Mayor Jim Kenney

Row of five white chairs set against a blue wall with a round white analog clock. Clinic waiting room.

The Messy Politics of Saving Lives from Drug Overdoses

Philadelphia was on the verge of approving a key harm reduction strategy to prevent fatal drug overdoses until the city council all but banned supervised injection sites, overriding a mayoral veto. A New York Times report explores the controversy.

October 26, 2023 - The New York Times

SEPTA Bus Transit

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.

April 2, 2021 - The Philadelphia Inquirer

Society Hill Historic Buildings

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.

October 26, 2020 - WHYY

Society Hill Historic Buildings

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.

October 15, 2020 - WHYY

Homelessness

Housing Programs on the Chopping Block in Philadelphia

The city of Philadelphia is facing a $649 million budget shortfall, and Mayor Jim Kenney is proposing to cut deeply from the city's housing budget to make up the difference.

June 11, 2020 - WHYY

Downtown Philadelphia

Consensus on Changes to Property Tax Abatement Too Challenging for Philadelphia

Despite over a year of proposals, counter proposals, and heated debate, the city of Philadelphia has yet to broker a breakthrough on proposed reforms to the city's ten-year property tax abatement program.

July 3, 2019 - PlanPhilly

Dilworth park

Details of Philadelphia's $181 Million, Voter Approved Bond

Voters approved a $181 million municipal bond to fund public works investments around the city.

November 15, 2018 - PlanPhilly

Victorian Townhomes

Philadelphia Aims to Create or Preserve 100,000 Units of Housing

The city of Philadelphia released a document detailing its intentions around housing and related policies. The plan, which has been described as "ambitious," places a focus on equity.

October 11, 2018 - PlanPhilly

Center City

Philadelphia's Eviction Task Force Releases Action Plan

The housing crisis is the eviction crisis. Philadelphia is taking action.

May 30, 2018 - Next City

Bike Lane in Philadelphia

Op-Ed: Philadelphia City Council Shouldn't Be Able to Block Bike Lanes

The Philadelphia Inquirer Editorial Board pushes against a proposed bill that increases City Council oversight of new bike lanes. Traffic calming, the Inquirer argues, requires a citywide approach.

March 21, 2018 - The Philadelphia Inquirer - Philly.com

Indego

Checking in on Philadelphia's Promised Protected Bike Lanes

Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kinney is discovering on the job that planning is much easier than delivering when it comes to protected bike lanes—as is the case in many cities around the country.

September 29, 2017 - PlanPhilly

Philadelphia

Philadelphia's Freeway Cap Park Almost Fully Funded, Ready to Start Planning

March was a momentous month for the Central Access Philadelphia (CAP) project. The project would build cap over I-95 at Penn's Landing, among other improvements.

April 4, 2017 - Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia

SEPTA Token

An Early Win for Clinton on the Penultimate Day of Election

With Pennsylvania a battleground state and Philadelphia a Democratic stronghold, ensuring that transit-dependent voters get to the polls was a given, but a transit strike beginning Nov. 1 threatened to derail access. The strike was settled Monday.

November 8, 2016 - USA Today

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

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

News from HUD User

HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research

Call for Speakers

Mpact Transit + Community

New Updates on PD&R Edge

HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research

Top Books

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Planning apps for a brave new world.

Top Schools

The definitive ranking of graduate planning programs.

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.