CITY LIMITS: Good Neighbor Policies

The University and theThe University and theWest PhiladelphiaThe University and theWest Philadelphiacommunity may haveThe University and theWest Philadelphiacommunity may havefinally settled theirThe University and theWest Philadelphiacommunity may havefinally settled theirdifferences after aThe University and theWest Philadelphiacommunity may havefinally settled theirdifferences after ahistory of strainedThe University and theWest Philadelphiacommunity may havefinally settled theirdifferences after ahistory of strainedrelations Although the University and the West Philadelphia community have traditionally had strained relations, it appears the two may be entering a new partnership. In the past, the residents in the nearby community been concerned about the University growing, and "eating" up the neighborhood block by block. A lot the tension over the University's development began in the 1960's, when the University, in partnership with the city's Redevelopment Authority, began moving residents and busnisses out of the area to make way for the expanding campus. In fact, much of our campus today -- including College Green, Superblock, 3401 Walnut Street, and the new garage at 38th and Walnut streets, all sit on land aquired through the Redevelopment Authority. And in recent year, controversy has re-emerged with the University's attempt to purchase the Civic Center. "We've had some serious community concerns about Penn," Philadelphia City Councilwoman Jannie Blackwell -- whose district includes the University -- said. "Traditionally, the community has regarded Penn as the enemy. "They have not viewed them as welcome, but that's changing," she added. Various community and civic organizations also echoed Blackwell's views. "Things seem to be going pretty well," Spruce Hill Community Association President Linda Blythe said, adding that one manifestation of this new approach is that the new adminstration "fosters more communication. "I think we have real high hopes for the Rodin administration," Blythe -- whose organization covers the area immediately west of campus to 45th Street -- said. "Hopefully, she will be more interested in working with the community." Blythe pointed out the way the University helped the association survey itself, by recording home-ownership and helping to conduct surveys. And a sense of hope was also expressed by Walnut Hill Community Association President Queen Hinton, whose organization represents the area between 45th and 52nd streets and between Market and Spruce streets. "They're paying more attention to what's going on in the community," she said. "[The University] is a great institution, but it can't be great if the area around it is falling apart." Some people have attributed some of the newfound optimism to the new administration and University President Judith Rodin. "Rodin has fought hard to change the image," said Blackwell. "It is still early, but so far so good." She also praised Rodin for her decision to hold a press conference in honor of fifth year mathematics student Al-Moez Alimohammed, who was murdered in September, in the the West Philadelphia community itself, and not on campus. "I hope that as issues come up, we can work together," she added. Vice President for Government, Community, and Public Affairs Carol Scheman said that improving community relations is a very important item on Rodin's agenda. "I think people recognize that she [Rodin] is a native of West Philadelphia," she said. "They sense that Rodin has a real focus on the University and its role in the community." · Currently, the University has been working on several programs to help improve the community and help the University's image in the process. "Since about 1950, West Philadelphia has sen a net outflow of people, hence tax dollars," Director of the West Philadelphia Partnership Community Development Corporation Blane Stoddart said. "We need to look at this thing from a regional context." He suggested that the University can make a large impact on community by bringing using its financial power to help keep businesses in the area. In addition, the University is launching several community relations programs. "The trend is upward [and] it is positive," Director of the Center for Community Partnerships Ira Harkavy said. "We are not acting on the community, but with the community." The Center for Community Partnerships (CCP) was founded in 1985 as a part of the Office of the President. The Center aim is to help research and implement the University's policies towards West Philadelphia. "Now, the community has an understanding that the University is there to help them," President of the West Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce Vance Washington said. "I think that organizations like the CCP are the perfect step to tie all those bridges and that they will continue to do so. Area poloticians agreed. "There is a mechanism in place, with very good people around," 27th Ward Democratic ward leader Kevin Fassett said. Fassett -- whose district includes the University -- praised the work of Harkavy and Director of Community Relations Glenn Bryan. "I think you are beginning to see some change," Pennsylvania State Representative James Roebuck said. "I think there has been a more active partnership with area schools." Roebuck added that many people in the community are still suspicious of the Univeristy. "Penn lives with a history," he said. "It can't separate itself from its history. It has not always been a good neighbor." Yet despite the assurances of many community