Photo by Laura Van Ness Morris

An initiative to transform Philadelphia’s neglected, tax delinquent properties into the city’s greatest asset in the battle to stabilize and grow thriving neighborhoods was chosen as the winner of the inaugural Public Policy Challenge, presented by the Fels Institute of Government.

The “Land Philadelphia” team was selected at the March 20 Challenge Finals as the best of the five proposals presented by interdisciplinary student teams from throughout the University of Pennsylvania. Each team had chosen its own issue area and developed a policy proposal and a political strategy for change in the Philadelphia area. A distinguished panel of regional government, business, and community leaders – including Pennsylvania’s First Lady, Judge Marjorie O. Rendell – were judges for the Finals, which was held at the Center for Architecture in Philadelphia (see full list below).

The winning “Land Philadelphia” team is comprised of students from five of Penn’s academic schools:

Daniel Gershwin (Penn Law)

Katie Milgrim (Penn Design)

Timothy Potens (School of Engineering and Applied Science)

Matthew Rader (Wharton)

Evan Barret Smith (Fels Institute of Government / Temple Law)

In addition to a $2500 cash award to individual members, the winning team was given $2500 to contribute to an organization or cause that reflects their chosen issue.

In a radical departure from the current sheriff’s sale process, Land Philadelphia’s winning proposal calls for tax delinquency to be used as an opportunity to move properties into responsible, stable ownership in a way that aligns with the city’s homeownership and community planning policies. The new system would form a meaningful partnership between City Council, the Redevelopment Authority, and neighborhoods to break the cycle of disinvestment and decline that undermines stable neighborhoods citywide.  Read the team’s full proposal and view the accompanying presentation.

Land Philadelphia’s selection concluded a six-month program which involved 100 students from eight schools throughout Penn, as well as Bryn Mawr College. After a competitive application process, ten teams were chosen to work on issue areas of their own choosing. Workshops with nationally-recognized experts in public management complemented the proposal development process. A “Round Robin” competition judged by community leaders from throughout the region resulted in the choice of 5 teams to participate in the Finals.

The Public Policy Challenge was directed by the Fels Institute of Government, and made possible through the sponsorship and support of:  Penn’s Office of the University Provost and the Graduate and Professional Student Assembly (GAPSA); the PFM Group; and the Greater Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce.

Judges for the Finals of The Public Policy Challenge included:

Donna Cooper – Secretary, Governor’s Office of Policy

Jeffrey Cooper – Vice President, Penn’s Office of Government & Community Affairs

Dean Kaplan – Managing Director, Public Financial Management

Paul R. Levy – President & CEO, Center City District

Jeremy Nowak – President & CEO, The Reinvestment Fund

Marjorie O. Rendell – Judge, United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit