Benefits district will improve Temple area

Over the next few weeks, Council President Darrell Clarke will be holding community meetings about his efforts to bring peace among Temple University students, their off-campus landlords, and longtime North Philadelphia residents, and dispel some unfortunate misinformation that has been undermining a smart idea that's good for all involved.

Clarke wants to create a neighborhood improvement district that would cover security, public sanitation, and code enforcement around the growing number of private buildings where Temple students rent apartments. For two years, neighbors have complained about students' loud parties and developers' dumping their leftover construction materials on empty lots.

Clarke has responsibly brought together Temple officials and students' landlords to build support for the district, modeled, in part, after the successful Center City District. But sadly, some in the community have spread rumors that the district would run long-time residents out of the area.

That simply is not the case, nor is it the intent of Clarke's bill. Landlords will cover the district's estimated $450,000 annual costs. Residents won't be charged a fee, but they will benefit from cleaner, safer streets.

After residents complained that the district board would be controlled by landlords and the university, Clarke said he would include residents on the board. That is a clear signal that this is an evolving bill proffered for the neighborhood's benefit.

North Philadelphians should work with Clarke. If they don't like the bill, they should tell him, and he will likely try to fix what's wrong. By supporting creation of a neighborhood district, residents have a chance to build on the ongoing improvements to the community, which has already brought them a supermarket, movie theater, shops, and jobs.