On the tenth anniversary of the founding of PennPraxis, Tom Stoelker looks at the consultancy's contribution to advancing community-based planning, and several crucial projects, in Philadelphia.
Stoelker traces the history of PennPraxis, the nonprofit consultancy arm of the School of Design at the University of Pennsylvania, which was created to "allow both students and professors the chance to practice in a real-world environment through analyzing and developing proposals for actual urban situations."
In the decade since its establishment, the consultancy has had a profound impact on planning in Philadelphia, where it has laid the groundwork for the revitalization of the city's waterfront and spurred a citywide zoning overhaul, and elsewhere, as they've garnered $16 million in international consultancy fees.
As Stoelker notes, Praxis has had a lasting impact on the digital realm as well. "As Praxis developed its waterfront plan, they relied on traditional media to gain traction and also launched an independent and now a very popular website called PlanPhilly.com. 'PlanPhilly had more impact than anything that I can think of in years,' said Gary Jastrzab, executive director at the City Planning Commission. 'They really stepped in and created a whole new group that follows planning closely.'"
FULL STORY: Well Practiced

Maui's Vacation Rental Debate Turns Ugly
Verbal attacks, misinformation campaigns and fistfights plague a high-stakes debate to convert thousands of vacation rentals into long-term housing.

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

In Urban Planning, AI Prompting Could be the New Design Thinking
Creativity has long been key to great urban design. What if we see AI as our new creative partner?

Massachusetts Budget Helps Close MBTA Budget Gap
The budget signed by Gov. Maura Healey includes $470 million in MBTA funding for the next fiscal year.

Milwaukee Launches Vision Zero Plan
Seven years after the city signed its Complete Streets Policy, the city is doubling down on its efforts to eliminate traffic deaths.

Portland Raises Parking Fees to Pay for Street Maintenance
The city is struggling to bridge a massive budget gap at the Bureau of Transportation, which largely depleted its reserves during the Civd-19 pandemic.
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.
Gallatin County Department of Planning & Community Development
Heyer Gruel & Associates PA
JM Goldson LLC
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
Transportation Research & Education Center (TREC) at Portland State University
Jefferson Parish Government
Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Claremont