Philadelphia’s Controller’s Office recently concluded an investigation into the Department of Licenses and Inspections (L&I) regarding the city’s management of unsafe buildings, including issues related to demolition and construction standards.

Background and Context

Philadelphia has been grappling with safety concerns surrounding abandoned and unsafe buildings since the tragic Market Street collapse in 2013, which claimed six lives. This incident prompted ongoing scrutiny of L&I’s oversight capabilities.

Key Findings

According to Christy Brady, Philadelphia’s City Controller, the investigation revealed significant challenges:

• Approximately 120 properties are deemed imminently dangerous and awaiting demolition or substantial repairs.
• Another 4,000 properties are classified as unsafe.
• The cost of demolishing a residential property averages over $30,000, with the city recovering only about 3% of these costs, burdening taxpayers with the remainder.
• The eCLIPSE database, used for property maintenance, lacks a system to prioritize structural deficiencies for demolition and does not provide a comprehensive list of all imminently dangerous properties.
• Lengthy court proceedings hinder L&I inspectors from conducting required re-inspections of imminently dangerous properties every 10 days.

Recommendations for Improvement

In response to these findings, the City Controller’s Office proposed several recommendations:

• Recruitment Program: Launch an active recruitment initiative to hire additional inspectors.
• Payment Collection: Allocate resources to establish a process for recovering demolition costs from property owners.
• Tracking System Enhancement: Enhance the eCLIPSE database to track stages of imminently dangerous properties, aiding inspectors in prioritizing demolitions.
• Court Collaboration: Collaborate with the judicial system to expedite court processes, facilitating timely re-inspections by L&I.

Community Perspectives

Residents, such as Iseia Williams from Kensington, expressed mixed sentiments about the city’s efforts. While Williams acknowledges recent efforts by the Parker Administration and the Controller’s Office, she highlights ongoing challenges in her neighborhood.

With the dirty lots and old homes that are around, people try to come around and squat and do different things, said Williams. The more we stay involved and keep them away, the more it stays clean.

Action Taken and Moving Forward

Since the release of the report, L&I has reportedly taken initial steps to address the issues outlined by the Controller’s Office. These actions include internal reviews and potential policy adjustments aimed at improving safety measures and administrative efficiency.

Conclusion: Progress Amid Challenges in Philadelphia

Despite ongoing challenges, the City of Philadelphia is actively addressing safety concerns related to abandoned and unsafe buildings. With the Controller’s recommendations and community engagement, there is cautious optimism about future improvements in public safety and property management.

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