Philadelphia

'Lights Out Philly' Initiative Will Save Birds From Building Collisions
More than 15 years of advocacy, and one particularly galvanizing bird kill event, have created the momentum necessary for widespread adoption of the Lights Out Philly initiative.

Amazon Outbids SEPTA for Southwest Philadelphia Property
The transit agency must renew its search for an appropriate facility for an expanded trolley barn as part of its plan to modernize its aging fleet.

Opinion: Philadelphia Mayor is Failing Transit Riders
By staying conspicuously absent from the controversy over the closure of the Somerset El station, the mayor has avoided involvement in an issue that affects the whole city, according to Philadelphia's leading architecture critic.

Zoning Revision Process Hits Snags in Philadelphia
A pair of advocates criticize recent actions to slow zoning revisions in the city of Philadelphia.

Philadelphia Park Designed for, not Against, People Experiencing Homelessness
In an effort to make public spaces more inclusive, a new pocket park in the Callowhill neighborhood will seek input from people experiencing homelessness on how to make the space more welcoming and functional.

Philadelphia Seeks Proposals to Pedestrianize Ben Franklin Parkway
The city hopes for "transformative" solutions to reinvigorate the auto-centric parkway and create safer paths for people walking and biking.

Philadelphia Leaders Dream Big With New Transit Plan
The plan, which looks more than two decades into the future, seeks to modernize the city's transit system, address inequities, and improve regional connectivity.

Philadelphia Neighborhoods Leverage Zoning Overlays for Local Control
Overlay districts provide a tool for guiding the future of development and environmental controls at the neighborhood level.

Philadelphia City Council Pushing for More Control Over Zoning Variances
A cause abandoned by the Philadelphia City in 2019 is on the table again.

Post-Pandemic Transit Planning: A New Era for Commuter Rail
Ridership on the nation's commuter rail services has plummeted more than other forms of transit during the pandemic. Serving a more affluent, professional ridership, commuter rail is looking more likely to face long-term cuts after the pandemic.

Preservation Blind Spot Apparent on Philly's Black 'Doctor's Row'
Christian Street, known at the beginning of the 20th century as the Black "Doctor's Row" should have been on the Historic Register years ago, according to this article.

Residential Development Tax to Fund Affordable Housing Programs
Philadelphia's city council passed the city's first-ever residential development impact tax, a plan that could boost the city budget by $9 million a year.

New Law Protects Homeowners From Wholesale Buyers in Philly
The new law won't stop the forces of gentrification, but it should stop one of gentrification's most pernicious symptoms.

Opinion: Proposed Parking Tax Reduction Would Do More Harm Than Good
Recent investigations into the conditions facing workers in private parking lots in Philadelphia has produced a series of legislation reforms, but one idea, to lower the city's parking tax, isn't going to fly with this opinion writer.

Petition Seeks Landmark Status for Philadelphia's Four Seasons
Four Seasons Total Landscaping. Was that not clear?

One Key, Underappreciated Affordable Housing Strategy: Repairing Existing Homes
The city of Philadelphia offers a case study for the challenges and potential benefits of home repair programs.

Winter Is Coming—Capitalize on It
Outdoor dining programs have provided relief for local restaurants and retailers, while offering an oasis of social life for residents. The winter months will challenge that momentum, but creative, flexible approaches can save the day again.

Downzoning for Society Hill Back on After the Philadelphia City Council Overrides Mayoral Veto
One of the wealthiest neighborhoods in Philadelphia is increasing parking requirements and limiting building heights at all costs.

Pandemic's Economic Realities Bolster Case for a Land Value Tax
The example of Philadelphia shows how a land value tax could provide relief to residents and the city's finances.

Mayoral Veto Kills Controversial Philadelphia Downzoning
The mayor, planning staff, and the Philadelphia Planning Commission agree. The Philadelphia City Council and residents of the wealthy neighborhood of Society Hill, not so much.
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