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Axios Philadelphia

Axios Philadelphia Thought Bubble

Philadelphia voters will be asked to answer four ballot questions in the primary this upcoming Tuesday. 

Here's what you can expect to see — and what the questions mean.

"Shall the Philadelphia Home Rule Charter be amended to revise the composition of the Zoning Board of Adjustment by increasing the number of mayoral appointees from five to seven; by requiring Council confirmation of the mayor’s appointments; and by specifying qualifications that appointees must possess, including a demonstrated sensitivity to community concerns regarding development and the protection of the character of Philadelphia's neighborhoods?"

Translation: Should the mayor be allowed to suggest two additional members to the city board that hears appeals from people or companies looking to develop properties that don't comply with existing zoning laws? 

Also, should City Council have more power to decide who gets to be on the board? 

What it means: If it gets approved, the board would increase from five to seven members, including an urban planner, an architect, a lawyer with zoning experience, a person with construction industry experience and at least two community members.  

"Should The Philadelphia Home Rule Charter be amended to remove all gender-based references?"

Translation: Should the Home Rule Charter language be changed to gender-neutral terms throughout? 

What it means: If approved, all gender references for municipal employees will become neutral.

"Should the Educational Supplement to the Philadelphia Home Rule Charter be amended to remove all gender-based references?"

Translation: It's the same as Question 2 but applicable to the rules for the Philadelphia Board of Education and the city's school district.

What it means: If approved, all gender references for all education titles within the charter will become neutral.

"Should the Philadelphia Home Rule Charter be amended to establish the Fair Housing Commission as an independent commission to administer and enforce statutes and ordinances concerning unfair rental practices and certain other matters concerning the landlord and tenant relationship and to adjudicate disputes related to such matters?"

Translation: Should the commission that enforces laws related to unfair rental practices be made permanent? 

What it means: If approved, the Fair Housing Commission stays. Nothing about how the board is appointed or makes decisions will change.

Primary election guide: Philadelphia's ballot questions

Let's break down what you can expect to see.

Illustration of I Voted stickers, piled on top of one another. 

Primary elections

Philadelphia voters will be asked to answer four ballot questions in the primary this upcoming Tuesday. <ul><li>Here&#x27;s what you can expect to see — and what the questions mean.</li></ul>

Politics

The Abortion Liberation Fund of Pennsylvania has received an avalanche of funding since a draft Supreme Court opinion signaling a potential reversal of Roe v. Wade was leaked last week.

State of play: The organization — the largest in the state providing financial support to low-income people seeking abortions — raised more than $80,000 over the last week.

Before last Monday, the organization had raised around $38,000 since March. That has since skyrocketed to nearly $120,000.

Donations have ranged from $5 to $10,000, but 80% are under $280, the nonprofit's executive director Elicia Gonzales tells Axios. 

Between the lines: Despite the influx of cash, the organization's funding still isn't enough to meet the local need, Gonzales says.

Last year, the organization used around $667,000 worth of funding to help 3,200 people pay for abortions, but the need was closer to 7,000.

Gonzales predicts the fund could give out $680,000 this year. But she worries the organization might not be able to help as many people as pandemic-related hardships put more financial strain on those in need, requiring larger chunks of funding to seek care.

What they're saying: Gonzales says it's typical for the organization to get funding when news breaks about potential abortion restrictions. 

The group also received an influx of donations when Justice Brett Kavanaugh was appointed to the Supreme Court and when former President Donald Trump was elected, she notes.

"Honestly, we feel mixed," she says. "We don't want to make light of the fact that we've seen this increase in revenue because of something violent happening in our courts. At the same time we remain hopeful in remembering that we are not in this alone."

What's ahead: The nonprofit recently upped the fundraising goal from $50,000 to $125,000 through May 31.

Pennsylvania's largest abortion fund gets donation boost

The Abortion Liberation Fund of Pennsylvania raised more than $80,000 over the last week.

Illustration of a tidal wave of money about to overtake a red cross.

Pennsylvania

The Abortion Liberation Fund of Pennsylvania has received an avalanche of funding since a draft Supreme Court opinion signaling a potential reversal of <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Roe v. Wade" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2022/05/03/abortion-supreme-court-roe-v-wade-live-updates" data-vars-content-id="69fac4a1-dc17-47b6-823b-c3dc3dae24cf" data-vars-headline="Pennsylvania&#x27;s largest abortion fund gets donation boost" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2022/05/03/abortion-supreme-court-roe-v-wade-live-updates" target="_self">Roe v. Wade</a> was leaked last week.State of play: The organization — the largest in the state providing financial support to low-income people seeking abortions — raised more than $80,000 over the last week.

News

This barn in northeast Pennsylvania isn't all it seems.

Step inside and you'll find... an entire house for sale.

