Despite over a year of proposals, counter proposals, and heated debate, the city of Philadelphia has yet to broker a breakthrough on proposed reforms to the city's ten-year property tax abatement program.

Philadelphia Councilmember Helen Gym has made reforming the city's 10-year property tax abatement a top legislative priority, proposing bills in 2018 to change the subsidy, and sparking a wave of debates and further suggestions for changes in the time since.
Despite all the debate and suggestions, "when Council’s spring session concluded last month, none of the six pending abatement reform bills had received so much as a hearing," according to an article by Jake Blumgart. The question raised by Blumgart is why the reform of the property tax abatement is so easy to talk about but so hard to deliver.
Gym has "refused to place blame on specific actors." Mayor Jim Kenney says consensus has been hard to build. Still, despite the strong support of the current abatement from two of the city's most influential local interest groups, the real estate industry and building trades unions, the tide does some to be turning in favor of making the property tax abatement work to the benefit of affordable housing more than it does in its current format. As noted by Blumgart, some builders also support the idea of reforming the current tax abatement.
FULL STORY: Why Philadelphia punted on tax abatement reform...again

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?

King County Supportive Housing Program Offers Hope for Unhoused Residents
The county is taking a ‘Housing First’ approach that prioritizes getting people into housing, then offering wraparound supportive services.

Researchers Use AI to Get Clearer Picture of US Housing
Analysts are using artificial intelligence to supercharge their research by allowing them to comb through data faster. Though these AI tools can be error prone, they save time and housing researchers are optimistic about the future.

Making Shared Micromobility More Inclusive
Cities and shared mobility system operators can do more to include people with disabilities in planning and operations, per a new report.
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.
planning NEXT
Appalachian Highlands Housing Partners
Gallatin County Department of Planning & Community Development
Mpact (founded as Rail~Volution)
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
City of Portland
City of Laramie