Grassroots group pushing city toward creating bank for vacant land

As the city questions what to do with 40,000 vacant lots, neighborhood activists are pushing for quicker action to create better public uses for the squares of grass and concrete that dot their streets.

NewsWorks partner Philadelphia Weekly followed volunteers with the Campaign to Take Back Vacant Land as they walked through Fairhill encouraging residents to vote May 17 to spur the city to create a land bank.

A land bank would hold and manage vacant land to use the neglected and abandoned lots in the best interest of the public for things like parks and affordable housing. The City of Philadelphia confirms plans for a land bank are part of the broader conversation, but fruition is a long way off.

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