Many of the candidates agree that a slow, complex sales process and strong councilmanic prerogative hinder the development of city-owned lots.

Candidates running for mayor of Philadelphia are touting vacant city-owned lots as one solution to the city’s affordable housing shortage, calling on the city to improve its “too complex and too slow” current process for building on vacant land. According to an article by Aarol Moselle for WHYY, a combination of Philadelphia city agencies owns roughly one-quarter of the 40,000 vacant lots in the city. But Philadelphia Land Bank executive director Angel Rodriguez “said it currently takes between four and seven months for a property to go to settlement, the final stage of a transaction where ownership of the property is legally transferred from the city to the buyer, usually either a private developer or a nonprofit.” Developers say this time frame makes it difficult to build new housing at a pace that will make an impact.
The city also has uniquely powerful councilmembers under what is known as councilmanic privilege, “longstanding and deep-rooted practice” in Philadelphia. “Any candidate running for mayor in Philadelphia must contend with that reality if they’re elected, particularly if their campaign is pushing for new affordable housing projects, which are viewed by advocates as a significant but not a singular solution to the ongoing housing crisis.”
FULL STORY: Philly mayoral candidates target vacant land for affordable housing

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

Chicago’s Ghost Rails
Just beneath the surface of the modern city lie the remnants of its expansive early 20th-century streetcar system.

Amtrak Cutting Jobs, Funding to High-Speed Rail
The agency plans to cut 10 percent of its workforce and has confirmed it will not fund new high-speed rail projects.

Ohio Forces Data Centers to Prepay for Power
Utilities are calling on states to hold data center operators responsible for new energy demands to prevent leaving consumers on the hook for their bills.

MARTA CEO Steps Down Amid Citizenship Concerns
MARTA’s board announced Thursday that its chief, who is from Canada, is resigning due to questions about his immigration status.

Silicon Valley ‘Bike Superhighway’ Awarded $14M State Grant
A Caltrans grant brings the 10-mile Central Bikeway project connecting Santa Clara and East San Jose closer to fruition.
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