PHL Spends Millions On 'Unnecessary' Improvements
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- Philadelphia International Airport is spending millions paying for very expensive improvements to dozens of homes that airport officials want to tear down in just two years.
The airport needs to buy 72 homes in Delaware County to make room for a $5 billion expansion. And while that plan now has approval of the Federal Aviation Administration and is moving forward, the airport continues to pay to soundproof homes that are expected to be demolished.
"It just doesn't make sense, it really doesn't," said Hank Hox, whose home on Iroquois Street in Lester was renovated at the airport's expense just last year. He got new windows, doors, insulation and air conditioning. He says the price tag had to be about $45,000.
"I think really it was a waste of money," he said.
In fact, it may have cost much more than that. An airport spokesperson, who declined an on-camera interview, said Philadelphia International Airport and the FAA are spending a total of $42.5 million to soundproof 522 homes near the airport. That works out to about $81,000 per home.
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And 48 of the homes that have already been or are currently being renovated are on property the airport needs for its expansion. That's a potential loss of $3.9 million.
Airport officials say it's tax money, collected largely from taxes on airline tickets and airline fuel.
"I think it's ridiculous," said Ed Kline, another homeowner. "If they're getting the houses, why continue to do this?"
Eyewitness News cameras spotted workers at two homes Thursday that could be demolished.
Kline says it would have made much more sense to offer the money directly to the homeowners who could be asked to leave.
"You're wasting all this money to do this, give me the money instead of doing this, if you're already going to take my house," he said.
The airport is planning to spend $5.2 billion over the next 14 years to dramatically expand the airport with the hope of cutting delays. The plan calls for new terminals, an automated people mover system and a two-mile long runway near the Delaware River. To build that runway, however, the airport needs to build a new air cargo complex for UPS, and officials are hoping to do that where the 72 homes currently sit.
Reported by Ben Simmoneau, CBS3
