Philadelphia Metropolitan Area Real Estate Law Blog

Our regular readers know that zoning barriers can get in the way of businesses owners and entrepreneurs, preventing them from moving forward with plans to establish or expand their business or develop real estate. Zoning difficulties can get in the ways of philanthropists, too.

On Tuesday, a zoning variance which would have permitted the building of a day reporting center for ex-offenders in Southwest Philadelphia was recently overturned by a Common Pleas Court judge. The center was to be part of a wider plan on the part of the Nutter administration to reduce the prison population and make services available to those convicted of nonviolent crime. The plan was to have 10 day reporting centers around the city which would offer job training, drug testing, counseling, and temporary housing.

Going up against restrictive ordinances can be a real challenge for developers. Sometimes zoning restrictions are out of date and the community is ready for a change. Other times there is considerable opposition to be faced. Moving forward with a project can quickly become political.