In recent discussions about Philadelphia's Land Bank, critics have voiced significant concerns, calling for major reforms to improve its current system. Tayyib Smith, a real estate developer with S&R Holdings, has expressed strong dissatisfaction with the Land Bank's inefficiencies, advocating for a complete overhaul of the system. Smith's frustrations stem from personal experiences in dealing with the Land Bank, which has delayed progress on an affordable housing project his company intended to develop on city-owned lots in West Philadelphia. The primary objective of the Land Bank is to facilitate the transfer of vacant properties to developers devoted to public service, but it has instead become a hindrance, causing significant delays and confusion.
The recent public hearing served as a performance review and strategy session, during which council members listened to various stakeholders, including community development corporations, real estate developers, community gardeners, and government officials, all of whom highlighted the need for improvements at the Land Bank. Rick Sauer, Executive Director of the Philadelphia Association of Community Development Corporation, stated that the Land Bank has not met its anticipated goals. This hearing occurred as Mayor Cherelle Parker's administration is preparing a strategy to preserve or build 30,000 housing units in the coming four years, with plans to leverage the Land Bank in addressing the city's affordable housing crisis.
The Land Bank, established by state legislation in 2012, plays a pivotal role in repurposing city-owned land, especially for affordable housing and community spaces. However, complexities and slow processes hamper its effectiveness, as indicated by critics during the hearing. There exists a belief that private developers may receive preferential treatment over community groups and nonprofits when it comes to land acquisition. This concern emphasizes the importance of a Land Bank that is strategic, transparent, and accountable, as noted by Will Gonzalez, Executive Director of Ceiba. Critics have consistently pointed out the difficulties faced in application processes, with lengthy wait times for decisions hindering timely project executions.
Edward McColly from Habitat for Humanity Philadelphia shared how the sluggish application turnaround time has delayed some of their projects significantly. For instance, an application from March 2023 remains pending over a year later, causing resource allocation challenges. In contrast, Angel Rodriguez, Executive Director of the Land Bank, argued that not all criticisms presented provided council members with complete information. He acknowledged areas for improvement within the organization and mentioned ongoing internal efforts to refine its processes. A new strategic plan is forthcoming, with the current plan having been drafted back in 2019.
As the city continues to confront a growing shortage of affordable housing, critics remain hopeful that the ongoing dialogue and scrutiny will guide the system towards meaningful reforms. Gonzalez summed up the sentiment by highlighting the disappointment in needing to fix existing issues a decade after the Land Bank's inception, rather than advancing forward. Stakeholders await definitive changes that will better align with the city’s housing objectives.
