PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Exactly one year ago on July 15, the vacant lot near 31st and Wharton streets in Grays Ferry looked completely different, a place of tragedy that shook a community.
Now, thanks to that community stepping in, a site of a gruesome discovery has turned into a place of hope.
Chamara Cotton, also known as Boogie Rose, said July 15, 2020, was a day the neighborhood will never forget.
"You [saw] the yellow tape being put out. The cops said they found a body in a bin," she said.
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Cotton, who is also an educator with the School District of Philadelphia, recalls seeing children that she works with standing around the scene crying.
Many people had walked by the gray bin, not knowing its contents. Cotton said a neighbor had even tried to move it to the corner with trash.
“Somebody wanted to disrespect this woman’s body and this block so much, that they didn’t even care where they put her body. And they thought this was a dump site," Cotton shared.
Cotton said she knew she had to do something to help neighbors heal from the traumatic event, so she did the only thing that could think of.
She got to work cleaning up the lot.
“This happened on a Wednesday, and by that Saturday, three days later, we were able to have food flowers, shovels, rakes," Cotton said.
"We literally cleaned this entire lot and turned it into a garden.”
That garden yields fresh peppers, corn, kale, apples, squash, and more. Organizers also host giveaways on a weekly basis.
"We feed almost 90 families every Saturday," Cotton said.
The owner of the lot said his family has been in the area for 30 years. He plans to build an apartment in the space. He hopes the transition is resolved peacefully and fairly.
“I'm a little guy trying to do the right thing. I’m sorry about the situation, but the process is already far," he said.
A memorial and rally for the woman who was found is planned for Saturday at noon.