Based upon information presented by property owners, City Council President Anna C.Verna recently asked the Redevelopment Authority to re-vest title in eight of the 36 properties taken by condemnation for Universal Community Homes' Bainbridge West market-rate housing project.

"It was never our intention to penalize those owners who had recently purchased properties or who were actively involved in the redevelopment process," explained Kathleen Murray, spokesperson for Mrs. Verna's office. "We have asked the Redevelopment Authority to re-vest title of properties for owners who purchased properties between January 1, 2002 and May 15, 2003, who can show that they are in the process of creating plans or requesting zoning, or who purchased and are maintaining adjacent properties as side yards."

Murray also mentioned the terms under which the properties are being re-vested. "This project is designed to see to it that the neighborhoods from Bainbridge to Christian and from 15th to 17th will be redeveloped in a timely fashion. Owners must adhere to the timetable set out in Mrs. Verna's letter to the Redevelopment Authority or face a subsequent taking. In the case of this neighborhood, it's definitely a 'use it or lose it' proposition."

Properties removed from the takings list include:

• 1524 Catharine (side yard)
• 716 S. Hicks
• 764 S. Hicks
• 707 S. 16th
• 801-07 S. 17th Street
  

In addition to the properties taken by the RDA, Universal Community Homes will be acquiring and developing properties owned by Kenneth Gamble and other private owners to create market-rate housing in the area described above. Proceeds from the sale of these housing units will be used to repay the RDA for land acquisition and to develop affordable housing in neighborhoods to the south of the SOSNA service area.

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SOSNA is the Neighborhood Advisory Committee for the area from South Street to Washington Avenue, Broad Street West to the Schuylkill River, funded by the Office of Housing and Community Development to provide citizen input into their redevelopment process in our community. SOSNA is a registered nonprofit corporation exempt from Federal income tax under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Site contents copyright SOSNA except where indicated.