PHA gets ok to sell abandoned homes and property

    The Philadelphia Housing Authority says it is has been given the green light from the federal government to sell 1,800 vacant houses and lots. The sales are part of an effort to reduce inventory and raise money for the authority.

    The Philadelphia Housing Authority says it is has been given the green light from the federal government to sell 1,800 vacant houses and lots. The sales are part of an effort to reduce inventory and raise money for the authority.

    Listen:
    [audio: 090518spblight.mp3]

    The 1800 properties are the last of about 9,000 abandoned homes and lots turned over to the Housing Authority by the federal government during the Philadelphia’s last foreclosure crisis about 40 years ago, when jobs and residents fled the city. Philadelphia Housing Authority executive director Carl Greene says at that time, HUD turned over these properties without the proper funds to fix them up.

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    Greene: The last time these properties were just left vacant and abandoned. And we’re hoping that this foreclosure crisis that the future will benefit from the history, in that, these properties, what happened in this economic downturn would not be the same thing that happened in the 60’s and 70’s.

    The bulk of these properties are in North, West and Southwest Philadelphia. Greene says he hopes to start selling them off in the summer.

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