Philadelphia

A Big Plan in Many Small Parts

Philadelphia is embarking on a long-term planning effort -- one in a string of many efforts over the past few decades. But this effort is different, compiling many small-scale plans for the city's future.

June 23, 2011 - The Philadelphia Inquirer

High Rises: One Size That Doesn't Fit All

Two big names are calling for more high rise development and less of the historic preservation efforts that have often prevented it in dense urban areas. The Philadelphia Inquirer's Inga Saffron says they're wrong.

June 11, 2011 - The Philadelphia Inquirer

Philadelphia Adopts First Comprehensive Plan in 50 Years

The Philadelphia City Planning Commission adopted the Citywide Vision portion of a new comprehensive plan—the first such venture in five decades

June 9, 2011 - PlanPhilly.com

Want an Empty Philadelphia Building?

The Philadelphia Housing Authority owns over 3,000 homes and would like to get rid of 1/3rd of them.

June 8, 2011 - The Philadelphia Inquirer

Parks Blossom in Philadelphia

Philadelphia is seeing a surge in new parks, as new public-realm projects are either opening or moving closer towards development.

June 2, 2011 - The Philadelphia Inquirer

Trying To Reclaim and Reuse Abandoned Land in Philadelphia

Community groups in Philadelphia are trying to remake blighted vacant properties into community gardens and neighborhood amenities.

May 13, 2011 - The Philadelphia Inquirer

Philadelphia Leads the Largest Cities in America for Bicycle Mode Share

A new report from The Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia shows that Philadelphia's bicycle mode share is more than double that of Chicago's (the big city with the second-greatest share).

May 11, 2011 - philly.com

Crowdsourcing Street Trees

A new online tool uses the power of crowdsourcing to "map, inventory, and preserve the Philadelphia urban forest."

April 29, 2011 - Azavea

Debating Skateboarding and Urban Space

Philadelphia may lose its world-famous skateboarding landmark with the renovation of its LOVE Park plaza, flaring a decade-old debate that has made international headlines.

March 6, 2011 - The Philadelphia Daily News

Updating and Improving Philadelphia's Downtown Plazas

Three public plazas in the center of Philadelphia are set to see much-needed makeovers, and soon.

February 14, 2011 - The Philadelphia Inquirer

The Broken Teeth of Philadelphia

David Gouverneur, urban designer and Associate Professor of Landscape Architecture at PennDesign, says mending the urban fabric of his city is a bit like acupressure: you put the pressure in certain key places to mend the whole.

February 6, 2011 - Next American City

Philadelphia Plans to Green 500 Acres by 2015

Today Philadelphia Mayor Michael A. Nutter announced the ambitious 'Green 2015' plan to turn approximately 500 acres of city land into public green space over the next five years, with a focus on bringing parks to currently underserved communities.

December 7, 2010 - PlanPhilly

TIGER Funding Spurs Transit Plaza and Park in Philadelphia

Flush with federal grants, a new transit plaza and park is set to pop up in Philadelphia.

November 24, 2010 - The Architect's Newspaper

Quantifying the Impact of Abandoned Properties in Philly

A new study suggests that Philadelphia's 40,000 vacant buildings reduce home values by as much as $8,000 and cost the city $20 million per year in maintenance.

November 17, 2010 - Philadelphia Daily News

Philly's Newest Bridge is Ped-and-Bike Friendly

Inquirer architecture critic Inga Saffron gives a thumbs up to the design of Philadelphia's new South Street Bridge, which includes a bike lane that connects to bike paths on each side.

November 7, 2010 - The Philadelphia Inquirer

Philadelphia Riverfront Plan Brings Transformation Closer to Reality

For more than 40 years, the city of Philadelphia has had its sights set on transforming the Delaware Riverfront, but few plans have taken hold and little transformation has actually occurred. A new master plan could finally make it happen.

October 21, 2010 - The Philadelphia Inquirer

Amtrak Appoints Albrecht Engel To Head High Speed Rail Department

As Amtrak seeks to create and expand high-speed passenger train operations in the United States, the company on Thursday named Philadelphia rail expert Albrecht "Al" Engel to head its new high-speed rail department.

September 25, 2010 - philly.com

Historical Commission Give Permission to Demolish 19th c. Church

The Church of the Assumption, a mid-19th century building, is slated to be demolished. The Philadelphia Historical Commission is allowing the demolition after the non-profit that owns the site claimed it was financially incapable of the repairs.

September 13, 2010 - The Philadelphia Inquirer

Troubled Times for Philadelphia's Underfunded Parks

With one of Philadelphia's best-supported public parks in danger of losing the private funding that keeps it maintained, Philadelphia Inquirer architecture critic Inga Saffron looks at the sad state of the city's parks.

May 27, 2010 - The Philadelphia Inquirer

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.