City properties selling on Web

Curious about city properties available for sale? Just check Craigslist.

The Department of Public Property has launched a pilot program to sell some city-owned lots and houses to the highest bidder - aiming to shed some of the city's surplus real estate and to make some cash in the process.

Six properties near Center City are listed for public bid at www.phila.gov/publicproperty/listings/listings.html, as well as on Web sites like Craigslist.com. They will be open for bids through May 10. City Council will give final approval to the sales.

Deputy Commissioner of Public Property John Herzins said 50 properties will be put up for bid initially.

"This is an attempt to single out a number of properties and market them," Herzins said, noting that the hope is to generate dollars for the city's general fund.

The Department of Public Property has 6,246 surplus properties - sites not being used by the government - that the city acquired over decades through sheriff sales, seizures of condemned buildings and donations.

Traditionally those interested in sites must go through their Council member and then go before the Vacant Property Review Committee before land can be acquired.

Herzins said that process is still in place for the remaining properties.

The total list of publicly owned sites is now available online at: www.phila.gov/publicproperty/listings/default.aspx.