The Land Bank has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to preserve community gardens and homes, marking a significant step in efforts to protect urban green spaces. This move has been welcomed by both policymakers and community advocates. Councilmember Kendra Brooks said in the Philadelphia City Council release, stating, “These folks put in the work to clean up and care for vacant lots in their neighborhoods, all for the good of their communities. It would be a loss for our entire city to lose the beautiful green spaces that they created, and I’m very glad to see the Land Bank taking action to exercise the priority bid and get these gardens into the hands of the community.”
Community gardeners, who have worked since 2022 to advocate for the protection of neglected land, have successfully secured this agreement. Elizabeth Waring, Manager of the Holly Street Garden, expressed excitement over the progress, saying, “I’m so excited that we are one step closer to finally protecting our garden,” in the same release.
Councilmember Brooks initiated a campaign in 2022 targeting land at risk of sheriff sale, and in 2023, with the help of former Council President Darrell Clark, secured funds to purchase liens on 91 parcels of land. In 2024, Brooks led a legislative push granting the Land Bank a priority bid option to acquire tax-delinquent properties, which could be transformed into affordable housing or green spaces.
Despite delays after the bill’s passage, the Land Bank held a special meeting on Saturday last week, where it approved the MOU. This agreement allows the Land Bank to acquire properties and transfer them to organizations committed to developing community spaces. The collaboration between Councilmember Brooks, gardeners, and community stakeholders has paved the way for the future of these communal gardens.
