Pennsylvania

Philly Developer Must Comply With Zoning Deal Before Tenants Can Occupy Luxury Units

City officials in Philadelphia are scrambling to deal with the fallout after a developer suddenly backed out of a deal that allowed additional height in exchange for affordable housing units for a 250-unit development near the Delaware River.

June 10, 2016 - The Philadelphia Inquirer

Petrochemical Plant

Giant Ethane Cracker Coming to a Keystone Opportunity Zone Near Pittsburgh

The state of Pennsylvania and the county of Beaver have what they wanted: Shell has decided to build a new ethane cracker facility northwest of Pittsburgh.

June 9, 2016 - Pittsburgh Post-Gazette - Powersource

Philadelphia Rowhouse

Real-Estate Site Locates Redevelopment Potential Across Philadelphia

A new map-based web tool created by a former city employee calculates the redevelopment potential of every parcel in Philadelphia.

June 4, 2016 - Philly Voice

Detroit Vacant

'Vacant Home Tour' Reimagines Blight

It's not your typical walking tour: A resident-led project in Wilkinsburg, Pennsylvania explores the history of a community through its blighted properties.

June 2, 2016 - Community Progress Blog

City Hall Philadelphia

Proposed Bill Would Empower Philadelphia Councilmember Prerogative

A Philadelphia councilmember has proposed a seemingly esoteric bill that would amend the city code to give individual councilmembers new power in the planning process.

June 2, 2016 - PlanPhilly

Japanese Knotweed

One Reaction to an Invasive Plant Species: Eat It

When it comes to one particularly invasive plant species in Pittsburgh, some food retail businesses are saying, "if you can't beat it, eat it."

May 28, 2016 - The Wall Street Journal

John Fry

The College President With the Sterling Redevelopment Résumé

John A. Fry lacks a terminal degree, but what he doesn't lack is land use and redevelopment know-how. Drexel University in Philadelphia is the latest to employ his talents.

May 21, 2016 - The Philadelphia Inquirer

Loss of 'Situational Awareness' Caused Fatal Amtrak #188 Crash

The nation's transportation safety board determined that a distracted engineer caused one of the worst crashes in Amtrak's history, killing eight and injuring over 180 people just north of Philadelphia.

May 18, 2016 - RT&S (Railway Track & Structures)

Pennsylvania State Capitol

Pennsylvania Gov. Wolf Expresses Solidarity for Cities

Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf grew up in a small town, but he has since adopted cities among his political causes. In recent remarks, he detailed his opinions about how public policy shortchanges cities—in Pennsylvania and the country.

May 13, 2016 - The Philadelphia Inquirer

Canton Mellett Mall

Two Rustbelt Cities Take Similar Tacks to Future Planning

Erie, Pennsylvania and Canton, Ohio have faced the challenges of shrinking populations and fewer job prospects, but new comprehensive plans in each city may provide a pathway to resurgence

May 6, 2016 - The Canton Repository

Parking Meter Fail

'Pay-By-Plate' Parking Meters Bring Windfall to Pittsburgh

The power of modern parking technology is on display on the streets of Pittsburgh.

May 5, 2016 - Target 11

Philadelphia Franklin Square

Philadelphia's Franklin Square Installs a Fence and a Symbol of Privatization

Philadelphia's Franklin Square will require admission in the evening this spring, for the duration on a Chinese lantern festival. A critic faults the "philosophy of privatism" for robbing the park of its democratic qualities.

May 2, 2016 - The Philadelphia Inquirer

Parking

Parking Benefit Districts Around the U.S.

As Pittsburgh moves forward on a parking management program to fund neighborhood improvements, take a look at how other cities have adapted this Shoup-inspired redevelopment strategy.

May 2, 2016 - Keystone Crossroads

Philadelphia Market Street

A Plan to Make Philadelphia's Market Street More Like Main Street

Changing demographics and mobility choices along the historic Market Street in Philadelphia have planners looking for ways to implement a road diet and put safety first.

April 28, 2016 - The Philadelphia Inquirer

Portland Pearl District Streetcar

PBS Takes on Urban Planning, Good and Bad, with '10 Towns' Special

Beginning with the first U.S. planned urban development, St. Augustine, Fla., and ending with one of Portland's newest neighborhoods, the Pearl District, host Geoffrey Baer takes us through ten developments that left their mark, for better or worse.

April 27, 2016 - PBS

Paris Climate Agreement Signed, but Troubles Loom in the U.S.

On Earth Day, NPR looked at the intersection of the Paris Climate Agreement, which Secretary of State John Kerry signed at the U.N. on Friday, and President Obama's Clean Power Plan which has been given a pause by the Supreme Court.

April 23, 2016 - NPR

Oil Drills

All Jokes Aside: Do Oil Companies Avoid Wealthy Areas?

Environmental justice alarms sounded when an oil industry executive made public remarks about how drilling sites get selected.

April 19, 2016 - Pittsburg Post-Gazette

What Eminent Domain Means in North Philadelphia

A panel discussion convened in Philadelphia recently to discuss the effects of eminent domain, that critical and troubling tool that makes redevelopment possible.

April 13, 2016 - Keystone Crossroads

Trans Alaska Oil Pipeline

Plans for Massive Oil Pipeline to Philadelphia Taking Shape

Oil industry representatives have coalesced behind a plan to connect Philadelphia with the Marcellus Shale region with a large new pipeline. A recently completed conceptual plan for the pipeline is intended to build political support.

April 10, 2016 - The Philadelphia Inquirer

Reading Viaduct

Arguing for Philly's Viaduct Rail Park Provide as a Mobility Solution

The High Line is a famous example of urban revitalization, but a useful commuter path it is not. Can a similar proposal in Philadelphia offer the benefits of beautification and mobility?

April 10, 2016 - Philadelphia

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.

Senior Manager Operations, Urban Planning

New York City School Construction Authority

Building Inspector

Village of Glen Ellyn

Manager of Model Development

Central Transportation Planning Staff/Boston Region MPO

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.