As the owner of several rental properties in Philadelphia, I’ve learned that being a landlord is a way to build community.
As a child growing up in Mount Airy, the author saw firsthand how unsettling redevelopment projects can be. Now, as a landlord, she writes that she wants existing residents to know "I come in peace."“Tell your tenant to move her car!” These were the first words I heard when I answered my phone 18 months ago.
Since 2017, I’ve bought several rental properties in Philadelphia, and in that time I’ve learned that being a landlord is not just a way to make money — it’s a way to build community and improve the city, block by block. Then they tore down the large single family house across the street, replacing it with six more rowhouses. It changed the landscape of my childhood dramatically, and made me feel unsettled.
I installed flood lights in a dark alley beside one property; it won’t totally deter drug use and other illegal activity, but it hopefully makes people feel a little safer. I’ve also installed security cameras, which don’t stop people from illegally dumping or breaking into the nearby cars or apartments, but residents have told me they appreciate knowing they can use the footage when they file a complaint with the police.
Over the course of my renovation projects, my professional relationship with the neighbors on the block slowly evolves into a more personal one. I observe people in the most unfiltered moments of their lives — relaxing, arguing, loving, and simply existing. And they watch parts of my journey unfold, too, in the sweat, setbacks, and slow progress of repairs. Occasionally, small talk turns into longer, more meaningful conversations. These moments of connection are magical.
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