Eliminating parking minimums and reforming Philadelphia's tax abatement program could do a lot in making Philadelphia affordable, Inga Saffron argues.
Philadelphia is grappling with legislation to change affordable housing requirements. A bill on the subject from Councilwoman Maria Quiñones-Sánchez will not come to a vote because of opposition from some who worried a low-income housing requirement would end up lowering density in the city and having the perverse effect of making housing more expensive for many.
Inga Saffron argues, in a piece for the Philadelphia Inquirer, that though the bill may have failed before it got to a vote, it did the important work of getting the council focused on housing costs. Saffron offers her own suggestions for how to achieve that goal, including: revising the ten-year property tax abatement (which has helped fuel the housing boom in Philadelphia), eliminating parking minimums, and increasing the transfer tax to subsidize affordable housing.
FULL STORY: Want more affordable housing in Philadelphia? Try these five strategies
Philadelphia Developer Sues Affordable Housing Project Over Parking Spaces
As Philadelphia's Breeze Point gets more expensive, a market-rate developer is claiming that an affordable housing development's surface parking lot is taking up land that could be homes.
Boise Approves First Zoning Code Update in 60 Years
A comprehensive update of the city’s zoning code aimed at making housing more affordable and promoting sustainable growth received unanimous support from the city council.
How Cities Are Resisting State Efforts To Increase Density
Cities are attempting to wrest back local control over land use and zoning via some ingenious—and sometimes disingenuous—strategies.
Trump Administration Could Effectively End Housing Voucher Program
Federal officials are eyeing major cuts to the Section 8 program that helps millions of low-income households pay rent.
Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.
Ken Jennings Launches Transit Web Series
The Jeopardy champ wants you to ride public transit.
Making Mobility More Inclusive
A new study highlights the challenges people with disabilities continue to face in navigating urban spaces.
Texas Bills Could Push More People Into Homelessness
A proposal to speed up the eviction process and a bill that would accelerate enforcement of an existing camping ban could make the state’s homelessness crisis worse, advocates say.
USGS Water Science Centers Targeted for Closure
If their work is suspended, states could lose a valuable resource for monitoring, understanding, and managing water resources.
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.
Heyer Gruel & Associates PA
Ada County Highway District
Institute for Housing and Urban Development Studies (IHS)
City of Grandview
Harvard GSD Executive Education
Toledo-Lucas County Plan Commissions
Salt Lake City
NYU Wagner Graduate School of Public Service