With the city undertaking several major planning efforts -- including a complete revision of its zoning code -- Philadelphia is entering a new shining era of city planning. But there's still more work to be done, argues a recent editorial.
"Much is made of William Penn's celebrated street grid, the Benjamin Franklin Parkway, and the making of Society Hill. But let's face it: Despite these landmark achievements, city planning has not been Philadelphia's strong suit for a long time."
"No doubt about it: We've rested on our planning laurels. We've slept and snored. And we've come to accept a degraded public sphere as a fact of life.
Luckily, the legacy bequeathed us by long-ago decisions - walkable neighborhoods, gracious architecture and a compact downtown - now are seen as major assets by a nation rediscovering city life. A 50-year trend of population loss is leveling off; home values are rising.
Suddenly, Philadelphia is planning again: More than 1,000 people jammed the Convention Center for the recent unveiling of a new waterfront master plan. A new Zoning Code Commission has begun a rewrite of that tangled document. The city is at work on a bold GreenPlan for open space. Mayor-elect Nutter is strong on these issues.
A new era beckons. But where to begin?"
FULL STORY: Awaken city from its long planning nap

Alabama: Trump Terminates Settlements for Black Communities Harmed By Raw Sewage
Trump deemed the landmark civil rights agreement “illegal DEI and environmental justice policy.”

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

The 120 Year Old Tiny Home Villages That Sheltered San Francisco’s Earthquake Refugees
More than a century ago, San Francisco mobilized to house thousands of residents displaced by the 1906 earthquake. Could their strategy offer a model for the present?

LA’s Tree Emergency Goes Beyond Vandalism
After a vandal destroyed dozens of downtown LA trees, Mayor Karen Bass vowed to replace them. Days later, she slashed the city’s tree budget.

Sacramento Leads Nation With Bus-Mounted Bike Lane Enforcement Cameras
The city is the first to use its bus-mounted traffic enforcement system to cite drivers who park or drive in bike lanes.

Seattle Voters Approve Social Housing Referendum
Voters approved a corporate tax to fund the city’s housing authority despite an opposition campaign funded by Amazon and Microsoft.
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