Monthly Archives: May 2012

Kensington Abandoplexes to be Designated as Historic?

An article on HiddenCity this week highlights a move to cover the “Workshop of the World” factories heavily concentrated in Kensington for historic preservation. The consequences of such a move places even greater burdens on property owners to care and … Continue reading


Posted in Uncategorized | 2 Comments

Want To Know What City Laws Are Out There To Fight Blight?

Not many citizens (including myself) are aware of where the ordinances are that are out there which control blighted, vacant and abandoned property.    The specific local laws are all contained in Title 4 of the Philadelphia Code, all inside … Continue reading


Posted in The Law | Tagged | Comments Off

Act 90 Tour Coming to East Kensington

Now that we’re well into six months since the enactment of Act 90 and two months since the unveiling of L&I’s vacant property strategy, PDQ will be conducting a comprehensive Act 90 Tour of a significant swath of Kensington, looking for … Continue reading


Posted in Act 90 | Tagged , , | 4 Comments

How a $453 Tax Bill Turns Into a $10,000 Tax Bill

It’s been a while since we’ve tagged a post “Municipal Incompetence,” but this one takes the cake. This morning the Inquirer covers the case of Ms. Laxon in Graduate Hospital.  Poor Ms. Laxon suffered the fate unique to Philadelphia County: … Continue reading


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Get Ready For Some June Sheriff Sales

This month is a bit busier.   Unloaded to Sheriff’s Sale is quite a number of Waterfront Square units.


Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , | 2 Comments

What Is L&I’s Vacant Property Strategy?

Did you think the Department of Licenses & Inspections didn’t have a strategy towards vacant and blighted property?   Well, it does.  


Posted in Uncategorized | 1 Comment

What Do Slum Houses and McLarens Have in Common?

Let’s take a look at a particular problem not too far away from my own house.  1911 E Albert Street:


Posted in Act 90 | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

Could Senator Stack Kill AVI?

SB1505 is presently sitting in the Finance Committee of the PA Senate. Right at the top of the bill is this gem: Section 1.1. Notwithstanding any other law to the contrary, the governing body of a city of the first … Continue reading


Posted in Sheriff Sales, Tax Deadbeats | Tagged , , , | Comments Off

Plea to Gov. Corbett – Make Philadelphia Collect Property Taxes

A person who I consider among one of “THE” most fervent property activists in the last decade, Lisa Parsley, has started a new petition demanding better collections performance from the Philadelphia Department of Revenue. I ask that you read it … Continue reading


Posted in Sheriff Sales, Tax Deadbeats | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

Suburban Slumlords

No, this time I’m not talking about Philadelphia slum properties with suburban owners; I’m talking suburban owners (or in some case, Philly owners) of suburban slum properties. Say what?   I bet that threw you for a loop.   Take … Continue reading


Posted in Slumlords | Tagged , | 4 Comments

Firefighter Union Calls for Resignation of Lloyd Ayres, Deputies

Wow.  


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Firefighters Union to Blast PFD Commissioner, Nutter Administration

While the public has been patiently waiting for the fire investigation report for the Thomas Buck Hosiery factory inferno that killed Cpt. Neary and Lt. Sweeny, the local firefighters union will hold a press conference castigating the Administration on numerous … Continue reading


Posted in The Lichtensteins, VLCIPs | Comments Off

Change.org Petition: City Council, Please Do AVI Responsibly

I think this petition pretty much says it all.  


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Want To Know How Much Your Property Tax Will Get Jacked Up?

Have we got a spreadsheet for you.   You put in what your house is worth and then what OPA says your property is worth right now (use the Property Lookup to find it). I just did mine.   How … Continue reading


Posted in Uncategorized | 7 Comments