West Philly artist won't lose studio as city drops eminent domain proposal for supermarket
Jared Shelly | Philadelphia Business Journal | Thursday, December 11, 2014
Artist James Dupree in front of Dupree Studios in the Mantua section of West Philadelphia.
Artist James Dupree has won the fight of his life.
Since late 2012, he's been fighting to keep his studio and 9,000-square-foot property at 3617 Haverford St. — which is colorfully painted on the façade and chock full of artwork inside. Philadelphia City Councilwoman Jannie L. Blackwell and the Philadelphia Redevelopment Authority had envisioned a supermarket complex and parking lot in its place — and earmarked it and dozens of other buildings for demolition through a city condemnation order under the power of eminent domain.
But Brian Abernathy, executive director of Philadelphia Redevelopment Authority said the organization has elected not to pursue the condemnation process further.
"Unfortunately, the legal costs associated with Mr. Dupree's appeals make it impossible to continue," Abernathy said in a statement. "Despite all the work to date, PRA will end condemnation proceedings enabling Mr. Dupree to keep his studio. While we have explored the potential of building around Mr. Dupree's property, a viable project under these conditions is not possible. In short, the inability to acquire Mr. Dupree's property puts the prospect of bringing fresh food to this community at serious risk."
Dupree's story made headlines locally and nationally and many argued that the Mantua community was choosing a private enterprise over a property owner. But Abernathy argues that the Philadelphia Redevelopment Authority was acting in the best interest of the community which has been a "food desert" for years. He even argued that the city offered independent appraisals of his property, help finding other potential locations for his studio, and payment of all relocation costs.
"Mr. Dupree has described PRA as an agency acting haphazardly, for the sole benefit of a for-profit developer and without concern for the broader community," said Abernathy. " I strongly disagree with Mr. Dupree's characterization of our agency and its intent in acquiring his property. Bringing fresh, healthy food to Mantua was a desire conveyed to PRA by neighborhood residents, and our efforts were designed to address that request."
The city has offered Dupree $600,000, plus expenses for the property.
In an interview with the Philadelphia Business Journal in January, Dupree said he's spent nine years turning the space into a working art studio and has put thousands of dollars into the property.
"I decided I can't take this any more. They're killing me and they took my dreams ... The city of Philadelphia doesn't respect the artist. City officials don't respect artists, really. If they did they would have did a little more homework about taking my property they way they took it," said Dupree.
A coalition led by the Institue or Justice and the ACLU of Pennsylvania said that the city was "abusing its power of eminent domain."
"Eminent domain is supposed to be used for 'public use,' such as for roads and schools. A grocery store is not a public use," said the letter, which was signed by Peter Goldberger, president of the ACLU of Greater Philadelphia and a dozen others, including Jane Golden of the Mural Arts Program.