By Gigi Varlotta | Photos by Gigi Varlotta
The UC Townhomes are a 70 unit housing complex on 40th street, tucked between Ludlow and Market. Tall trees hug the sidewalk and grassy yards line the houses. Families (predominantly Black, low-income) have been living at the townhouses for decades. Located walking distance to public transportation, doctors, schools, and grocery stores, it’s a safe haven, providing safe and secure housing to low-income families in the quickly gentrifying neighborhood.
In 1982 private developer Altman bought the property, and agreed to keep the development as Section 8 housing for forty years, until 2022. In Fall 2021 Altman announced he was selling the townhouses, demolishing the homes, and evicting all the families who lived there. Residents formed a coalition and have been protesting to save their homes ever since. Their demands: stop the demolition, extend the contract, make immediate repairs, and provide just compensation. Now, a year and a half later, residents (primarily elderly, disabled, and single moms) are still fighting. They have been successful in extending the contract from its original end date of July 9, 2022 until August 2023. Now, there are 13 families still living at the townhomes, fighting for the right to stay, and fighting for families who were forced to move, the right to return.
Last summer as a protest tactic residents launched an encampment at the Townhomes that lasted 31 days. From July 9 to August 8, I was there every single day and night. Alongside the resident council and all the kids who live there, we spent our days talking, skating, rapping, singing, slipping-and-sliding, painting, eating, crying, laughing, camping, planning, dancing, and dreaming (& sweating a lot).
These poems are an ode to “the lovely hour” when the sun is setting after a 100 degree day. this poem is an ode to 40th street, to the magic of the urban playground, to the time between then and now. an ode to our never ending summer.
SUNNY WENT 2 SLEEP Everyone gearin up for whats on the up, the wicked crisp finally fried and died (for the night) and layed themself down to rest. Cars light up while Night get up. The Mosquitos got they hours in too and now they chillin. buenas noches, good anyway to give the humans time to scratch, and itch, and twitch. N now the Sticky sweat from the day can crystalize, harden lik that old Gum that been stepped on by all the giants over and over. Faded pink, goey and stubborn, proud but mostly loud. way too hyped bout how he can still get em stuck. Parking lot pavement smooth lik butter beneath the fresh smack of the skateboard wheels. She glad tho, to be appreciated. Do she ever get tired? Of holdin it all up? Do Her hands ever slip? Maybe she need it too much to get Tired. Like the wind. Wind even older than dirt, remind us nothin is for sure. Street Lamps buzz, cracklin the news and updates from the day. Who broke up wit who and what new bevs Dope Stop got. They always got the most to say. Thinkin cuz they stand so tall that they know it all. but we listen lik Bees on honey. Like fried on rice. The children run and scream and laugh and cry, weaving between the Trees as the Trees smile down. casting a web, a bridge made up of leaves that link the children and the clouds, flowin to the beat of 40th street. They remind us to breathe deep, to dance in our boots, and shimmy down to the roots. They remind us why we love the Sun, burning and all. N what keep us going is El, chugging along, burping and yawning, the bass of our urban jungle song.
PIGS ON 40TH Sweating already at nine in the morning, scumbag LANDLORD trynna send us a warning. The JUDGE sayin shit gotta come down protecting PRIVATE PROPERTY ‘cross the town, Fuck ur pledge to them clowns. And come they did, rolling militant deep, stripping and ripping the tents to heaps. PIGS upon PIGS tramp in formation, shutting down 40th st station. & the REPUBLIC for which it stands… #notmynation. The whole city was there for this violent affair. Beware! Beware! We aint goin nowhere; Miss Dar lay down the beat. Encampment or not, we still got the heat. This is AMERIKKKA, took the fight right to the street. But really the most tragic part that rocked me straight to the heart, was feeling powerless against the STATE; thinkin bout my friends facing that EVICTION DATE. I pledge allegiance to reversing that fate. On that hot summer morning when the tents did fall, where was the LIBERTY and JUSTICE for all?
Moving he was twelve been there his whole life til one rainy saturday he didnt live there no more been there his whole life cross from mod nd dris summers spent cookin it on the court jump shots n lay ups n 2v2s nd goin down the hill running thru the grass and between the trees the shade soft and bright a safe haven on 40th street since forever the kids play together while parents watch from their porches people who look out for eachother people who told they needa move summers spent cookin it on the court Kistackz, Money Mod, n Lil Dris ! but now he didnt live there no more from 40th st to wilmington delaware maybe Dris n Mod can visit one weekend? if they able to get a ride … delaware far… summers spent cookin it on the court til one rainy saturday when he didnt live there no more.
DISS TRACK ON ALTMAN Written/Performed by KiStackz, Money Mod, Lil Dris, gihonie, & KashKidKen
[Everyone] KiStackz Yo Money Mod KashKidKen gihonie Lil Dris Fuck ya family if you gon fuck wit mines Save the peoples townhomes you already know 40th street, 40th street and market, parkside ave [KiStackz] Peoples townhomes on 40th street This our diss track lets kill this beat [Money Mod] Yo Altman you a bitch why you selling us when you rich We won't let you touch our shit Me and gigi is the shit Why you always on our dick [KashKidKen] City council funded by real estate Dont want us together want to separate Altmans waiting for the eviction date Sell the property watch his worth inflate People over profit that's no debate This resilience you can't penetrate Communities lets elevate Gentrifiers want to immigrate Developers want to displace Fuck drexel, Fuck penn, Fuck their zero tax rate Fund our public schools that be great Fuck the sherriff, Fuck the police, Fuck the state, We gon win it won’t be no stalemate [gihonie] Gigi on the beat With them fast ass feet You already know Had to bring the heat Fuck you Altman you a bitch Youre lame as fuck you belong in a ditch Trynna sell the homes, Leave us alone, This our spot bro you got me hot! Housing is a human right this be the peoples fight Philly be on our side Go head you can't hide Fuck you altman youse a bitch You aint finna win cuz we never gonna quit [Lil Dris] Fuck ya hoe she ass tell that nigga that I’m back I just chill and smoke my gas Already know i got my strap Tell that nigga dont do that Altman finna make me snap Pussy Kick us out yeah thats not cool Tell that nigga he a fool Fuck ya wife she in the pool Fucking ya hoe tonight, fuck ya hoe all night [KiStackz, Money Mod, Lil Dris] Fucking ya hoe tonight, fuck ya hoe all night Lets get it! Fuck you Altman!
The Woodlands 