As the historic neighborhood experiences increased redevelopment around the new Rail Park, community activists are working to ensure older residents and businesses aren't displaced in the process.

Philadelphia's Chinatown is changing—but residents hope the development boom in the area won't drive out long-term Chinese-owned businesses in the area, reports Sophia Schmidt.
A 2020 study prepared by the consulting firms Strategic Economics and Urban Partners for the Chinatown CDC found that since Friends of the Rail Park — the polished nonprofit that continues to raise money to make the 3-mile park vision a reality — formed in 2013, sale prices of apartment buildings near the first phase of the park grew faster than in the rest of the city. The authors estimated up to 16% of this increase may be attributable to the Rail Park, and projected the amenity could generate more than $2 million in additional real estate tax revenue for the city per year.
Yue Wu, neighborhood planning and project manager at the Philadelphia Chinatown Development Corporation, acknowledges the economic and cultural diversity currently present in the neighborhood, but expresses fears that it won't last as costs rise and older residents are displaced. According to the article, "Friends of the Rail Park has tried to counter the cultural displacement that can come with gentrification by co-hosting events like Mahjong nights, plant swaps, elder hour — geared toward low-income and low-English language proficiency seniors — said Friends of the Rail Park Director Rebecca Cordes Chan." The organization is also launching a planning process that will evaluate the equity impacts of new development and develop ways to prevent potential displacement. Ideas include a land trust, local procurement, and 'value capture strategies.'
Planetizen has previously covered one such strategy, tax increment financing (TIF) districts, a mechanism which, as CityLab explained, "has become the most popular incentive tool for economic development in the United States as the federal government has decreased its urban development spending." Philadelphia already boasts several examples of TIFs, but "None of the TIF districts created to date in Philadelphia have funded community benefits, according to the 2020 Strategic Economics report."
FULL STORY: ‘Who’s Benefiting?’ As Chinatown Gentrifies, Rail Park Begins Equitable Development Plan

The Right to Mobility
As we consider how to decarbonize transportation, preserving mobility, especially for lower- and middle-income people, must be a priority.

America’s Best New Bike Lanes
PeopleForBikes highlights some of the most exciting new bike infrastructure projects completed in 2022.

Early Sharrow Booster: ‘I Was Wrong’
The lane marking was meant to raise awareness and instill shared respect among drivers and cyclists. But their inefficiency has led supporters to denounce sharrows, pushing instead for more robust bike infrastructure that truly protects riders.

How the Urban Tree Canopy Can Save Lives in a Heat Wave
New research reveals the direct link between planting more trees and a reduction in heat-related deaths.

Colorado Emissions Reduction Plan Ties Sustainable Transportation to State Funding
The state’s Greenhouse Gas Planning Standard uses tangible financial penalties to prioritize transportation projects that reduce emissions.

The Bicycle as Economic Lifeline
For many low-income households, bikes offer an affordable way to access more destinations and economic opportunities.
Town of Palm Beach
Texas A&M AgriLife Extension
York County Government
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
Harvard GSD Executive Education
City of Fitchburg, WI
City of Culver City
Sonoma County Transportation Authority
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.