Philly Plain Dealer

Philadelphia has had many iterations of itself, growing and shifting with its population and the emergence of technological advancements. However, something that remains a staple of this city since its inception on Lenapehoking in 1682 is its roots in trade and economics. Now, almost 350 years later the relationship between this city, the Black population within its limits, and commercialism has become much more intertwined and complex. Cherelle Parker is representative of just that. Weaving together her experience living in Mt. Airy as a part of the now 43% Black population in Philadelphia and her extremely business friendly political practices with ease. Does Parker’s focus on attracting big businesses to the city leave enough space for her constituents to breathe?

Clark Park has been a haven for Southwest Philadelphians for decades. It is a gathering place for celebration, for mourning, and meditation. In a city where green spaces are dwindling every year, this park only becomes more and more valuable to long-time residents who enjoy sharing space with their neighbors. Maybe this is why developers are so keen on building in this already overdeveloped area.

For example, The Linden (University City) Apartment Complex was erected in what was once a part of Clark Park. The Linden stands menacingly across the street from the community space it has siphoned land from. Not only has this new “development” taken up land area from the public, its astronomical rent prices add to the continued gentrification of West Philadelphia and the displacement of life long residents who can no longer afford to live in the area they themselves developed. According to The Linden studio apartments start at $1,800 a month, in Philadelphia “market-rate rent is between $650-$1,700 a month.”

One doesn’t have to look far for an example of the displacement of vulnerable populations locally. The University City Townhomes were a 70-unit affordable housing complex completed in Philadelphia’s Black Bottom in 1983 with the financial support of the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development. Commissioned by the city, Friday Architects imagined and designed a neighborhood two blocks in size that had green spaces and areas for communal activities. However, after almost 40 years, Altman/IBID Associates decided not to renew its contract to manage the townhomes as Section 8 housing, leaving the residents with no option but to flee their homes, leaving Altman/IBID Associates with the opportunity to raze the property to the ground and sell the land to the highest bidder. 

As a member of Philadelphia’s Black Bottom, I’ve been displaced from housing multiple times living in this area, even as recently as this past year and each time has stolen a piece of me, my security, and my life. We must do better and work with our community’s most vulnerable populations to guarantee the dignity and safety of every Philadelphian. Or else more lives could be lost.