Philadelphia is once again attempting to rebuild the neighborhood that was devastated when police dropped a bomb on a rowhome occupied by the radical group MOVE more than three decades ago.
The Philadelphia Redevelopment Authority put out a request for proposals from developers on Wednesday for the rehabilitation of 36 houses in the city's Cobbs Creek section.
The homes were damaged in May 1985 after police dropped a bomb on the Osage Avenue home that served as MOVE's headquarters. Then-mayor Wilson Goode and police officials considered the group a terrorist organization.
Sixty-one area residences were destroyed and poorly rebuilt. The city bought some homes back, but many remain vacant.
Housing officials say the site -- " located in the blocks of 6200 Osage Avenue and 6200 Pine Street in the Cobbs Creek Philadelphia. The site is bounded by Pine Street to the North, Addison Street to the South, 62nd Street to the East and Cobbs Creek Park to the West" -- presents considerable challenges, but the city is committed to its revitalization.
