North central Philadelphia NID has first of two council hearings

Supporters and opponents of creating a neighborhood improvement district in the area around Temple University are speaking up.  

The proposed Neighborhood Improvement District or NID is designed to help deal with Temple students renting apartments in more and more blocks in North Philadelphia.  All renters in the neighborhood would pay an extra assessment to fund the improvement district.  The money could pay for cleaning sidewalks, security patrols, and making the neighborhood more inviting to walk through.

Council President Darrell Clarke says the NID comes in response to resident complaints.

“I did not wake up one morning and say Darrell Clarke, why don’t you do a NID,” said Clarke. “This is not something I would not have done if it were not for the residents.”

Resident Vivian Van Story says the district would create a second government dominated by developers.

“This is not about trash, it is not about cleaning and greening, it’s about taking control of our community,” said Van Story.

It’s likely a final vote on the matter will not come before June.