What they're saying: Peter DeMarco, the listing agent, tells Axios he was "in total disbelief" when he first saw the place.

It's been the "most unique and challenging" house to sell, DeMarco says.

Of note: The $200,000 home has been on the market for nearly two months.

There haven't been any bids yet, but DeMarco said there have been five showings in the past week.

A view of a living room of a home build inside a barn.

A home inside of a barn at 77 Knorr Rd, Drums, Pennsylvania. Photo courtesy of Peter L. DeMarco

A view of a kitchen in a home that was built inside a barn. 

A bedroom seen inside a home that's built inside a barn.

See inside this Pennsylvania home hidden in a barn

The listing agent tells us he was "in total disbelief" when he first saw the place.

This barn in northeast Pennsylvania isn&#x27;t all it seems.<ul><li>Step inside and you&#x27;ll find... an entire house for sale.</li></ul>

Real Estate

Odds are you do. They were the top two most popular baby names in Pennsylvania last year, per new data from the Social Security Administration.

By the numbers: Noah was No. 1 overall, with 698 babies born with that name.

Noah and Olivia were Pennsylvania's top baby names in 2021

Illustration of a baby wearing a "hello my name is" sticker. 

Children

Know any toddlers named Noah or Olivia?<ul><li>Odds are you do. They were the top two most popular baby names in Pennsylvania last year, <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="per new data from the Social Security Administration" data-vars-click-url="https://www.ssa.gov/cgi-bin/namesbystate.cgi" data-vars-content-id="ac5544cc-d1ea-4cc5-af82-f32646ad0bd8" data-vars-headline="Noah and Olivia were Pennsylvania&#x27;s top baby names in 2021" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.ssa.gov/cgi-bin/namesbystate.cgi" target="_blank">per new data from the Social Security Administration</a>.</li></ul>

Mortgage rates surpassed 5% — the highest in more than a decade, according to data shared by Freddie Mac.

Why it matters: Low mortgage rates made buying in a sellers' market more affordable in the early stages of the pandemic.  

Median home sale values in Philadelphia have cooled slightly in 2022. They were only up 2.3% year over year, but borrowing money is more expensive now.

This is after home prices soared by 14.7% at the end of 2021, compared to the year before, coupled with record low housing inventory. Already fatigued buyers could be priced out. 

The big picture: Fewer people are applying for mortgages nationwide, and, Redfin found, fewer are starting online home searches compared to around a year ago.

Meanwhile, more sellers are reducing their prices after initially putting their homes on the market, according to Redfin's report from March. 

Data: Freddie Mac, Redfin; Chart: Simran Parwani/Axios

By the numbers: A year ago, mortgage rates were at 2.97%. In late April 2022, mortgage rates were at 5.11%.

If you were to take out a $200,000, 30-year mortgage loan in April 2021, your monthly principal and interest would be around $840, according to numbers shared by Freddie Mac.

Your monthly payment on a $200,000, 30-year loan in April 2022 (at 5.11%) would be $1,087.

That's $247 more per month, $2,964 a year and $88,920 more over the life of your loan.

Between the lines: Still, high housing demand hasn't changed in this hot market, with cash buyers and low supply.

What they're saying: Carlos Masip, a real estate agent for Keller Williams Philly, tells Axios houses are still going to be overpriced because inventory remains low. 

"If you're not a homeowner, get on it because it's not getting any cheaper," he said.  

Masip also mentioned noticing a lot of "buyer fatigue" from aspiring homeowners who haven't been able to score a home in this highly competitive market.

What's next: Mortgage rates are expected to rise throughout the year, averaging 4.6% for 2022 and 5% for 2023, according to Freddie Mac's trend forecast.

Surging mortgage rates make homebuying more expensive for Philly

Already fatigued buyers could be priced out.

Illustration of a house's roof being taken off by a trend line soaring upward through the home

Housing

<a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Mortgage rates surpassed 5%" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2022/05/05/mortgage-rates-inflation-home-borrowing" data-vars-content-id="f4310d36-3925-432f-b8c3-870c12c32918" data-vars-headline="Surging mortgage rates make homebuying more expensive for Philly" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2022/05/05/mortgage-rates-inflation-home-borrowing" target="_self">Mortgage rates surpassed 5%</a> — the highest in more than a decade, according to data shared by Freddie Mac.Why it matters: Low mortgage rates made buying in a sellers&#x27; market more affordable in the early stages of the pandemic.

Taylor Allen

Featured stories

Noah and Olivia were Pennsylvania's top baby names in 2021

Pennsylvania's largest abortion fund gets donation boost

Surging mortgage rates make homebuying more expensive for Philly

See inside this Pennsylvania home hidden in a barn

Primary election guide: Philadelphia's ballot questions