A Powerless Planning Director?

A columnist reports that Philadelphia's planning director suggests that she is "powerless" to design a better building across from City Hall.

1 minute read

August 14, 2004, 11:00 AM PDT

By Chris Steins @planetizen


"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

Friday, August 13, 2004 in The Philadelphia Inquirer

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Use Code 25for25 at checkout for 25% off an annual plan!

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

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

May 7, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

People biking along beach path with moored ship in San Diego, California.

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.

May 2, 2025 - SD News

Front of Walmart store with sign.

Walmart Announces Nationwide EV Charging Network

The company plans to install electric car chargers at most of its stores by 2030.

May 7, 2025 - Inc.

Pump station with blue pipes coming out of concrete wall in Seattle, Washington.

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.

4 hours ago - City Observatory

Sign for Deschutes National Forest in Oregon.

Feds Clear Homeless Encampment in Oregon Forest

The action displaced over 100 people living on national forest land near Bend, Oregon.

5 hours ago - The New York Times

Seeing the Better City

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.

6 hours ago - Resurgence: A Journey via Substack

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.