WHEREAS, Herb Wetzel has been a tireless advocate for community development since he first came to Philadelphia from his native Minneapolis. As a founding member of the Board of Directors and the Executive Director of the Greater Germantown Housing Development Corporation, Mr. Wetzel expanded the organization from a staff of three performing rehabilitation of 12 houses per year to a staff of ten which developed over $14 million dollars in real estate in a four year period; and
WHEREAS, Herb Wetzel was an early entrepreneur in the field of community-based redevelopment. While attending college, he designed a line of men’s toiletries manufactured by neighborhood youths and sold in a major Philadelphia department store. During that same period, Mr. Wetzel established and helped capitalize a small business in the Germantown section of Philadelphia to create neighborhood based economic development; and
WHEREAS, As the Executive Director of the Redevelopment Authority of the City of Philadelphia, Herb Wetzel was a key player in the Neighborhood Transformation Initiative, overseeing the condemnation of thousands of abandoned and neglected properties. In handling controversial eminent domain issues, Herb, true to his community roots, always made sure it was done in a way where people had an opportunity to voice their concerns; and
WHEREAS, Herb Wetzel has served the Redevelopment Authority and the citizens of Philadelphia with great integrity and professionalism for the last thirteen years and his experience will be greatly missed by individuals and organizations across the city that valued his expertise, judgment and skills. Herb Wetzel undertook every endeavor with a commitment to excellence and embraced the highest ideals of public service. Throughout his long and noteworthy career, he has earned the respect, admiration and confidence of his superiors and colleagues. Colleagues, superiors and community development groups laud him as an individual who provided thoughtful management at the RDA; now therefore
RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, That we hereby honor and commend Herb Wetzel for his dedicated service to the Redevelopment Authority of the City of Philadelphia.
FURTHER RESOLVED, That an Engrossed copy of this resolution be presented to Herb Wetzel as evidence of the sincere sentiments of this legislative body.
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