The proposal would hold builders accountable for damage incurred to adjacent homes as historic rowhouse properties see increased redevelopment.

A bill proposed in the Philadelphia city council "would require builders to have general liability insurance that protects adjacent properties during construction or demolition." Writing in Temple University's Philadelphia News, Thomas Riese reports that the bill "would make builders accountable for damage that some homeowners have grappled with for years, sometimes without knowing where to turn for compensation."
Advocates of the bill say it would be a first step in protecting homeowners from damage and preventing dangerous practices, but "would like to see more protections passed as laws that could serve as a 'Neighbors Bill of Rights.'" Community activist Drew Miller "said he’d like to see more collaboration between city departments, especially before project permits are approved."
The city's Department of Licenses and Inspection "currently has 69,529 open requests or complaints, and roughly 32% of those pertain to building structures, licenses, and construction." In part due to the architecture of Philadelphia's iconic rowhouses, adjacent property damage is "frustratingly predictable," according to historic preservation professional Starr Herr-Cardillo. "On a rowhouse block, when they’re built at the same time, they’re one structure." In many cases, demolition requires underpinning, a process designed to reinforce the foundation and prevent instability in the surrounding buildings.
"Philadelphia has encouraged a development boom that spurred its economic growth, but residents and homeowners want to make sure they’re not taken advantage of along the way."
FULL STORY: Council proposal would add protections for adjacent property construction

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.

Driving Equity and Clean Air: California Invests in Greener School Transportation
California has awarded $500 million to fund 1,000 zero-emission school buses and chargers for educational agencies as part of its effort to reduce pollution, improve student health, and accelerate the transition to clean transportation.

Congress Moves to End Reconnecting Communities and Related Grants
The House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee moved to rescind funding for the Neighborhood Equity and Access program, which funds highway removals, freeway caps, transit projects, pedestrian infrastructure, and more.

From Throughway to Public Space: Taking Back the American Street
How the Covid-19 pandemic taught us new ways to reclaim city streets from cars.
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