When: September 17, 2009, 6:00 pm to 8:30 pm
6:00- 6:30 p.m. – Reception
6:30-8:30 p.m. – Program
September’s forum will take a look at vacant land as an environmental and economic sustainability issue. Experts, from Philadelphia and beyond, will address ways to effectively “recycle” vacant and abandoned space in the city, look at tensions between short-term and long-term use, and review best practices.
RSVP at reimaginingvacantland.eventbrite.com/ to reserve your spot.
Speakers:
- Beth Miller, Executive Director of Community Design Collaborative (Moderator)
- Mayor Michael Nutter (invited)
- Terry Gillen, Executive Director, Philadelphia Redevelopment Authority
- Dan Kildee-Treasurer of Genesee County, Michigan
“Re-imagining Vacant Land in Philadelphia” was a good session.
Very unfortunate, however, that the one representative of City Government (the Director of the RDA, the Redevelopment Authority) had very few answers, or very pale ones. My use of “pale” may puzzle some: it has been common to characterize levels of sustainability as ranging from best as “deep green” or “dark green” to worst, which is “greenwash” (àla “whitewash”). The answer, for example, to “how green are the RDA’s new housing?” was VERY close to greenwashy, and was certainly “wishy washy” grin.
Even the frustrated developer whose questions about RDA processes was badly treated: he observed what many, many other Philadelphians have over the decades – that decisions about development are often NOT TRANSPARENT, not rationally based and evidence favoritism by public agencies. This new developer with ready cash, whose RDA applications and calls and meetings proved so fruitless, while more recent applications for lots in the same block were acted upon, was quite detailed in his plea to the panel member. He recorded that such a property was sold to an apparently “favored” developer for one-fifth of the price quoted for the neophyte’s lot – after 2 years of stand-off / no-reply from the RDA to this patient gentleman.
Dan Kildee, a county Treasurer from Michigan, was superb – fully informed and to the point.
Farah Jimenez, Mount Airy Biz District (assumedly taking the slot set aside for the Mayor), was equally well versed in every aspect of urban land and real estate development. Her answers were practical and useful.