Hunting Park: Bodegas and Bodyshops Revive The Economy of North 5th Street
Specks of sawdust shimmered in the sunlight as the shrill of power tools echoed throughout the skeleton of a body shop. The sight is no longer uncommon along the 5th Street Corridor of North Philadelphia, between Luzerne and Wyoming streets, but rather serves as evidence to the recent economic influx of Hunting Park. “I’ve been […]
City Hall: Parents and Advocates Demand State Provide Adequate Education Funds
Philadelphia education advocates, parents and students braved the numbing cold on Nov. 18 to gather in room 400 of City Hall for a hearing organized by the local nonprofit Public Citizens for Children and Youth (PCCY). “Public education is not a privilege but a right,” said Jamira Burley (right), executive director of the Philadelphia Youth Commission. […]
Graduate Hospital: Schools Need Resources
Mayor Michael Nutter wanted to raise additional money for schools by implementing the Actual Value Initiative in 2012. Now the mayor says AVI will be revenue neutral. “The city is not ready to implement [AVI]. It doesn’t have all the data,” said Doerte Smith, a longtime resident and voter of Graduate Hospital. “Luckily Councilman Johnson […]
Axis Philly: Realty Organization Proposes Plan for Tax Collection
[vimeo 65107526] The city generates the majority of its revenue through the collection of property taxes. Not all of these taxes, however, are able to be collected. Currently, there is about $500 million in delinquent taxes owed. Some of the delinquencies are over 10 years old. Allan Domb is the president of the Greater Philadelphia Association […]
Axis Philly: University City Landlord Endorses Gradual Tax Increases
One possibility that City Council is considering is the gradual application of the property tax reassessments throughout the course of three years. A bill proposed by Councilman Mark Squilla of the 1st District would do just that by taking the taxes collected the previous year and adding a percentage of the increases – 25 percent […]
Axis Philly: Fishtown Families Wonder Where Their Taxes Are Going
Despite the fact that 56 percent of property tax revenues go toward the School District of Philadelphia, schools are still being closed. Philadelphia officials approved closing 23 public schools, about 10 percent of the city’s total, in order to erase a huge budget deficit and reduce the number of underused schools. One school set to […]
West Oak Lane: AVI Has Residents and Business Owners Worried
Property owners in West Oak Lane said the city’s recent property evaluations have left them with financial stress. The reassessments are part of the Actual Value Initiative. This will result in a property tax hike for many Philadelphia residents, while increasing revenue for the city. Property owners received notice of their new property tax amount in […]
Axis Philly: Effects of Actual Value Initiative Greater on Multiple Property Owners
The results of the Actual Value Initiative have created a huge variation among properties all across the city. The Office of Property Assessments establishes the value of property based on four things: the size and age of the property, a property’s location and condition, and the property’s use. The property’s use determines whether the owner […]
Axis Philly: AVI’s Actual Impact on the Chestnut Hill Real Estate Market
[vimeo 63924212] While some Philadelphians have been scrambling in the wake of the city’s property value reassessments under the Actual Value Initiative, some residents of Chestnut Hill who are selling their homes have had no problem doing so. Matt Paul recently sold his home on 263 E. Evergreen Ave. in Chestnut Hill. While he had difficulty […]
Axis Philly: Candidates for City Controller Talked About AVI
The primary election for the city’s chief financial auditor is May 21. There are two candidates on the forefront of AVI. Incumbent Alan Butkowtiz said his office believes that there are more errors with property assessments under AVI than there were before. Candidate Brett Mandel has a history with AVI. He was a Plaintiff in […]