return, reformed and expanded services.

Some thought the boom times would never end. But, for many workers, families and neighborhoods throughout Philadelphia, the good times did end. Shrinking tax revenues and cuts in federal funding created a vicious cycle of decline.

Vacant Houses Increased

While losing nearly 600,000 residents and a strong tax base, Philadelphia unfortunately gained more than 26,000 vacant houses, approximately 31,000 vacant lots, 3,000 vacant commercial buildings, and an estimated 8,000 vacant buildings in danger of collapse.

Today, Philadelphia is at a critical crossroads. As a government and as a community we have big decisions to make. The scale of the problem dictates the scale of the solution. We are faced with a choiceÑeither we take risks to prepare our city for growth, or we allow decline and decay to continue.

NTI is about changeÑcomprehensive and citywide. It is planning differently to eradicate blight and eyesore land; it is protecting the quality of life in neighborhoods with aggressive code enforcement; and it is market'driven which involves investing public funds in neighborhoods to attract private capital.

To demonstrate this new direction, NTI is committed not only to making neighborhoods cleaner and safer, but to helping to recapture jobs and tax revenue lost due to urban residential and commercial flight. A core principle of NTI is cooperation and innovation at all levels of government, particularly in the resurrection of brownfields. NTI's alliance with the Pennsylvania Land Recycling Program has resulted in positive outcomes for the City.

Brownfield Redevelopment Model

Pennsylvania's Land Recycling Program, also known as Act 2, is a national model for brownfield redevelopment. The program transforms brownfields into environmentally sound and economically productive sites. Act 2, managed by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection is composed of four cornerstones that break down redevelopment obstacles with uniform cleanup standards; standardized reviews and time limits; liability relief; and financial incentives. The Pennsylvania Land Recycling Program benefits the economy and the environment. The effort to redevelop one brownfield in Philadelphia, known as the Stanley Blacker site, demonstrates that a collaborative effort can have a positive impact on neighborhood transformation.

The Stanley Blacker siteÑthe hulking, abandoned eight'story building occupying over an entire City block was a monument to urban decay, and clearly visible to thousands of commuters riding major rail lines in the western and northern part of the City. As the former home of a battery manufacturer and a textile manufacturer in a vast industrial section of the City, the Stanley Blacker site had employed hundreds of Philadelphians and produced hundreds of thousands of dollars in tax revenue over its years in operation. However, with the flight of manufacturers from the urban landscape, the parcel fell victim to tax delinquency and was purchased at a tax sale by a real estate speculator who allowed the property and building to decay even further.

Five Year Strategic Plan

Community and business groups in the area demanded that the City take action. Catalyzed by NTI, the City purchased the Stanley Blacker site at a second tax sale and the building has begun to be demolished. Awarded over $100,000 through the Pennsylvania Land Recycling Program, an environmental investigation of the site will commence once the demolition is completed. A local manufacturer, pressed for space in which to expand, has committed to purchasing the land once the assessment is complete, and building a 75,000 square foot facility creating between 35 and 50 new jobs.

NTI is not a singular program, nor is it a demolition project. NTI is a five'year strategic plan to preserve and build healthy communities throughout the city. Fueled by a prospective $295 million bond offering, Philadelphia can set a new standard for creative land management and open space planning, innovative recycling efforts and effective code enforcement.

We can lead the nation in new housing construction and rehabilitation, as well as citizen'friendly loan products and grants to help homeowners and homebuyers. Philadelphia can design the best information technology systems to manage city business and streamline the land acquisition process. Through NTI, Philadelphia can gain a new distinctionÑthe city with the most successful revitalization plan for the 21st Century.

In the past, City policies and actions aimed at eradicating blight were for the most part reactive and unpredictable rather than thoughtful, proactive and comprehensive. Thousands of complaints were routinely handled through separate phone calls, letters, faxes and - lately - email messages. With NTI, the Administration has crafted a five'year strategic plan to systematically correct problems and start Philadelphia on a well thought'out journey down a carefully mapped out road to a better future.

NTI's plan is rooted in the Administration's solid commitment to improve conditions in every neighborhood in the City of Philadelphia. To date:

NTI will not stop there. Our plan includes accomplishing the following:

NTI is about rebuilding, not just our infrastructure or communities, but the dreams and hopes of our citizens. Sustained smart growth requires a City that appeals to both employers and those skilled workers they needÑ a place where people want to raise their children and spend their leisure time. Neighborhood Transformation is an economic stimulus. It is essential, not just for current residents but also for those considering a move to our City, whether for residential or business purposes. NTI is the largest, most ambitious improvement initiative ever undertaken by a major American city. Our progress to date demonstrates that, in the war against the ravages of time and the consequences of neglect, we know how to win.