Neighborhood evaluation for federal funds
Friday, July 17th, 2009
By: Tom MacDonald
tmacdonald@whyy.org
Philadelphia city officials hosted the deputy secretary of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. The federal official was evaluating city neighborhoods that could receive stimulus funding.
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HUD Deputy Secretary Ron Sims visited neighborhoods where the city is hoping to spend federal grant money. The city has applied for just under 59 million dollars to help stabilize and revive more than a dozen neighborhoods. Sims said he will tell his bosses in Washington that Philadelphia could become a model for other cities.
Sims: If they saw what I saw trust me they don't have to go very far clearly the mayor has created a vision which is among the very best in the country. We will be your partner, your dreams will be our dreams as well.
Sims saw neighborhoods with new HUD housing where the city wants to build more. Mayor Michael Nutter says his goal is to use a combination of federal and city money to revitalize neighborhoods with heavy concentrations of vacant properties.