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Public Property seeks faster surplus‑land inventory, expands trades internships amid FY26 budget hearing
Summary
Commissioner Joe Braske told City Council the Department of Public Property will map its vacant parcels within a year, expand high‑school trade internships and work with councilmembers on City Hall upkeep as part of its FY26 priorities.
Joe Braske, commissioner of the Department of Public Property, told members of Philadelphia City Council that the department’s FY2026 request is tied to a push to get a precise inventory of city‑owned vacant and surplus sites and to expand workforce pathways into city trades.
“We want to know what sites are ours. We want to know which district councilmatic district you’re in and kind of map that to the councilmatic district,” Braske said, describing an initiative launched through PhillyStat 360 to verify property status, address maintenance issues such as overgrown lots and fencing, and reduce response times for council offices seeking dispositions or activations.
The mapping effort, Braske said, will include hiring a GIS analyst and the department hopes to complete a full inventory within a year. That timetable, he said, is intended to improve the department’s ability to partner with councilmembers on uses ranging from community gardening to programming and to reduce costs the city incurs maintaining vacant parcels.
Braske also described ongoing and planned workforce efforts. The department has run a Career and Technical Education (CTE) internship program with the School District of Philadelphia for more than a decade and estimates it has placed roughly eight to 10 students to date. Braske said the department aims to expand that pipeline and “double that if we can,” and that the city is coordinating with the Community College of Philadelphia to increase feeders into trades training. Separately, John DeLeo, deputy commissioner for operations at the Department of Fleet Services, said Fleet hired 30 high‑school interns last fiscal year and plans another 30 this year; those interns may qualify for civil‑service appointments as automotive apprentices if they meet performance criteria.
Councilmembers pressed Braske on a range of property questions that cross other agencies’ jurisdictions. Braske said some large projects—such as a $1 billion Project HOME proposal and redevelopment opportunities like the Roundhouse—are primarily planning or administration matters and that the Department of Public Property has not yet been provided a definitive property list for Project HOME. On Philly Home at Girard, Braske said the department took over maintenance in January and is conducting improvements; there have been no conversations about purchasing the site from the Commonwealth.
Councilmembers also raised procurement and equity targets. Braske reiterated the city’s stated goal that 37% of contract dollars go to minority, women, and disabled‑owned businesses but acknowledged gaps in early reporting on recently awarded contracts. He said some contracts are new and the participation data are incomplete; he offered to deliver additional participation data as it becomes available.
Several councilmembers asked about City Hall maintenance and upgrades. Braske said the department has undertaken structural and systems work—including wiring and LED lighting upgrades—and conducts regular painting and cleaning. He said cosmetic projects are constrained by available funding and emphasized the need to balance historical preservation with upgrades; he welcomed partnerships with philanthropic and historical organizations to support work such as power‑washing steps, restoring brass railings and improving restrooms.
The committee recessed after the testimony; members asked departments to follow up with inventories, procurement participation data and timelines for the internship expansion.
