Honoring Patricia L. Smith, Director of the City's Neighborhood Transformation Initiative.

WHEREAS, NTI is a multi-faceted strategic action plan designed to remove blight, create opportunities for large-scale development, and stimulate investment of private capital in the City’s existing housing stock. As Director of Neighborhood Transformation, Ms. Smith provided leadership and direction to NTI by developing new policies and programs; monitoring the implementation of its separate, but interlocking parts; and assuring productive stakeholder relationships; and

WHEREAS, Ms. Smith served as a chief spokesperson for Mayor Street’s neighborhood revitalization agenda and under her guidance, NTI has accomplished many of its goals. Her leadership has guided the $275 million NTI program and helped to make Philadelphia a better place; and

WHEREAS, There are currently 7,000 units of new housing in large-scale developments planned and underway Citywide. The blight removal efforts of NTI are restoring confidence in Philadelphia neighborhoods and have contributed to a 30% appreciation in real estate values over the past five years; and

WHEREAS, Ms. Smith has fostered several groundbreaking partnerships, including an award-winning greening and neighborhood improvement initiative with the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society. Ms. Smith’s hard work and dedication has contributed to the major shift in the paradigms of urban policy and community development in our City and for this we are extremely grateful; and

WHEREAS, Before joining Mayor Street’s administration in May 2000, Ms. Smith worked for the National Congress for Community Economic Development (NCCED), where she created and managed a national leadership development project for community development practitioners. In addition, she held senior positions at the Philadelphia Foundation, Redevelopment Authority of the City of Philadelphia, City Council of Philadelphia and Community Legal Services. She is leaving for a new position at The Reinvestment Fund here in Philadelphia, where she will continue to work on community development issues; and

WHEREAS, Patricia Smith has been an exceptional leader and mentor for her staff, guiding them for the last five years; now therefore

RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA,

That this Council is pleased and proud to honor Patricia L. Smith for her outstanding achievements directing the Neighborhood Transformation Initiative (NTI) for the City of Philadelphia; and

FURTHER RESOLVED,

That an Engrossed copy of this resolution be presented to Patricia L. Smith as evidence of this body’s sincere appreciation of her achievements.

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