NORTH PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Neighbors in Francisville spruced up a vacant lot with a picnic table, playground equipment and a fenced-in dog area, but they are now forbidden from using it.
The abandoned lot, located at 15th and Parrish streets, is owned by the city, but residents illegally revamped the property as a neighborhood green space.
On May 3, the Philadelphia Redevelopment Authority (PRA) posted a “notice to vacate” sign at the lot, and a trespassing notice officially went into effect on Wednesday. People caught on the lot would be considered trespassers and subject to arrest.
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Scott Calhoun has lived in the neighborhood for more than three years.
“People were throwing their trash in here,” he said. “This was an abandoned lot.”
The playground has been deconstructed but the other areas of the lot continue to be used.
PRA said there are liability concerns, and an affordable housing development project is planned for the site.
Francisville neighbors like Andrew Tsvikevich are asking the city to reconsider and allow them to keep the park, at least temporarily.
“We might be able to have a short-term lease until development will start,” he suggested.
Emily Mechling would prefer to see the housing project moved to another property.
“There are plenty of nearby lots that can be used for affordable housing, but there are very few green spaces in the area and in Philadelphia alone, so once this green space is gone it’s going to be gone forever,” she said.
Neighborhood leaders met with PRA members Thursday afternoon to see if the green space can be used by the community until workers break ground on the housing project. They were told insurance will be needed. A second meeting is planned for next month.
“Overall, people are hopeful that whatever is allowed by the city, we will be able to push forward with a community center,” Calhoun added.
At this point, no one was been arrested for trespassing.