Seniors' Housing Redevelopment Plans

A proposed redevelopment for Ninth and Washington has residents wondering, "What's going on?"

The ice factory on the Ninth and Washington

The Italian Market has always been a center of commerce in Philadelphia. Recently, however, the market has fell under some hard times economically.  According to the 2000 census, over 30 percent of the land in the Market area was vacant and 33 properties were also abandoned. 

But, the city has plans to change those statistics. The corner of Ninth and Washington is about to get a face-lift. Councilman Frank DiCicco has introduced a plan that highlights an abandoned ice

factory as blighted territory so the city can begin reconstructing it as a senior's housing complex. 

The plan calls for the development of a mid-rise complex with commercial use on the ground level and residential housing on the upper levels. The plan is to revitalize the Italian Market and bring prosperity back to a once prosperous area in the city. 

But the residents of the area are not happy with the plan that DiCicco has laid out. 

The plan includes a small street of Darien within this blighted zone.  A street that doesn’t look blighted.  A street that doesn’t feel blighted. 

So, why was it included?

Residents of the neighborhood have spoken out against the blight label, but have not been heard.  “Once the ice house is done, are you going to reassign the area.  No one had an answer," said Eric Smith, a resident of Darien Street."That means they aren’t intending to reassign so that means they are making a blighted area and they’ll keep it as that.”

Before the bill was passed, members of the community convened to discuss this issue with City Councilman Frank DiCicco.  Residents prepared presentations for DiCicco detailing why the certification of blight in their small neighborhood was inappropriate. 

However, DiCicco was quoted in the Metro as saying, “You can vote for me in November, you cannot vote for me.”

The redevelopment zone for the Italian Market area.

According to the Philadelphia City Planning Committee, the ice factory and that block of Darien weren't the only two areas falling under blight label.   The area extends from Ninth and Washington to Ninth and Federal.  Also, it extends a little portion on Federal (where there are more residential homes) and on-half of both 1100 and 1000 block of Darien street.   Click here to view more pictures.

But, what does this do to the residents?  Sure, it's a small portion, but these people have money invested in their homes.  With a blight label comes redlining. 

“I was totally in the dark,” Arlene Amen, another resident of Darien street, said. “Had I known, I might not have purchased this house.  Okay, now I am here, I don’t know what to think.”

History has told us that blighted zones set for redevelopment only further progress the neighborhood they are in.  Many sections of center city are considered blighted areas, but are still populated areas with high priced housing and bustling business.  No harm may come from labeling this area blighted as well.  The factory may be rebuilt, more business may come to the market and the neighborhood may look a little prettier. 

But, as long as the blight label remains, the residents will continue to worry.

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