The Lil Ogden Garden will officially be sold to a developer on November 18th unless the community speaks up (*the city of Philadelphia will not accept our petition so please take these steps eventhough you already signed here). You can show support by either:

1. Send an email before 3pm on Monday, November 17th to andrea.saah@phdc.phila.gov asking to save the garden AND call Councilmember Jeffrey Young Jr.'s office at 215-686-3442
2. Attend the in person meeting on Tuesday, November 18th at 10am at 1234 Market St in the 17th floor conference room. 

Details on what you can include in your email / how to attend are listed below:

How to Submit Public Comment

Before the Board Meeting: 

• Email by 3:00 p.m. on Monday, November 17, 2025 to: andrea.saah@phdc.phila.gov and include:
• Subject line: include the project name (RFP Francisville Ogden et al – Francisville Commons 1, LLC)
• Be sure to provide: your full name and contact information (email address)
• Your comment (mention the project name) including things like: why you think the garden should be saved, what it means to you, and/or what alternative options you support
  >>>You may also call Councilmember Jeffery Young Jr.’s office to express your concerns:
   (215) 686-3442 and/or (215) 686-3443

During the Board Meeting:

Attend the on Tuesday, November 18, 2025 at 10:00am in person meeting at 1234 Market Street in the 17th Floor Conference Room. (Additional meeting information here).

• Important! You must provide valid identification to enter and must sign up on the public comment sheet before the meeting begins.
• You will be given two minutes per agenda item; preparing a short script or bullet points is strongly recommended.

Thank you for all of your support over the past few months. We hope to see you at the meeting or your comments shared in advance.

Our Notes for Your Reference:

Affordable and workforce housing is a priority in Philadelphia, and we fully support that mission. We simply believe this proposal can be adjusted to deliver the same number of units, better match the context of the neighborhood, and enhance our section of Francisville by preserving a well-used community green space as a small but essential pocket park.

These are the key issues and potential solutions. Anyone may use or adapt this language in their public comments.

Issues With the Current Plan

• Building Heights Don’t Match the Neighborhood
• The current proposal includes two-story single-family homes, but they would sit among 3- and 4-story homes with roof decks and pilot houses.
• At the UFCA meeting, multiple neighbors expressed concerns that this would make the workforce units visibly different from surrounding homes.
• We want all neighbors (current and future) to blend in seamlessly.

The Removal of an Important (and ONLY) Green Space

• A 7-season community garden currently exists on two of the lots and 
  The garden is already an active, well-used community space and would be permanently lost under the current plan.There is no other accessible green space for several blocks in any direction; the Parrish Street dog park is expected to be developed as well, further reducing available open space.
  Eliminating the garden would remove the last remaining community gathering space in this part of Francisville.

No Community Input in Shaping the RFP

• The community garden was not accounted for in the RFP process, even after neighbors raised concerns in March
• Neighbors had no opportunity to weigh in on how the RFP could best fit community needs
• We are only now being included, after the proposal was already shaped

Proposed Alternatives (Win–Win)

• Substitute two nearby vacant parcels or adjust the development plan by allowing greater height or multi-unit configurations on the remaining parcels so the full unit count is preserved while keeping the two active garden lots (1544 & 1546 Ogden).
• Both options deliver the same amount of workforce housing and maintain a centrally located, thriving pocket park - benefiting current residents and incoming families alike.

Note on the City’s Suggested Relocation of the Garden

After months of conversation, Councilmember Young’s office suggested relocating the garden to 1438 Poplar Street; and while we appreciate this thought, the current garden remains the stronger and safer option for our community. Relocating the garden would introduce significant safety and activation risks that the current location does not have. The existing garden benefits from established community presence, ongoing visibility, and proven safety outcomes. Starting over in a location with known safety concerns would jeopardize the stability and public use that the garden currently provides:

• Six years of labor, resources, and community trust have gone into the current space.
• The current location’s constant daily foot traffic keeps the area safe, visible, and active.
• Before the garden existed, the Ogden lots experienced drug use, prostitution, and vandalism — all eliminated by community presence.
• The proposed relocation site has several documented safety concerns: proximity to abandoned buildings, witnessed drug use, proximity to a shelter housing known sex offenders
• Further information, recommendations, comments, etc can be found in the petition which now has 561 signatures.

-Ashley and Joe & Friends of Lil Ogden Garden