
Councilman Kenyatta Johnson.
(Photo by Flickr user Philadelphia City Council)
Chaos is rife as ever within Point Breeze communities as real estate development and subsequent gentrification continues to eat away at community relations.
Most of that chaos is taking place in neighborhood meetings hosted by registered community organizations (RCOs), which provide vital input in the zoning process by voting in favor or against development projects that need zoning variances after hearing from the developers themselves.
Last week, Councilman Kenyatta Johnson proposed a bill that would set “codes of conduct” within those meetings through the Planning Commission. The proposal comes after South Philadelphia HOMES meeting attendees allegedly voiced anti-Semitic comments at a presenting Jewish developer.
“I’ll be the first to say that gentrification is a controversial issue about which people often disagree,” Johnson told PlanPhilly. “I would like to clearly state for the record that hateful comments about one’s race, ethnicity, religion, gender identity, or sexual orientation will not and should never be tolerated.”
Read the full storySocial impact realtor Ken Weinstein, founder of Philly Office Retail and Jumpstart Germantown, is in favor of the RCO voting process. Before recent zoning code changes, he said, knowing who to contact while applying for a zoning variance was murky. In his 27 years in development, he said he’s never been turned down for a zoning request.
“I almost always get tough questions and requests but all I ask for is a fair assessment of my project,” he said. “If it is good for the community and the developer is thinking about more than just their bottom line, the project should be approved.”
But, he said, there is “no room” in the process for hatred and intolerance. Zoning consideration should be considered on fact, not race, religion, class or sexual preference. But clarity in the process is key.
“Overall, uncertainty is the biggest obstacle in the development process,” he said. “Providing clarity in the zoning process has made it easier to seek approvals and pursue socially impactful development projects.”
Increasing mutual understanding, perhaps, will reduce the vitriol felt between developers and some members of gentrified communities.
-30-From our Partners
Gentrification and affordable housing: What’s the remedy to a sick situation?
From Disenfranchisement To Empowerment: Uplifting Neighborhoods
Village of the Arts seeks to deepen and scale its impact as it reflects on its legacy
Generocity Philly
Meet Kim Andrews, new executive director for The Fund for Women and Girls

The Grace S. and W. Linton Nelson Foundation
Communications and Outreach Manager
Apply NowCommentary: North Philadelphia residents fight for its future, call to stop gentrification and displacement
Time is key: Applying a Black Quantum Futurist lens to understanding solutions to housing inequality
In Point Breeze, funding enables Diversified Community Services to move services ‘to the next level’
Generocity Philly
Be the leader to bring a 26-year mission into the future in Chester County

harp-weaver LLC
Administrative & Grants Associate
Apply Now
More Information