Councilmember Jamie Gauthier (3rd District), chair of the Committee on Housing, Neighborhood Development, and the Homeless, has introduced the second phase of her “Defying Displacement” campaign, which aims to preserve and create affordable housing.

This phase introduces a series of bills that focus on cutting red tape by speeding up the approval process for affordable housing developments and making it easier for homeowners to turn extra space into bonus units so that they can remain in their homes.

The city can speed up development and reduce costs by reviewing affordable housing quickly and efficiently, ultimately leading to lower prices for prospective tenants, according to a statement by Gauthier. It can take more than nine months and cost thousands of dollars to receive a zoning variance in the current variance process. Gauthier argues that this disproportionately impacts affordable housing because many developers interested in affordable housing rely on extra density to keep the price-per-unit low.

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City Council is hosting a tax relief workshop this Thursday, Sept. 12, in Southwest Philadelphia to help residents whose taxes have gone up in recent years.

The workshop, presented by Council President Kenyatta Johnson (2nd District) and Councilmember Jamie Gauthier (3rd District), will take place in the Kingsessing neighborhood, which, according to an analysis by the Philadelphia Inquirer, saw the highest increase in property tax bills for single-family homes anywhere in the city.

The workshop will be held at Salt and Light Church (5736 Chester Ave) from 6-8 p.m.. Residents can get in-person assistance with tax relief programs and property assessment appeals.

To keep families in their homes, City Council provided more homeowners with property tax relief than ever before. Council and the Mayor enacted Councilmember Gauthier’s low-income property tax freeze, which keeps property taxes for eligible and enrolled homeowners at their current (pre-2024 assessment) level. Council President Johnson also led the successful expansion of the Homestead Exemption from $80,000 to $100,000.

For more information on these and other real estate tax relief programs, visit: https://www.phila.gov/services/payments-assistance-taxes/taxes/property-and-real-estate-taxes/get-real-estate-tax-relief/

City Councilmember Jamie Gauthier (3rd District), the incumbent candidate in the May primary election, will officially open the District office on Friday, March 31, at 606 South 52nd St. (52nd and Cedar). The grand opening and a ribbon-cutting ceremony will take place from 3 to 5 p.m. on Friday and all are invited.

The 3rd District office will be open to visitors from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays. Additional hours are expected to be added soon. Residents are invited to visit the district office to receive constituent services from City Council staff.

Some of the 13 women honored with a City Council resolution on March 8, International Women’s Day. Photo courtesy of the Office of Councilmember Jamie Gauthier.

In honor of International Women’s Day, celebrated on March 8, City Councilmember Jamie Gauthier introduced and passed a City Council resolution honoring 13 West and Southwest Philadelphia women working to make their communities joyful and safe places to live.

The list included:

Tanja Carter – A community activist in Mill Creek, a block captain, and the founder of It Takes a Village of Helping Hands, a community organization which improves and empowers neighbors by hosting events, beautifying alleys, city streets, and parks, and more.

Callalily Cousar – The President of the East Parkside Residence Assistance (ERPA). In this role, she has established a playground, created a food cupboard, hosted block parties, health fairs, Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners, and tax and resume workshops.

Constance Harris Crews – The President of the Kingsessing Recreation Center Advisory Council, a block captain, a committeeperson, the co-commissioner of the Jayhawks Basketball Program, and the Program Liaison for the Jayhawks 1975 Youth Association. Continue Reading

An artist’s rendering of the planned apartment complex. This view is east from 48th street. The Provident building is in the background.

UPDATE: The community meeting has been postponed. See the story here.

Councilmember Jamie Gauthier has issued a last-minute call for developers of the massive property at 46th and Market Streets to rethink their plans to build 1,240 apartments to include a “substantial” number of affordable units.

A community meeting with developers, Iron Stone Real Estate Partners, is planned for March 1 at 6 p.m. at the Alain Locke School (4550 Haverford Ave). The meeting is scheduled less than a week before the city’s Civic Design Review hearing on the plan scheduled for March 7, essentially the last chance for the public to weigh in on the proposal.

Iron Stone revealed plans over the summer to build six apartment buildings, including a 19-story tower on the site, which includes the gold-cupolaed Provident building and is adjacent to the 46th Street El stop. The Provident building now houses the Public Health Management Corporation, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia offices, and a charter school. The rest of the site, some 13 acres, is mostly open space. Continue Reading

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City Councilmember Jamie Gauthier will open a district office in West Philly on 52nd Street this spring.

Residents can visit the district office to receive help from the Councilmember’s constituent services team on City-related matters. The plans also include using the office as a space for community events.

The Councilmember’s team will continue to host satellite office hours before and after the district office officially opens. there is a satellite office meeting coming up on Wednesday, Feb. 15 from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. at The Eco Foundation (5411 Market St.). See the flyer for more details.