Abandoned

(Photo taken by CCC @ 35th & Fairmount)

There is a major epidemic in the city of Philadelphia - the increasing number of abandoned buildings in our neighborhoods. These particular abandoned buildings are located directly across the street from McMichael Middle School. You can find this one a few feet to the right of the first set:


Anywhere you go, you see these lots and abandoned homes. They attract crime - drugs, violence...an anonymous place you can take care of business...and they sit so closely to our schools. To our own homes...and it is hard to blame the city because when these buildings are turned over to it, it just means it's one on a list of thousands to be demolished or reconstructed or whatever the plan may be.

I have spoken to community residents about this issue and have decided to do a documentary/PSA project that discusses what we as community members can do about this problem. I would also like to take a look at what current neighborhood transformation projects are in place and whether or not these efforts are making an impact. If not - how can we combine the efforts of programs, organizations and individuals to help lower the amount of vacant lots/properties in our city.

The City of Philadelphia FY2009 breaks down city spending on neighborhood transformation, past spending and past results...you can read it here yourself:
http://webapps.phila.gov/council/attachments/5346.pdf

Here is an interesting clip from the objective:
One half of the houses in Philadelphia are owned by people over 55. Data shows that 45 percent of older people have made no plans to either sell or transfer titles in their homes. Thus over the next 15 — 20 years, nearly half of the houses in the City are at risk of abandonment as no plans have been made for their maintenance or ultimate disposition.

Freakin' scary.

More to come.