PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Longtime residents of a South Philadelphia community rallied outside of the construction site of a new apartment building in the middle of the neighborhood’s business district.
Residents fear they’re being pushed out.
“The Point Breeze community is outraged,” said Tiffany Green of Concerned Citizens of Point Breeze. “We feel disrespected, ignored and pushed aside.”
The group joined forces with Point Breeze Community Stakeholders and a coalition of long term residents of the neighborhood to launch Black Point Breeze Matters.
They said the campaign is designed to shine the light on displacement due to fast-moving gentrification in Point Breeze.
“We didn’t have any plans. We didn’t get to have any meetings. We’ve been getting the runaround as far as what is going on,” said Green.
“The long-term residents have been shut out of the process and have not had any input into this development, or the overall redevelopment of the Point Breeze corridor.”
The group points to the development at 1420 Point Breeze Avenue as an example.
They rallied outside of the construction site Tuesday afternoon as contractors poured the foundation for a new four-story, 42-unit apartment building with commercial space on the first floor.
“We want to support Black-owned businesses,” said one resident, “not luxury apartments unaffordable to the people who already live here.”
Located between Broad Street and 25th Street and south of Washington Avenue to Mifflin Street, Point Breeze is rife with development. It’s considered one of the hottest neighborhoods in Philadelphia.
According to Zillow, the area saw a 20% increase in home values from 2016-17, and from 2020-21 saw a 6% increase.
The average home price is more than $325,000. Longtime residents, many who are lower income, are working hard to keep up.
“Where is our community process?” said Betty Beaufort, who explained she has lived in Point Breeze for decades.
“We are seeking that right today. This is our business corridor. It might not be much, but they're just going to come and do this?”
The tension between longtime Black residents and mostly White newcomers and developers is not new in Point Breeze. Longtime residents say the new coffee shops, luxury homes and other businesses are not for them. Instead, they are designed to attract wealthy outsiders.
Long term residents feel that they are being pushed out.
“I respect the leadership of the #BlackPointBreezeMatters Campaign,” said Philadelphia 2nd District Councilman Kenyatta Johnson. “I truly understand their frustration.”
OCF Realty was the broker for the property. The developers, according to their website, had the property “by right.” That means they could pursue a shift zoning of the building without a variance.
“There was no formal process that the developer has to go through with this property, but it is something I am going to explore and see for the future,” Johnson added.
Black Point Breeze Matters said they want the rules to change to include community input, or at least transparency with regard to development, no matter what.
They said they will continue to push for a say in the development process. The group has called for a meeting with city officials.
OCF Realty did not respond as of Tuesday afternoon.