Osage Avenue, 25 years later
Follow the neighborhood stories that matter - and tell the Inqurier what's happening in your neighborhood - on PhillyCorners.
Osage Avenue, 25 years later
On a mild afternoon, as sunlight broke through the trees, Earnestine Rice swept the sidewalk outside of her home on Osage Avenue. The chore was a small effort, an attempt at normalcy on a block that has become a ghost town.
Almost 25 years ago, a fiery confrontation between MOVE and Philadelphia police ended with 11 MOVE members dead, and a block in ruins.
Despite failed redevelopment efforts, and legal challenges, more than half the houses on the 6200 block of Osage Avenue remain abandoned.
Those dark houses sit like tombs. Their windows are boarded up. Across their doors is a metal, padlocked bar.
For the residents who remain, such blight, they said, has brought drugs and crime to a once stable community. As the 25th anniversary of the confrontation approaches, a band of neighbors, fewer, older, is pleading for the city to do something.
They planned to hold a protest today at City Hall.
Their mantra: "The city just needs to make it right," said Rice.
Comment removed.
city tried...they failed...it sucks.....not fair....thats life....city broke....no relief in sight— IcanTakeit
the bombing of the Move house was ok in my book, the post redevelopment simply fell victim to the bureaucratic BS that typifies Philly due to the pocket lining, union satisfying, and overall grossly negligent city government- I agree--the city needs to make this right. The city leadership in 1985 made huge errors in judgment, the biggest one being dropping C4 (plastic explosive) in a residential neighborhood. The good people of these blocks asked for help from the city, & instead have been victimized by the city over & over. First by allowing their houses to burn down, next by replacing their lost houses on the cheap, which resulted in many problems (plumbing,etc). I remember the whole thing with horror. Step up, Philly government. Make this right.— akalove53
- Comment removed.
- Comment removed.
- The city gives "them" free housing and look what happens, you guessed it, drugs, murder, rape, etc......some more C4 is needed in that area!— Thee Exterminator
- Comment removed.
- This was one of Philadelphia's darkest hours. J. Johnstone and others are right - the most-fitting legacy would be to make the homeowners and community whole by buyouts/park land. Although expensive, it would have been an effective way to heal. I hope the city leaders have learned from this.— mbwc
- Comment removed.
- Comment removed.
- The city cannot even make right the errors they have made 25 days ago let alone 25 years...— phlyfumblr
- Comment removed.
- Here's a thought -- why don't they try to take some responsibility and improve the neighborhood? Why are their hands always out? Pick up a broom, clean it up... Always looking to get paid. If the houses cannot be repaired, knock them down, and like the someone said, turn it into a park or community garden.— BarbaraPhila
- Comment removed.
Kia Gregory is a staff writer for the Philadelphia Inquirer. She's a proud native of the city and an alumna of Temple University. Contact Kia by e-mail by clicking here, or by phone at 215-854-2601.
Vernon Clark, a staff writer for the Philadelphia Inquirer, has reported extensively neighborhood issues in North and Northwest Philadelphia. Vernon has also been an editor for the Inquirer and has worked as an editor and writer at the Boston Globe and Akron Beacon Journal. Contact Vernon by e-mail by clicking here, or by phone at 215-854-5717.
