Lifetime Citizen Portal Access — AI Briefings, Alerts & Unlimited Follows
City Council approves transfers to preserve community gardens, advocates hail permanent protection
Loading...
Summary
Council adopted four resolutions authorizing transfers of vacant lots to the Philadelphia Land Bank and Neighborhood Gardens Trust to permanently preserve community gardens, covering Cleveland Street, Oakford Street, Viola Street and The Farm on Florence; Neighborhood Gardens Trust praised the actions in public comment.
Philadelphia City Council on Sept. 18 adopted a series of resolutions authorizing the Philadelphia Land Bank to transfer multiple vacant parcels to preserve four community gardens in the city’s second and third councilmanic districts.
The adopted measures — called up from the final-passage calendar and approved by voice vote — authorize disposition of lots that advocates said will be permanently preserved for community gardening and neighborhood use. Emily Dolan of Neighborhood Gardens Trust told council the three resolutions (bills 250730, 250734 and 250735) together authorize the transfer of 10 parcels to the trust: ‘‘These lots are not just plots of land, they are vibrant life giving spaces where neighbors grow food, flowers, and community,’’ she said.
Garden stewards and neighbors testified in support. Randy Smith, a gardener at Viola Street Garden, thanked council for supporting the Restore Community Land Campaign and said residents had worked with council offices and Neighborhood Gardens Trust to reach today’s outcome. Tamar Riley and others urged the city to ensure underused lots return to ‘‘productive use’’ and emphasized the gardens’ role in food access, child development and neighborhood health.
Council members moved the resolutions in turn: Councilmember Catherine Gilmore Richardson called up resolution 250730 for adoption; Councilmember Jamie Gauthier moved 250734, 250735 and 250736. Each motion was seconded and approved by voice vote with ‘‘the ayes have it’’ recorded. The clerk read titles for the specific property lists tied to each resolution; the resolutions authorize Land Bank dispositions ‘‘in accordance with the terms of chapter 16-700 of the Philadelphia code.’’
Neighborhood Gardens Trust and community speakers asked the council and city agencies to follow through with stewardship and to keep gardening space available for longtime and new residents alike. Advocates framed the transfers as part of a broader ‘‘Restore Community Land’’ effort launched in 2022 to protect garden spaces citywide.
No substantive amendments to these dispositions were offered during the session; the votes were recorded by voice and no roll-call tallies were entered in the public transcript.
