1. Can I purchase a lot from the PHS inventory?
PHS is a third-party non-profit that works in partnership with the City of Philadelphia to transform and maintain vacant land. PHS does not own any of the vacant land that we maintain. If you would like to purchase a lot, please reach directly out to the respective owner. You can find more information about ownership on the City of Philadelphia's Atlas website Atlas | phila.gov
2. Can I start a community garden on a PHS lot?
PHS maintains vacant lots for community use and benefit, but we do not own these sites, and PHS does not grant permission for other uses. Any decision to garden, build, or otherwise use a lot is between you and the property owner. Lots can be sold off, developed, or fenced at any point in time. Please do your due-diligence and research before gardening on vacant lot. We just ask that you clearly mark your gardening efforts with edging or signage and do not block our maintenance partners from accessing the site. Additionally, we recommend testing the soil and/or growing in containers/raised beds as much of Philly’s soil is contaminated with lead and other chemicals.
3. How do I get a job helping to maintain a PHS lot?
PHS works with over two dozen local non-profit organizations and for-profit contractors to maintain the vacant land in Philadelphia. As such, we do not hire directly for vacant land maintenance. We do offer a workforce development program to onboard interested individuals into landscaping and horticultural positions. (Link)
4. Can my yard and/or neighbor's yard be added to the list?
PHS will evaluate any property submitted to us to see if it is a good fit for our program. Submitting a parcel does not guarantee that it will be added to our program. All lots need to be approved by the City Life Improvement Program and the owner of the parcel for us to begin our transformation and maintenance services. Depending on the time of year this process may take from six months up to a year.
5. Can someone from PHS LandCare come speak or table at my event?
While community engagement is important to us are a small team with limited ability to commit to these sorts of engagements. We will evaluate each request on a case-by-case basis.
6. What can I use the PHS lots for?
Many of our sites are used from communal common spaces, gardens, mini parks, etc. While we encourage community use and engagement, we cannot give legal authorization for land use. PHS does not own any of the lots in our inventory. Lots can be sold, developed, or gated at any point at the discretion of the owner.
7. Why do some PHS lots have fences and others don’t?
Most of the sites in the PHS Landcare inventory are submitted to and approved by the City of Philadelphia. This makes them eligible to receive fencing, new topsoil, lawn, and trees under our Philadelphia Landcare program. However, not every vacant parcel is eligible for this process, but the PHS LandCare program is still able to tend to some of the parcels that need maintenance. Our community partners recommend sites they would like to maintain in their neighborhoods, and these are our Community Landcare sites that do not have our PHS fencing.
8. What other resources can PHS LandCare provide me with (i.e. stockade fencing, pavers, garden beds, trees)?
The PHS LandCare program only has the resources to provide bi-monthly grass cutting and wind-blown debris clean up. Periodically, we receive additional funding to clear larger dumping or debris on sites. However, we do not have the resources or capacity to offer any services or materials beyond this.
9. Where does PHS get the funding? Are they charging lot owners/neighbors?
PHS Landcare is funded by the City of Philadelphia and other supplemental partners.
10. I am the owner of a vacant lot that you are servicing. How were you given approval to stabilize and maintain the site?
PHS submitted the vacant lot to the City of Philadelphia for approval. The property was in violation of the Philadelphia Property Maintenance Code. Because the owner failed to respond to a Notice of Violation and Order to Correct, the City of Philadelphia is abating this violation under its LandCare Program through a contract with the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society. This abatement includes ongoing maintenance. If you are the owner of this property and you seek to have the work on this property stopped under the LandCare contract, contact us at 215-988-1661, or email us at landcare@pennhort.org.
