PRINTER'S NO. 3331
No. 279 Session of 1986
INTRODUCED BY HARPER, COHEN, LINTON, ROEBUCK, BARBER, TRUMAN,
PRESTON, DONATUCCI, JOSEPHS, CARN, KOSINSKI, ACOSTA, TIGUE,
CAWLEY, BLAUM, COWELL, DUFFY, DAWIDA, CLARK AND PETRARCA,
APRIL 16, 1986
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON RULES, APRIL 21, 1986
A RESOLUTION
1 Providing for a select committee to investigate the causes and
2 consequences of the sinking of houses in the Logan section of
3 the City of Philadelphia.
4 WHEREAS, During the early part of this century, approximately
5 1915 to 1925, in the Logan section of the City of Philadelphia,
6 within an area bounded by Sixth Street, Eleventh Street,
7 Roosevelt Boulevard and Louden Street, there were built
8 approximately 665 houses of the single-family type; and
9 WHEREAS, Many of the houses in this area were built on a
10 landfill placed over the Wingohocking Creek; and
11 WHEREAS, The houses in this area have had a history of
12 problems due to the settlement of the houses. A few years ago a
13 few of the houses were determined to be imminently dangerous and
14 had to be abandoned; and
15 WHEREAS, Recently, nine more houses were determined to be
16 imminently dangerous and 25 more were determined to be
17 structurally dangerous, and a survey of the rest found that 415
1 have code problems, the cause of which has not yet been
2 determined; and
3 WHEREAS, Approximately 80% of these houses are owner
4 occupied, and the refusal of financial entities to place
5 mortgages on these properties and the beginning of cancellation
6 of insurance policies as a result of the sinking problem has
7 caused such owners great concern; and
8 WHEREAS, It is important for the Commonwealth to determine
9 the extent of the problem and what it can or should be doing to
10 assist these citizens; therefore be it
11 RESOLVED, That the Speaker of the House of Representatives
12 appoint a select committee to investigate the problem of sinking
13 houses in the Logan section of the City of Philadelphia to
14 determine what the Commonwealth can or should do to assist the
15 citizens affected. The committee shall consist of seven members,
16 four from the majority party and three from the minority party;
17 and be it further
18 RESOLVED, That the committee may hold hearings, take
19 testimony and make its investigations at such places as it deems
20 necessary in this Commonwealth. Each member of the committee
21 shall have power to administer oaths and affirmations to
22 witnesses appearing before the committee; and be it further
23 RESOLVED, That the committee report its findings and
24 recommendations to the House of Representatives as soon as
25 possible.
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