Philadelphia

Amtrak Crash Shuts Down Northeast Corridor Service on Sunday Morning

An Amtrak train that originated in Boston and headed to Savannah, Ga. struck a backhoe working on tracks about 15 miles southwest of Philadelphia. Two Amtrak construction workers in or near the backhoe were killed; 31 train passengers were injured.

April 4, 2016 - Planetizen

Philadelphia Italian market

The Great Debate: How to Attract Investment in Neglected Urban Areas

With the key assumption that more of Philadelphia needs to see the benefits of the recent wave of investment that has come to the city's urban core, politicians at varying levels of government are considering multiple policy options.

March 30, 2016 - Philadelphia

Visualizing Parking in the City of Brotherly Love: Parkadelphia

An intrepid city employee created Philadelphia's first mapping tool for visualizing the layers of regulation and management that govern when, when, and how people park in Philadelphia.

March 24, 2016 - Plan Philly

A Critical Take on Philadelphia's Big Innovation District Plans

Philadelphia Inquirer Architecture Critic Inga Saffron digs into the facts and fictions about innovation districts, as the city reveals a third splashy project touting its innovation district bonafides.

March 22, 2016 - Philadelphia Inquirer

Critic Raises Alarms About North Philadelphia Redevelopment Efforts

The Pulitzer Prize-winning architecture critic of the Philadelphia Inquirer is concerned about the large-scale redevelopment of North Philadelphia, under the leadership of the Philadelphia Housing Authority.

March 10, 2016 - The Philadelphia Inquirer

New Philadelphia Mayor Pitching $300 Million for Parks and Libraries

Investment in public space is shaping up as a signature initiative for new Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney.

February 26, 2016 - Philadelphia

Political Support Coalesces Around Protected Bike Lanes in Philadelphia

Bike advocates have high hopes for the leadership of newly elected Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney. Among Mayor Kenney's campaign promises: to add 30 miles of protected bike lanes.

February 17, 2016 - People for Bikes

Philadelphia Getting Its Very Own 'Complete Streets Commissioner'

Philadelphia magazine says a staffing decision by new Mayor Jim Kenney is a big victory for urbanists and bike advocates.

February 2, 2016 - Philadelphia

Philadelphia Ben Franklin Bridge

Philadelphia's Old City Finally on a Roll

The comeback story for the city of Philadelphia's oldest neighborhood—Old City—displays the power of community organization and deliberate planning.

January 26, 2016 - Philadelphia

Philadelphia Searches for a Place to Feed the Hungry

Urban planning challenge: where to site a large tent for serving meals to the homeless in a revitalizing part of Philadelphia.

January 17, 2016 - philly.com

SEPTA Token

Philly Transit Riders Need To Keep Those Tokens Handy, For Now

While most big city transit systems have moved on to electronic passes or paper tickets, Philadelphia's riders are left to deal with tokens and transfer slips until SEPTA's plans for a system upgrade come to fruition.

January 11, 2016 - The Philadelphia Inquirer

Parking Spaces Reduced in Center City Philadelphia—Along With Parking Occupancy

Philadelphia is providing a living case study of the tenants of the Donald Shoup-approach to parking.

January 1, 2016 - Plan Philly

City Hall

Introducing 8 Newly Elected Mayors

There's no doubt that cities provide important leadership on countless issues—here are eight new elected mayors tasked with providing the political leadership to make it possible.

December 29, 2015 - Governing

City Hall Philadelphia

New Director of Planning and Development Picked in Philadelphia

The reorganization of planning department functions in the city of Philadelphia was one of the more substantial planning-related results of the November election. Now the new Planning and Development Department is taking shape.

December 28, 2015 - The Philadelphia Inquirer

Rowhouses Have an Ally in Philadelphia

An important source of housing affordable to wide ranges of incomes has a new, well-funded ally in Philadelphia—the Healthy Rowhouse Project is hoping to make a big impact in 2016.

December 28, 2015 - PlanPhilly

Philadelphia

Philadelphia Attempts Urban Intervention to Fix Its 'Most Boring Street'

Surrounded on all sides by glassy, modern towers, Philly's West Market Street has lacked the sort of attractions that have brought downtown workers to neighboring streets.

December 21, 2015 - Philadelphia Inquirer

Philadelphia Skyline

Philadelphia Pushes Ahead with Changes to Zoning Code

Updates to Philadelphia’s zoning code are designed to "clean-up" the code, adopted in 2011.

November 30, 2015 - Plan Philly

Delaware River Port Authority Approves Discount for Frequent Drivers

With some extra cash on hand (rare, isn't it?) the Delaware River Port Authority will offer a discount for drivers that cross authority bridges 18 times a month. But what about transit riders?

November 22, 2015 - philly.com

The Regulations Making Philadelphia a Beer Lover's Paradise

Cities and neighborhoods looking to locate and support breweries and brew pubs should look to Philadelphia as an example of a beer-friendly regulatory environment.

November 18, 2015 - Philadelphia Inquirer

Philadelphia Alleyway

Philadelphia Alleys Ranked for Makeover

In advance of what may be a wider program, Philadelphia's alleys have been ranked for their aesthetic quality. Those in the "average" range are most suitable for retrofits.

November 17, 2015 - The Architect's Newspaper

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.

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