Community Network Member:

Building Industry Association

Founded in 1937, the BIA of Philadelphia is the leading association promoting residential development and construction in the City.  Our mission is to advocate for and create more market-rate housing in Philadelphia, including support for public and private initiatives.

NEW: The BIA supports the Congress for New Urbanism, May 17-20 in Philadephia. For more, visit the Congress' Web site.

BIA's specific goals include:

-Increase market-rate housing starts by working with City to implement recommendations in “If We Fix It, They Will Come” report.

-Help educate our members through forums including the BIA’s Annual Housing Conference.

-Work with the housing agencies and neighborhood Community Development Corporations to hire skilled and competent minority workers.

-Increase visibility by bringing the 2007 national Congress on the New Urbanism to Philadelphia.

BIA's Top 3 Issues:

1. Work to remove the barriers that slow the growth of the real estate market and support the creation of housing units that serve a broad spectrum household income levels in Philadelphia.
2. Maintain the current tax abatement program, which has helped spur the housing market throughout all areas of the City, and has helped retain residents.
3. Establish relationships with local governments throughout the region to address the issues of dedicated funding for mass transit, gun violence and economic development. (regionalism)

BIA's "Big Question" for the candidates:

What policies would you promote that move our city government and agencies towards managing growth instead of managing decline?

Programs/Initiatives/Services provides by BIA for the community:

Educational programming on issues involving zoning and planning reform, as well as other housing-related issues focused solely on the City.

Stormwater Management, Why, Where & How

This seminar was held at Temple University last fall to educate members of the building industry, planners and the general public on the new design requirements in mitigating the occurrence of untreated stormwater from entering our rivers and streams. Participants included the Philadelphia Water Department, EPA and the Pennsylvania Environmental Council. It focused on how to design new developments in accordance with the new regulations and highlighted best practices. We plan to organize another such event again this year to continue to educate the community.

Events

March 12, Noon

Meet the Mayoral Candidates Lunch and Forum

Additional Information

'If We Fix It' - released in Fall 2004, a look at how the development process works in Philadelphia; identifies 10 steps to make the system more user-friendly.

Tax Abatement Analysis - released in September 2006, an analysis commissioned by the BIA to study the effects of the 10-year tax abatement program on the City