PRA drops Dupree condemnation, recommits to Mantua

The Mantua section of Philadelphia is a vibrant community. Cultural amenities, transportation

infrastructure and nearby institutions have helped spur recent real estate investment.
However, despite its strengths, Mantuas poverty rate still hovers at roughly 50%. Public safety,
quality education, and unemployment still challenge residents.
Like many underserved communities in Philadelphia, Mantua is also a food desert. Studies
have shown that limited fresh food options contribute to obesity, heart disease, diabetes, and have a negative
effect on public health. Residents travel out of their neighborhood to shop at grocery stores, or use corner
stores that are often limited in their ability to store and sell fresh produce. We are Mantua!, the Mantua
transformation plan that engaged hundreds of community members, strongly indicated residents desire and
need for healthy food choices.
In an effort to address this issue, in 2006 the Philadelphia Redevelopment Authority (PRA) began working with
the Mantua Community Improvement Committee, Councilwoman Jannie Blackwell and others to bring a grocery
store to the neighborhood. A site located at 36th and Haverford was identified and the process to assemble the
development site through condemnation began. Mr. James Duprees art studio was a key parcel to complete
this assemblage.
The condemnation of Mr. Duprees studio has garnered coverage from nearly every media outlet locally, and
some nationally. In each, Mr. Dupree has described PRA as an agency acting haphazardly, for the sole benefit of
a for-profit developer and without concern for the broader community.
I strongly disagree with Mr. Duprees characterization of our agency and its intent in acquiring his property.
Bringing fresh, healthy food to Mantua was a desire conveyed to PRA by neighborhood residents, and our efforts
were designed to address that request.
Unfortunately, the legal costs associated with Mr. Duprees appeals make it impossible to continue. Despite all
the work to date, PRA will end condemnation proceedings enabling Mr. Dupree to keep his studio. While we
have explored the potential of building around Mr. Duprees property, a viable project under these conditions is
not possible. In short, the inability to acquire Mr. Duprees property puts the prospect of bringing fresh food to
this community at serious risk.
Despite this setback, the commitment PRA made to Mantua eight years ago to bring access to quality foods and
employment opportunities will continue. We will do everything we can to bring a grocery store to this
community, and are currently exploring other sites to make this a feasible project. Further, any properties that
we acquired for this development will not sit vacant for long. Working with the community and Council, we will
identify an appropriate development for this site.
While I believe PRA has done all we could to find a fair solution with Mr. Dupree offering independent
appraisals of his property, finding and offering other potential locations for his studio, and payment of all
relocation costs I know that the emotional attachment to property is real and deep. I am disappointed that
Mr. Dupree and PRA could not reach a resolution to this issue but respect his passion.
Mr. Dupree is a talented artist and I wish him the best of luck in all his endeavors. I can only hope he recognizes
PRA shares his deep passion for the Mantua neighborhood.
Brian Abernathy
Executive Director, Philadelphia Redevelopment Authority