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PHILADELPHIA (AP) — A funeral has been held in Philadelphia for a rundown row house seen as a symbol of urban blight.
Neighbors gathered Saturday in the impoverished Mantua (MAN'-shew-uh) section for the send-off. The row home was draped in floral wreaths for the occasion and feted with gospel music and eulogies.
Organizers randomly chose the building for a cultural project called "Funeral for a Home."
The idea is to recognize the neighborhood's history in a city where hundreds of homes are torn down each year.
Some believe the service could be cathartic for longtime Mantua residents hoping to see the area reborn.
The developer who bought the house plans to build affordable housing on the site.
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