Philadelphia and other cities across the US face a shortage of housing -- Philly alone needs as many as 30,000 or 60,000 homes. And yet our cities are also blighted by vacant or underutilized land -- in Philadelphia, there are about 30,000 privately owned vacant lots. What's more, oftentimes a 'speculator' will buy a vacant lot, wait for the neighborhood to gentrify, and flip the vacant lot for a profit without the landowner doing any work to increase the value of the land! What can we do about these related problems of housing shortage, blighted and underutilized land, and extractive speculation?

Could taxing land more and buildings less -- the so-called land value tax (LVT) -- encourage homebuilding, and discourage holding and speculating on vacant or underused land (video explainer here!)? Why do economists left, right, and center think that LVT promotes efficient, equitable growth? Has a land value tax actually been implemented in other places, and what have we learned from those cases? Could we do it here in Philadelphia, and if so, how can I help?

Join us for a panel discussion of experts, advocates, and policymakers, moderated by 5th Square board member and treasurer, Russell Richie.

Panelists:

• Josie Faass, PhD, Executive Director of the Robert Schalkenbach Foundation
• Andy Toy, MPP, Public and Urban Policy Practitioner
• Joe Caisse, JD, former State Assessor for Alaska
• Bina Patel, MBA, Finance Director for the City of Allentown
• Michael Zumas, Bureau Manager for the City of Allentown

Doors open at 6pm, and the panel will run from 6:30pm to 7:30pm, with time before and after for meet & greet.

Pizza and drinks will be provided. A $10 donation is suggested.

This event is co-sponsored by the Robert Schalkenbach Foundation.

Public & Active Transportation:

• L-Line (Market-Frankford Line) to Spring Garden Station
• G-Line (15 Trolley) is a 10 minute walk away
• Bus routes: 5, 25, 43, 57
• Indego Station and abundant bicycle racks on 2nd & Brown