Philadelphia: Save LAVA From Real Estate Chump

Help!!

LAVA Space is a grassroots organizing and media center located in the Belmont neighborhood of Philadelphia. For over two decades the space has served as a place for activist groups and communities to meet, eat and share art and music.

The LAVA collective was recently given notice that a lien for $1600 in unpaid taxes was placed on the property two years ago. This lien was purchased by a real estate developer who is now pressuring the city to put the property up for auction. The company has bought liens on other buildings in the neighborhood as well in an attempt to cheaply acquire as much property as they can. If this happens, LAVA along with many of the long-time residents of the Belmont neighborhood will most likely be pushed out to make room for an ever-expanding University City. In order to stop this from happening we need to come up with money to pay back the lien and any other out-standing debts we have before our court hearing on October 13. We will also need to cover lawyer fees and court costs, which is why we are asking for $2000.

LAVA was established to provide a meeting space and resources to a neighborhood with serious needs. The downstairs of the building houses a library, weekly produce distribution and an event space that gives a platform to artists and organizations from a wide range of backgrounds. The upstairs is used as affordable office space for groups fighting for social justice (Human Rights Coalition and Radio Prometheus) and the Shark Tank recording studio, which has become an important resource for young musicians in the community.

Please help keep LAVA from falling into the hands of a real estate developer by donating what you can and sharing this page with your networks.

Thanks!!!