PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — About 50 Francisville neighbors in North Philadelphia claimed an unused, overgrown, trash-filled lot a couple of months ago and turned it into a park with a fenced-in dog run and playground. The Philadelphia Redevelopment Authority (PRA) says they are trespassing on city-owned property, and they are now ordering the group to leave.
The site is at 15th and Parish streets. There is a picnic table, playground equipment, an enormous sandbox — and a "notice to vacate" letter posted to the fence, threatening arrest and criminal prosecution if the residents do not vacate the property by 9 a.m., May 12.
Residents say they were sick of seeing the unkept lot, so they pitched in their time and money to clean the place up and create a green space for their community. The problem is the land is owned by the city, and they did not get the necessary permission to use the space.
The neighbors say the space is a community hub, and a lot of work went into creating it.
"After what everybody has been through the past year or so, you know, a bunch of people in the neighborhood came together and did something great that I think everybody here appreciates," said Bill, a resident. He didn't give his last name.
"It just got here, and there was a whole neighborhood cleanup and everything to make it a useful space," said a woman who lives nearby. She didn't give her name. "It’s super disappointing and sad."
Kyle, who didn't give his last name, says he brings his dog, Russell, to the lot every day.
"I think everyone just wants the neighborhood to be nicer and more welcoming. It made a huge difference. We’ve gotten to know our neighbors so well because of it," he said.
"The fact that the [vacate] sign is here, I’m not surprised. I kind of knew that this was going to happen, but nonetheless, I find it frustrating, because, I mean, we lived here over two years and the entire time it was overgrown and filled with trash. Who is it hurting that there is a fence and some picnic tables now?"
The PRA told KYW Newsradio that significant liability and insurance issues can arise when city-owned property is unlawfully used.
The authority says this particular parcel of land has been set aside for an affordable housing development. The search for developers will be get underway in about six months.