March 8, 2007

Philadelphia's American Street Empowerment Zone Neighborhood Receives HUD Award

WASHINGTON, DC — The American Planning Association (APA) and U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) have named Philadelphia's American Street Empowerment Zone neighborhood (ASEZ) recipient of the 2007 HUD Secretary's Opportunity and Empowerment Award.

A joint recognition by HUD and APA, the Secretary's Opportunity and Empowerment Award is given annually to a project that, as a direct result of the effort, demonstrates improved quality of life for low- and moderate-income community residents.

"The American Street Empowerment Zone neighborhood is a standout success of bringing back an urban neighborhood that suffered decades of decline and disinvestment," said Carol Rhea, AICP, chair of the APA Awards Committee. "Philadelphia is proof of what comes about when you link good planning and commitment to plan implementation with public participation, strong community leadership, partnerships, and business investments."

Community representatives and officials from the Mayor's Office and the Neighborhood Transformation Initiative, the agency in charge of ASEZ, will be recognized at an awards luncheon and ceremony Tuesday, April 17, in Philadelphia. The awards ceremony is part of APA's 2007 National Planning Conference, which takes place April 14-18 at the Pennsylvania Convention Center. In addition, the accomplishments of the ASEZ and 13 other national awardees will be highlighted in the April 2007 issue of Planning magazine.

Planning has played an integral part in the success of the ASEZ, both in developing the initial application that led to the area being selected as one of six federally funded urban empowerment zones in 1994, and again in 1999 when the governing body decided to update its original plan.

"One of the first institutions funded for the American Street effort was a community-based lending institution, the American Street Financial Services Center," said Neighborhood Transformation Director Eva Gladstein. "Through the center, started with $7 million in Zone funding, we've leveraged more than $21 million from banks, credit unions, development corporations, other public sector resources, and owner equity."

The area has attracted more than 100 new businesses, including a supermarket, eight warehouses and distribution centers, four national retailers, and several restaurants. In addition to these retail and commercial businesses, the area is also home to an industrial corridor comprising more than 200 light industrial firms employing an estimated 1,300 people.

Other investments include $8 million in streetscape improvements; new light-rail trolley service along Girard Avenue; creation of a community baseball field; and ongoing programs to clean up and maintain vacant parcels, curbs, and sidewalks, and provide security. For more information about the American Street Empowerment Zone, visit www.empowermentzone.org.

Contacts

Eva Gladstein, Director, Neighborhood Transformation, 215-683-2157; Eva.Gladstein@phila.gov
Denny Johnson, APA Public Affairs, 202-349-1006; djohnson@planning.org