Recent suggestions from Philadelphia's City Council threaten the city's rebound and could turn swaths of Philadelphia into suburbia, argues Inga Saffron in a recent opinion piece.
City Council members have put forward proposals that may threaten the walkability and attractiveness of metro Philadelphia. According to The Philadelphia Inquirer's Inga Saffron, these proposals threaten Philadelphia's recovery by recommending outdated ideas on how to plan neighborhoods.
Among a number of proposals, Saffron first points to one from Councilmember Jannie Blackwell, "Who is pushing legislation that would double the amount of parking required in new developments." Blackwell found an ally in her push for parking in City Council President, Darrell Clarke, who, when describing the kind of development he would like, points the city toward his own district, which has many car-first developments. "If you wander thorough Clarke's district, you can see several of these mini-suburbs. They are the legacy of the early 1990s, when Philadelphia was at its lowest point," Saffron cautions.
The author would prefer that Philadelphia envision development that values keeping more people in the city. She points out how the current proposals are completely at odds with the president's pro-development playbook. While these council members talk a good game about affordable housing, Saffron warns, "Low-density development sabotages their stated goal of creating affordable housing."
Pennsylvania Mall Conversion Bill Passes House
If passed, the bill would promote the adaptive reuse of defunct commercial buildings.
World's Largest Wildlife Overpass In the Works in Los Angeles County
Caltrans will soon close half of the 101 Freeway in order to continue construction of the Wallis Annenberg Wildlife Crossing near Agoura Hills in Los Angeles County.
U.S. Supreme Court: California's Impact Fees May Violate Takings Clause
A California property owner took El Dorado County to state court after paying a traffic impact fee he felt was exorbitant. He lost in trial court, appellate court, and the California Supreme Court denied review. Then the U.S. Supreme Court acted.
Coming Soon to Ohio: The Largest Agrivoltaic Farm in the US
The ambitious 6,000-acre project will combine an 800-watt solar farm with crop and livestock production.
New York’s Deadliest Neighborhoods for Pedestrians
Pedestrian deaths rose last year, but remain below pre-2020 levels.
Eviction Looms for Low-Income Tenants as Rent Debt Rises
Nonprofit housing operators across the country face almost $10 billion in rent debt.
City of Costa Mesa
Licking County
Barrett Planning Group LLC
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
Mpact Transit + Community
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
Tufts University, Department of Urban and Environmental Policy & Planning
City of Universal City TX
ULI Northwest Arkansas
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.