leaders, some local groups are not impressed by the University's efforts and remain somewhat hostile. "People are still worried about Penn expanding," said Director of the West Philadelphia Partnership Larry Bell. "I hear positive and negative." He says that people with negative opinions of the University have not heard of programs like the CCP. "As far as I'm concerned, it's negative," Executive Director of the Walnut Hill Community Development Corporation Willie Harris said. "There is not much good that I can say." She also said that she tutors children in the public schools where the University has set up programs, and that their effects have not had a major impact. · "Penn's expansion has been very important to the city," University adjunct professor and Philadelphia historian George Thomas said. "The community never felt it had significant power." During the University's period of expantion in the late 1960's it demolished dozens of Victorian houses in the area. And the mass demolition aroused the anger of local historic associations, which group's often looted the rubble of bull-dozed homes in an effort to salvage noteworthy panelling or other decorative features. In extreme situations, the individuals sometimes even broke into abandoned houses scheduled for demoliton to remove items of worth, such as stained glass. One notable conflict occured when the University attempted to extend onto Sansom street. In this instance, shopowners on the 3400 block of Sansom Street managed to stop the University's momentum, and save the block. Republican ward leader Matthew Wolfe points out that problems between Universiy officials and the community are still be much alive. He pointed to the recent debate concerning the Free Library at 40th and Walnut streets. And Blackwell pointed to a raucus meeting between the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania and community members to discuss the University's desire to buy the Civic Center. Scheman says that although all plans are on hold, the negotiations ended amicably. "No one wants to see it [the Civic Center] sit there and decay," she commented. She also stated that "the University will almost definately be a part of future discussions." · The problems facing the University, however, are not completely unique. Many urban universities are attempting to work with the interests of the community in mind. Recently, Temple University in North Philadelphia began a campaign to win approval of a proposed new sports facility. The plan is very ambitious, and would require a massive effort in the neighborhood. Temple, however, has made delibrate efforts to appeal to the community, by providing business space in the new facility. The result has been widespread support with the community, altough with considerable pockets of resistance. The program has only been held up the city, which is hesitant to make changes in zoning laws. According to Temple's Associate Vice President for Community Relatrions Thomas Anderson Jr., they went into the project with a "community-government plan" that focused on certain civic organizations and worked to create an acceptable offer for the city. "The policy of the [Temple] University is to notify and work with community organizations," he said. "We went into it in good faith." Yet Anderson points out several differences between the situations of Penn and Temple. The most noticeable of these has been the ability of Penn to work closely with its neighbor, Drexel University. Together, they were able to create University City, which became a quasi-independant political structure, and has led to "less political friction." The entire higher education community is beginning to realize the importance of teh community as a part of the educational experience. The American Association for Higher Education will hold a conference this March entitled "The Engaged Campus: Organizing to Serve Society's Needs." It will focus on ways that Universities can better assist their local neighborhoods. It is very clear that with the new Rodin administration, the community and the University are poised to begin a new and improved relationship. Hinton expresses her desire that the youth of her neighborhood will be able to benefit from an increased University prescence in the community. "Student attitudes need to change," said Fassett, especially for those who are "not used to urban life." "The University has a problem. It's not a campus problem, it's a community problem," he said. He suggests that the two need to work together, by providing input and sharing expertise to end problems such as crime and to help improve the area's quality of life. Scheman predicts that a careful assesment of the situation will be very important in the near future. She feels it will be a means for each group to come to a better understanding with the other that will help them to decide what courses of actions will be best. She points to her own college experience in the 1960's, when studentswould "pay more attention to other people." She feels this could be manifested by more student involvement, not only through community service activities, but also by treating West Philadelphia as their home in a day to day way. She also described how at one time she had seen big universities as "morally blind." She now says that this opinion "is not true." "Universities embody the best and most important values of our society" she said, indicatring that these included respect, fairness, and the free exchange of knowledge. "These values are personified in universities, and in this University in particular," she said.