Philadelphia

Dilworth park

Too Much Programming, Not Enough Protesting at Philadelphia's Dilworth Park

The Pulitzer Prize-winning architecture critic for the Philadelphia Inquirer raises pointed questions about the purpose of public space such as Dilworth Park, which has been absent of protests since it was remodeled two years ago.

July 23, 2016 - The Philadelphia Inquirer

SEPTA Trolley

Families Departing Philadelphia for the Suburbs

That headlining claim is found in a recent research study from Pew Charitable Trust's Philadelphia Research Initiative—more demographic goodies are included.

July 16, 2016 - NewsWorks

Philadelphia Ben Franklin Bridge

$9.3M Awarded to Affordable Housing Development in Philly

The Pennsylvania Governors Office announced that eight developers were awarded a total $9.3M in tax credits from the Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency (PHFA) to build 495 affordable housing units in the city of Philadelphia.

July 15, 2016 - Curbed Philadelphia

RTD Train

Denver's Commuter Rail Cars: Same as SEPTA's But Without the Defects

Denver's transit agency is running very similar Hyundai Rotem EMUs on their new A Line to the airport. The car shells are imported from South Korea and assembled in the same Philadelphia plant as SEPTA's problem-plagued Silverliner V cars.

July 11, 2016 - Billy Penn

Wood Street

Philadelphia Discovers the Difficulties of Restoring a Wood-Paved Street

A failed 2012 restoration of South Camac, meant to last five years, only made it until 2015. Now it will have to wait until 2017 to see the historic street paved in wood again.

July 7, 2016 - CityLab

SEPTA Train Tracks

SEPTA Forced to Take 120 Regional Trains Out of Service for Repairs

SEPTA commuters traveling to and from Delaware will spend the summer in transit gridlock, as 120 trains undergo necessary repairs to a serious structural flaw.

July 6, 2016 - NewsWorks

Philadelphia Street

More Residents and Workers Using Fewer Parking Spaces in Philly's Center City

The findings of a report on changes occurring in Philadelphia Center City finds more residents and workers walking, biking, and taking transit. (Thankfully, they aren't all looking for parking every day.)

July 4, 2016 - PlanPhilly

30th Street Station District Plan

Plans Released for $6.5 Billion Development in Philadelphia

Planners have completed a two-year study of the area around the 30th Street Station in the University City neighborhood in Philadelphia.

June 18, 2016 - The Philadelphia Inquirer

Philly Developer Must Comply With Zoning Deal Before Tenants Can Occupy Luxury Units

City officials in Philadelphia are scrambling to deal with the fallout after a developer suddenly backed out of a deal that allowed additional height in exchange for affordable housing units for a 250-unit development near the Delaware River.

June 10, 2016 - The Philadelphia Inquirer

Philadelphia Rowhouse

Real-Estate Site Locates Redevelopment Potential Across Philadelphia

A new map-based web tool created by a former city employee calculates the redevelopment potential of every parcel in Philadelphia.

June 4, 2016 - Philly Voice

City Hall Philadelphia

Proposed Bill Would Empower Philadelphia Councilmember Prerogative

A Philadelphia councilmember has proposed a seemingly esoteric bill that would amend the city code to give individual councilmembers new power in the planning process.

June 2, 2016 - PlanPhilly

John Fry

The College President With the Sterling Redevelopment Résumé

John A. Fry lacks a terminal degree, but what he doesn't lack is land use and redevelopment know-how. Drexel University in Philadelphia is the latest to employ his talents.

May 21, 2016 - The Philadelphia Inquirer

Loss of 'Situational Awareness' Caused Fatal Amtrak #188 Crash

The nation's transportation safety board determined that a distracted engineer caused one of the worst crashes in Amtrak's history, killing eight and injuring over 180 people just north of Philadelphia.

May 18, 2016 - RT&S (Railway Track & Structures)

Philadelphia Franklin Square

Philadelphia's Franklin Square Installs a Fence and a Symbol of Privatization

Philadelphia's Franklin Square will require admission in the evening this spring, for the duration on a Chinese lantern festival. A critic faults the "philosophy of privatism" for robbing the park of its democratic qualities.

May 2, 2016 - The Philadelphia Inquirer

High Line park NYC - Manhattan - New York City

Around the World, Cities Imitate the High Line

The High Line's brand of urban reinvention has caught on, sparking a number of similar projects throughout the world. In addition to disused rail, many projects repurpose old road infrastructure.

May 1, 2016 - Citiscope

Philadelphia Market Street

A Plan to Make Philadelphia's Market Street More Like Main Street

Changing demographics and mobility choices along the historic Market Street in Philadelphia have planners looking for ways to implement a road diet and put safety first.

April 28, 2016 - The Philadelphia Inquirer

Portland Pearl District Streetcar

PBS Takes on Urban Planning, Good and Bad, with '10 Towns' Special

Beginning with the first U.S. planned urban development, St. Augustine, Fla., and ending with one of Portland's newest neighborhoods, the Pearl District, host Geoffrey Baer takes us through ten developments that left their mark, for better or worse.

April 27, 2016 - PBS

What Eminent Domain Means in North Philadelphia

A panel discussion convened in Philadelphia recently to discuss the effects of eminent domain, that critical and troubling tool that makes redevelopment possible.

April 13, 2016 - Keystone Crossroads

Trans Alaska Oil Pipeline

Plans for Massive Oil Pipeline to Philadelphia Taking Shape

Oil industry representatives have coalesced behind a plan to connect Philadelphia with the Marcellus Shale region with a large new pipeline. A recently completed conceptual plan for the pipeline is intended to build political support.

April 10, 2016 - The Philadelphia Inquirer

Reading Viaduct

Arguing for Philly's Viaduct Rail Park Provide as a Mobility Solution

The High Line is a famous example of urban revitalization, but a useful commuter path it is not. Can a similar proposal in Philadelphia offer the benefits of beautification and mobility?

April 10, 2016 - Philadelphia

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.