On July 30, 2014, Stephen Mullin, ESI President, Ira Goldstein, President of Policy Solutions at The Reinvestment Fund, and Herb Wetzel, Executive Director of the City Council Housing and Community Development, participated in a press conference to announce an innovative, data-driven strategy to measure quality of life indicators in all Philadelphia neighborhoods. This conference explained the targeted policies, planning and budget decisions that will enable Philadelphia to achieve its full potential as a prosperous, forward-thinking city.
In collaboration with public policy consultants, The Reinvestment Fund, ESI, and City Council have compiled data on quality of life indicators across the city. The CSI establishes seven core measurements for the following areas:
- Housing Demand: Median sales price, building permits, residential sales price
- Housing Distress: Act 91 notices, foreclosure filings
- Crime & Safety: rate, 311 report rate, % vacant buildings, % vacant lots
- Education: Great Philly Schools quality rating, crime within ¼ mile of school
- Amenities: Distance to nearest library, bank, recreation center
- Prosperity: % cost burdened, median household income, % owner occupied
- Commerce: Availability and diversity of food establishments, retail and personal service options
Used in conjunction with mapping technology, this data will demonstrate the health of neighborhoods based on these consensus quality of life indicators. More significantly, the data will speak for underserved communities that have not been able to advocate more successfully for themselves.
The data collection will be refined and complemented by community input, which City Council will solicit via neighborhood outreach in coming months.
> Full Report
> PlanPhilly.com
> PhillyMag.com
> Technical.ly Philly
> Philly.com
> Philadelphia Tribune
> NewsWorks.com
> HiddenCity.Org