Philadelphia

Philadelphia Skyline

A Coming of Age Story for Philadelphia's Revitalized Center City

A housing report by analyzing Philadelphia's Center City enunciates an obstacle facing many cities in the throes of downtown revitalization: What happens when Millennials don't come home to roost?

February 20, 2015 - Philadelphia

Planning Case Study: the Philadelphia2035 River Wards District Plan

Philadelphia planners are halfway through the Philadelphia2035 River Wards District Plan, which will help guide development and investment for a broad swath of troubled neighborhoods proximate to the Delaware River.

February 18, 2015 - PlanPhilly

Philadelphia Announces 'Indego' Bikeshare System—Opening this Spring

Indego will officially launch this spring with over 60 stations and 600 bikes. The city is already making plans to expand the system after its initial launch.

February 11, 2015 - Philadelphia Inquirer

Philadelphia Skyline

Pennsylvania Comes 'Round To Roundabouts

When two roads meet in William Penn's Forest, what do you do? New plans from the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation say, increasingly, you build a roundabout. No fewer than forty are on the drawing board throughout the state.

February 5, 2015 - Philadelphia Magazine

SEPTA Tops for Women Transit Riders

An informal survey of transit ridership data reveals that Philadelphia's SEPTA has the highest percentage of women riders. But what does that data say about SEPTA and transit in general?

January 27, 2015 - PlanPhilly

Proposed Planning and Development Reorganization Stalls in Philadelphia

A drastic overhaul of the planning and development processes in Philadelphia is, at least for now, on hold so stakeholders can have more time to analyze the proposal.

January 23, 2015 - philly.com

Strategic Plan for Philadelphia Land Bank Gains Approval

By all accounts, the Philadelphia Land Bank has completed a high quality strategic plan to guide its actions over the coming years.

January 22, 2015 - PlanPhilly

An 'Energy Hub' Boomtown—In Philadelphia?

The Marcellus Shale boom has inspired some in Philadelphia to imagine their city as the "next Houston"—if it can attract the businesses and infrastructure to bring oil and gas in for the benefit of a homegrown manufacturing economy.

January 19, 2015 - Philadelphia

Critic: Development Proposal to Close for Comfort to Philadelphia's Rodin Museum

Architecture Critic Inga Saffron decries the development proposal making progress through the approval process in Philadelphia—a large, glassy residential building that would encroach on the tiny serenity of the Rodin Museum.

January 16, 2015 - Philadelphia Inquirer

Philadelphia Italian market

Three Cities Where New Immigrants Revitalized Main Street

Fusion lists three cities as examples of new immigrants becoming the face of community businesses in neighborhoods needing a boost.

January 14, 2015 - Fusion

Philadelphia Replacing 7 Bridges Above Vine Street Expressway

"A five-year, $82 million project to replace seven bridges over the Vine Street Expressway will also remodel the cultural spine of the city," reports Paul Nussbaum.

December 24, 2014 - The Philadelphia Inquirer

Philadelphia Waterfront Revitalization follows the Schuylkill Banks Boardwalk

It might lack the High Line's design ambition, but the Schuylkill Banks Boardwalk will fill an appreciated role in the network of trails along the Philadelphia waterfront.

December 19, 2014 - The Architect's Newspaper

750-Mile Trail Network Near Philadelphia Receives $8.6 Million Gift

The William Penn Foundation has awarded $8.6 million in support for The Circuit—a planned regional network of bicycle and pedestrian trails for greater Philadelphia.

December 18, 2014 - Philadelphia Inquirer

New Orleans Streetcar

Compare the Scale of U.S. Streetcar Systems

Everyone likes a little friendly competition—in this case a Greater Greater Washington post does a side-by-side comparison of all the active streetcar systems in the United States.

December 12, 2014 - Greater Greater Washington

Gentrification

3 Strategies for Controlling Gentrification

Sandy Smith summarizes a recent "Gentrification, Integration, and Equity" event hosted by Next City in Philadelphia.

December 6, 2014 - Next City

Crumbling concrete bridge

60 Minutes Examines America's Failing Infrastructure

Steve Kroft of 60 Minutes reviews road, rail, bridges, and ports to see how much investment is needed to improve the country's infrastructure, beginning in Pittsburgh and ending at a key Amtrak rail bridge in New Jersey.

November 25, 2014 - CBS News: 60 Minutes

Fix Philadelphia's Parkway by Turning Logan Circle into a Square

Does Philadelphia's Benjamin Franklin Parkway really deserve a multi-year celebration of its upcoming centennial? No. Why? Because, as hard as it may be to admit, the Parkway was a mistake. To fix it, start by turning Logan Circle back into a square.

October 29, 2014 - Broad Street Review

Opportunities Found for Redesign of Philadelphia's Famed JFK Plaza/LOVE Park

As the redesign for LOVE Park begins, Ashley Hahn reminds us of the park's role in supporting and maintaining civic life in the city of brotherly love.

October 24, 2014 - PlanPhilly

Student Housing Developments Provoke Down-Zoning in Philadelphia

The Philadelphia City Planning Commission approved a series of bills to implement portions of the Lower North District Plan. Although the bills include downzoning, planners believe the area's vacant land is sufficient to bear new development.

October 23, 2014 - PlanPhilly

A SEPTA R5 commuter train heading for Doylestown, Pennsylvania from Lansdale station.

Philadelphia's Overcrowded Commuter Rail in Need of New Trains

The newest members of the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority's fleet of commuter trains, 120 Silverliner V trains that have arrived since 2010, have not been sufficient in alleviating crowded rail lines.

October 19, 2014 - Philadelphia Inquirer

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.

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.