Philadelphia

Philadelphia's Benjamin Franklin Parkway

Housing on the Agenda as Philadelphia Election Approaches

In the run-up to a municipal primary scheduled for May 21, Philadelphia's City Council has introduced a range of bills to address housing affordability and tenants' rights.

April 13, 2019 - Next City

Traffic

Will Manhattan's "Central Business District Tolling" Clear the Way for More Congestion Pricing?

Cordon pricing applied to Manhattan's Central Business District, approved by the state legislature on March 31 and signed into law by Gov. Andrew Cuomo on April 1, has the ability to be a game changer for other cities considering similar programs.

April 8, 2019 - The New York Times

SEPTA Token

Fare Evasion 'Quietly' Decriminalized in Philadelphia

More social justice advocates in more cities are winning the argument that transit fare evasion punishments don't fit the crime.

April 3, 2019 - PlanPhilly

SEPTA Bus Transit

While Ridership Plummets, Transit Fixes Are Slow to Materialize in Philadelphia

The list of challenges facing transit agencies like the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority is long. The list of feasible projects that can deliver solutions is much shorter.

March 29, 2019 - philly.com

2011 Master Plan for the Central Delaware Cut Philadelphia's Waterfront Short

Waterfront views and large parcels of vacant land should be a good urban revitalization in a growing city like Philadelphia, but the Central Delaware waterfront has fallen short of expectations.

March 26, 2019 - Philadelphia Inquirer

Philadelphia

'Councilmanic Prerogative' Hindering Development in Philadelphia

The legislative quid pro quo is being used by members of the city council for the wrong reasons, leaving neighborhoods throughout the city in limbo.

March 14, 2019 - The Inquirer / Philly.com

recycling

Recyclables Headed to Incinerators or Landfills

China's decision to halt imports of most recyclables from the United States has caused turmoil. With few markets for their recyclables, Philadelphia is sending half of them to a waste-to-energy incinerator in Chester not designed to burn them.

March 1, 2019 - The Guardian

Downtown Philadelphia

Philadelphia Sees Record Housing Production

An influx of millennials is driving population and housing growth in the Center City neighborhood.

February 21, 2019 - Philadelphia Inquirer - Philly.com

Mid-Block Crosswalks Help Reorient the City in Favor of Pedestrians

Mid-Block Crosswalks Help Reorient the City in Favor of Pedestrians

In Philadelphia, letting pedestrians cross at more places helps challenge the norms that privilege cars.

February 13, 2019 - The Inquirer / Philly.com

Federal Government Intervenes to Halt Planned Supervised Injection Site in Philadelphia

Pennsylvania-based prosecutors and the Department of Justice in Washington are mounting a legal challenge to a proposed supervised injection site in the works in Philadelphia.

February 8, 2019 - WHYY

Homelessness

The 'Latino Homeless Paradox'

The city of Philadelphia provides a case study of the so-called "Latino Homeless Paradox." There are many more low-income and homeless Latinos than reflected in the numbers of those using supportive services in the city.

January 20, 2019 - The Philadelphia Inquirer

Street Cleaning Program Much Better at Writing Tickets

An investigation into Philadelphia's street cleaning program reveals a parking ticket program that doesn't benefit the city as much as it benefits the Philadelphia Parking Authority.

January 17, 2019 - WHYY

Pennsylvania

Philly's New Tallest Tower Earns Positive Reviews

The first building in Philadelphia to surpass 1,000 feet is now the tenth tallest building in the country. Here's what local media is writing about the Comcast Technology Center.

January 10, 2019 - The Philadelphia Inquirer

Philadelphia Rowhouses

Philadelphia Unlikely to Follow Minneapolis' Lead in Zoning Reform

Minneapolis is setting a bold example by ending single-family zoning, but chances are a similar change won’t be coming to Philadelphia.

January 9, 2019 - PlanPhilly

Trash Can

Nudging People to Keep Cities Clean

Philadelphia looked at how interventions can change recycling and littering behavior.

January 8, 2019 - Apolitical

Philadelphia Italian market

Philadelphia Inquirer's New App Sends 'On This Block' Alerts

The HERE app provides new ways to access information about the local arts and architecture scene.

January 1, 2019 - The Philadelphia Inquirer

Blight Demolition

Record Year for Demolitions in Philadelphia

City records reveal the growing trend of demolitions across the city of Philadelphia.

December 31, 2018 - PlanPhilly

Downtown Philadelphia

Link Kiosks Up and Running in Philadelphia

The kiosks in downtown Philadelphia are part of an effort to deploy smart-cities technology.

December 30, 2018 - Smart Cities Dive

Philadelphia Skyline

Philadelphia’s Skyline History

The city didn’t have tall buildings until the 1980s. Then its skyline took off.

December 2, 2018 - The Inquirer / Philly.com

Dilworth park

Details of Philadelphia's $181 Million, Voter Approved Bond

Voters approved a $181 million municipal bond to fund public works investments around the city.

November 15, 2018 - PlanPhilly

FREE Course: Walkable City 1: Why Walkability?

After describing his path towards focusing on walkability as the essence of good planning, Jeff Speck marches through his five principal reasons for making more walkable places.

Reinventing Malls: Planning Alchemy—Turning Gray Fields Into Gold

The course focuses on the opportunities and imperatives that shape reinvention of mall sites.

Top Books

An annual review of books related to planning.

Top Schools

The definitive ranking of graduate planning programs.

100 Most Influential Urbanists

The who's who of urbanism, according to Planetizen readers.

Urban Planning Creators You Should Know

A short list of voices on social, video, and podcasting platforms.