A columnist reports that Philadelphia's planning director suggests that she is "powerless" to design a better building across from City Hall.
"It is not every day that a Philadelphia official declares loudly and publicly that she is utterly powerless. But that's essentially what city planning director Maxine Griffith did last week on The Inquirer's letters page, when she wrote to defend her endorsement of a proposed apartment tower across from City Hall - a tower almost 200 feet taller than zoning allows....
Griffith seems to take the view that building projects represent economic development, and therefore all new buildings must be equally good for Philadelphia. This philosophy, which appears to be shared by Mayor Street and the zoning board, has resulted in a near absence of critical discretion. It's the beggars-can't-be-choosers approach to planning: Whatever developers propose, Philadelphia will gratefully accept."
Thanks to ArchNewsNow
FULL STORY: Phila. is not powerless over its development

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

San Diego Adopts First Mobility Master Plan
The plan provides a comprehensive framework for making San Diego’s transportation network more multimodal, accessible, and sustainable.

Walmart Announces Nationwide EV Charging Network
The company plans to install electric car chargers at most of its stores by 2030.

Seattle Builds Subway-Sized Tunnel — for Stormwater
The $700 million ‘stormwater subway’ is designed to handle overflows during storms, which contain toxic runoff from roadways and vehicles.

Feds Clear Homeless Encampment in Oregon Forest
The action displaced over 100 people living on national forest land near Bend, Oregon.

Is This Urbanism?
Chuck Wolfe ponders a recommended subscription list of Substack urbanists and wonders — as have others — about the utility of the "urbanist" moniker.
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.
City of Moorpark
City of Tustin
Tyler Technologies
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
Transportation Research & Education Center (TREC) at Portland State University
Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada
Toledo-Lucas County Plan Commissions