Most of the no-bid sales appear to have been at the lots' "LAMA" — shorthand for "land management" — value, a figure generated by an automated system for establishing property values in Philadelphia. The LAMA value of a property can be close to fair-market value in stable neighborhoods, but in gentrifying neighborhoods like Point Breeze, that value can lag well below market value.

Paul Chrystie, a spokesman for the city's landholding agencies, said agency heads decide how to sell properties and at what price, although Council members are also consulted to determine if they will introduce the resolution to transfer the property.

CHARLES FOX / Staff Photographer A new house, second from right, on the 1900 block of Ellsworth Street. It is being built by Felton Hayman, a friend of Johnson’s.

For his part, Johnson has said that he wants to preserve city-owned vacant lots for affordable housing. City policy does allow for discounted sales for projects that include affordable housing or other community benefits. But the lower-priced, no-bid sales he endorsed were used for market-rate housing.

For example:

• In May 2015, Frank Kumas, a developer from Cinnaminson, N.J., was able to purchase a lot on Chadwick Street for the LAMA value of $22,965, despite expressions of interest filed with the city by eight developers. He built a home — with a Jacuzzi, roof deck with water and electric lines, and built-in living room speakers — that sold in April for $420,000.

News of the no-bid sale and its low price surprised a competing developer who noticed it on the October 2014 vacant-property committee agenda.

"There was no notification," said the developer, who asked that his name be withheld out of concern that criticizing the sale would hamper his ability to do business with the city. "I was interested in that property and trying to get it for years."

Kumas and his firm have contributed $8,500 to Johnson since November 2014. They have not contributed to any other Philadelphia elected official since at least 2005, according to campaign finance records.

Kumas did not respond to requests for comment, but Kumas Homes marketing director Clifford Lasky said, "We never contracted to build any homes at below market value."

CHARLES FOX / Staff Photographer "We need affordable housing, some of it," said Manton Street resident Kim Wilkins. She’s standing beside the foundations of two $450,000 homes being developed by Felton Hayman. The site was previously a neighborhood garden and picnic area.

• In January 2015, with Johnson's support, developer Anthony Merlino paid $16,606 for a city lot on Wharton Street. The following week, Merlino contributed $5,000 to Johnson's campaign fund, election records show. Eight days later he exchanged emails with Steve Cobb, Johnson's director of legislation, about purchasing additional properties in Point Breeze.

Merlino has not donated to any other Philadelphia politicians for at least a decade.

At his Wharton Street property, Merlino is constructing a $450,000 home with "two large walk-in closets and a conveniently placed wet bar with granite countertop and wine refrigerator for all your roof-top necessities," according to a description on Zillow. (Merlino did not respond to requests for comment.)

• With Johnson's support, employees of real-estate firm Streamline Solutions acquired three lots on Annin Street in 2013 for about half the price of nearby properties, records show. Streamline built $400,000 homes on the lots.

“[Neighbors] can’t even afford the first floor.” Lillian Wyatt, Cleveland Street resident

Streamline also built Johnson's $312,500 Point Breeze home on Ellsworth Street, which is across from the Annin Street properties, the councilman has said. (Streamline president Sean Schellenger did not respond to requests for an interview.)

"All I see is these $300,000 and $400,000 homes," said Lillian Wyatt, a longtime resident on nearby Cleveland Street. She's worried that other residents will get priced out of the gentrifying neighborhood.

"They can't even afford the first floor," she said, referring to the new homes around her. "It's not right, especially when there's talk of taxes going up."