After months of back and forth, Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter and City Council President Darrell L. Clarke “reached an agreement that would allow the rehabilitation of John F. Kennedy Plaza and the sale of the garage beneath LOVE Park.”
Known officially as JFK Plaza, but given its nickname of LOVE Park after Robert Indiana’s photogenic sculpture, one of Philadelphia’s iconic public spaces is due for a makeover. Until now, questions about how to finance the project were the focus of no small amount of political maneuvering between Mayor Nutter and Council President Clarke.
Now, however, the two political leaders reached an agreement that discards a controversial plan to build seven restaurants to help finance the project, according to a report by Troy Graham.
“The new park promises to be flatter, greener, and more accessible, while preserving the fountain, the LOVE sculpture, and the diagonal flow that aligns the plaza with the Benjamin Franklin Parkway,” writes Graham.
One cause of concern for the shrinking stock go boogie-style buildings around the country: “The fate of the Fairmount Park Welcome Center, the Googie-style spaceship building in the southwest corner of the plaza, is less certain.”
“With a lengthy design process to precede any construction, LOVE Park's overhaul is unlikely to be completed before Nutter leaves office in two years.”
FULL STORY: Nutter, Clarke present a vision for LOVE Park

Maui's Vacation Rental Debate Turns Ugly
Verbal attacks, misinformation campaigns and fistfights plague a high-stakes debate to convert thousands of vacation rentals into long-term housing.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

In Urban Planning, AI Prompting Could be the New Design Thinking
Creativity has long been key to great urban design. What if we see AI as our new creative partner?

Portland Raises Parking Fees to Pay for Street Maintenance
The city is struggling to bridge a massive budget gap at the Bureau of Transportation, which largely depleted its reserves during the Civd-19 pandemic.

Spokane Mayor Introduces Housing Reforms Package
Mayor Lisa Brown’s proposals include deferring or waiving some development fees to encourage more affordable housing development.

Houston Mayor Kills Another Bike Lane
The mayor rejected a proposed bike lane in the Montrose district in keeping with his pledge to maintain car lanes.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
Gallatin County Department of Planning & Community Development
Heyer Gruel & Associates PA
JM Goldson LLC
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
Transportation Research & Education Center (TREC) at Portland State University
Jefferson Parish Government
Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Claremont