Comcast, plans for a new headquarters skyscraper in Philadelphia, which would use public subsidies that were intended to be used for cleaning up blighted neighborhoods.
Despite a looming office vacancy increase, the State of Pennsylvania is considering offering subsidy incentives to Comcast so that it will be able to construct new headquarters in Central City Philadelphia. The Company and the State are looking at a piece of land situated in Central City that is subject to be designated as a Keystone Opportunity Improvement Zone, a state program offering generous tax abatements originally intended for blighted neighborhoods. The State argues that by giving the company what it wants it will have a snowball effect on other corporate relocations. The Company claims that it is perfectly fine for them to receive such special treatment because they will be adding 700 jobs to the downtown area. However, other real estate holders in Central City say that the incentives offered to this part of the city would leave them at a competitive disadvantage and would suck the life out of an already distressed office market.
Thanks to Brad Chranko
Read the full story: Downtown Philadelphia Roiled by Proposed Subsidy
Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.
‘Going backwards:’ Baltimore mayor, students rally against state's transit funding plan
Maryland's proposed six-year plan provides no funding for Baltimore’s BMORE bus program and reduces its road maintenance funding.
Mamdani sent nearly 6,000 pied-à-terre tax warnings to homes that didn’t qualify
A judge has ordered the administration to cancel thousands of pied-à-terre tax notices after it sent 35% of them erroneously.
Mamdani sent nearly 6,000 pied-à-terre tax warnings to homes that didn’t qualify
A judge has ordered the administration to cancel thousands of pied-à-terre tax notices after it sent 35% of them erroneously.
Detroit to transform waterfront with $2.2 billion investment
Developers will convert about 18 acres of unused parking lot space into civic spaces.
‘Going backwards:’ Baltimore mayor, students rally against state's transit funding plan
Maryland's proposed six-year plan provides no funding for Baltimore’s BMORE bus program and reduces its road maintenance funding.
FREE Course: Walkable City 1: Why Walkability?
After describing his path towards focusing on walkability as the essence of good planning, Jeff Speck marches through his five principal reasons for making more walkable places.
Reinventing Malls: Planning Alchemy—Turning Gray Fields Into Gold
The course focuses on the opportunities and imperatives that shape reinvention of mall sites.
City of Thousand Oaks
City of Wisconsin Rapids
Harvard University Graduate School of Design
The Architects Foundation
University of Cincinnati Online
Northern Illinois Transit Authority (NITA)
The Pocatello Development Authority
The Urban Renewal Agency of the City of Pocatello