[jdynwa]

A business developer in the Philadelphia neighborhood of Point Breeze is facing legal action after voluntarily cleaning up more than 40 tons of trash from a vacant lot neighboring his local business.As the old adage goes, no good deed goes unpunished. Ori Feibush says he visited the local offices of the Philadelphia Redevelopment Authority four times, sent in seven written requests and made 24 phone calls to the agency asking them to take care of a major eyesore: an empty lot next to his coffee shop was home to more than 40 tons of debris.
Not only did the agency fail to act but it also denied Feibush's offer to clean up the mess himself.
But the Daily News reports that Feibush went ahead with his plans anyway, reportedly spending more than $20,000 of his own money not only to remove the trash but also to level the soil; add cherry trees, fencing and park benches; and repave the sidewalk.
"This was a lot of garbage," local resident Elaine McGrath told the paper. "Now it's gorgeous. I'm excited."
However, the city agency was less excited, demanding that Feibush return the vacant lot to its previous condition and saying it is considering legal action against him.
"Like any property owner, [the authority] does not permit unauthorized access to or alteration of its property," Paul D. Chrystie, director of communications at the Office of Housing and Community Development told the paper. "This is both on principle (no property owner knowingly allows trespassing) and to limit taxpayer liability."
And the situation is not without irony. Feibush says he received a citation in August 2011 from the city for litter on the same lot that the city now points out is not his property.
Nonetheless, the city's request puts Feibush in an unusual position. In theory, he committed a good deed, investing his own time and money to improve the condition of his neighborhood when city authorities refused to step up to the plate. But he also knowingly did so after the city refused his request to intervene.
The situation is almost like a reverse case of eminent domain, in which a private owner is attempting to revitalize a piece of public property.
For his part, Feibush thinks the city agency is jealous.
"For a private developer to create a garden, it's a question of who gets credit. To do it without their blessing, you're basically insulting them," he said. "I'm not looking for a thank-you, but I'm not looking for a big F.U." http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/sideshow...200922350.html

[r5YOPDyk]

I'd go ahead and sure the authority for negligence and health hazard due to flies and smell.

[jdynwa]

I'd go ahead and sure the authority for negligence and health hazard due to flies and smell.

I just don't see why they wouldn't let him clear the lot on his own from beginning. It's free municipal work. I liked Philly too, but this has me dropping them down on "My Favorite Cities List." They now sit below Baltimore, shame, they had such promise.

On a side note; does anyone feel like the only way to truly experience a new city is to get drunk with the locals?

[HedoShoodovex]

Wait, he removed the entire city Philadelphia?

[bunkalapa]

sounds about right.. one more reason never to help anyone other than myself.

[Kolokireo]

I'd like to see some powerful politicians and other public figures weigh in on this and put pressure on the local government to stop being douches.

[Elelaytet]

He should have stopped at cleaning up the lot. The city may have been planning/budgeting to redevelop the land for local use. For instance, there are tons of re-purposed, public neighborhood gardens where I live. Now the city has to pay to take down his **** before they can rebuild. Also, that gravel looks like it will spill into the sidewalk and be a pain in the ass for pedestrians.

[broksaksaak]

39°56'15.98"N

75°10'35.75"W

Goto street view...

[Kolokireo]

Also, that gravel looks like it will spill into the sidewalk and be a pain in the ass for pedestrians.

Nooooooooooooooo!!! Anything but gravel! It's my one weakness as a pedestrian! Quick, we must bring back the trashy eyesore that reminds us that we live in a crappy part of town before this renovation destroys our community by raising property values!

If your post was serious it makes me a sad panda.

[Elelaytet]

Nooooooooooooooo!!! Anything but gravel! It's my one weakness as a pedestrian! Quick, we must bring back the trashy eyesore that reminds us that we live in a crappy part of town before this renovation destroys our community by raising property values!

If your post was serious it makes me a sad panda.

It's still an eyesore. The city (you! the taxpayer!) will have to pay to remove what he did before they can rebuild the lot into a community park or garden. And yeah, that gravel is going to end up every where and will have to be constantly sweeped off the side walk.

[r5YOPDyk]

It's still an eyesore. The city (you! the taxpayer!) will have to pay to remove what he did before they can rebuild the lot into a community park or garden. And yeah, that gravel is going to end up every where and will have to be constantly sweeped off the side walk.

Erm... doubtful it'd be more than the $20k he spent removing and disposing of the waste legally. Then again, this is a public organisation that will be doing it...

[Elelaytet]

Erm... doubtful it'd be more than the $20k he spent removing and disposing of the waste legally. Then again, this is a public organisation that will be doing it...

Private organizations tend to be just as wasteful as public ones in my experience.

[jdynwa]

It's still an eyesore. The city (you! the taxpayer!) will have to pay to remove what he did before they can rebuild the lot into a community park or garden. And yeah, that gravel is going to end up every where and will have to be constantly sweeped off the side walk.

The city wasn't even willing to remove the trash, or let him remove the trash. What makes you think they were (are) going to do anything else with the lot? Now IMO, he should've just removed the trash, leveled the dirt, and planted some sod. Adding the trees, benches, and walking paths is where I feel he went overboard.

[Elelaytet]

The city wasn't even willing to remove the trash, or let him remove the trash.

There's absolutely no point for the city to pay to empty trash in a vacant lot every week/month. They'll clean it before they redevelop it. I doubt the city would have cared if he just removed the trash but he went overboard.

[jdynwa]

There's absolutely no point for the city to pay to empty trash in a vacant lot every week/month. They'll clean it before they redevelop it. I doubt the city would have cared if he just removed the trash but he went overboard.

40 tons of trash speaks to years of neglect, not weeks or months. I agree that they cant be expected to clean it every month, but surely every year is manageable.

[broksaksaak]

They were ticketing the guy for the trash and not clearing the sidewalk of snow for the property that wasn't his.