Urban Planning
News on cities, suburbs, and how we design the places we live
‘Slowly poisoned’: Neighbors protest controversial Delaware port project over health concerns
Neighbors living near the Edgemoor site say they’re concerned about truck exhaust, noise and harm to local wildlife.
Laurel plans Meadow View community to expand affordable housing access in Sussex County, Delaware
Delaware needs an estimated 24,400 additional homes by 2030 to keep up with projected demand, according to a state report.
21 hours ago
Listen 1:06
Report: Amtrak has little to do with NJ Transit’s reliability
The nonpartisan Garden State Initiative found that NJ Transit’s reliability has more to do with asset management.
3 days ago
Listen 1:09
A former DEP commissioner says the city did not have the authority to skirt state laws in order to make the 250th anniversary deadline.
4 days ago
Listen 1:26
Philadelphia developers are seeking more building permits for new rentals. Here’s why
The uptick is raising questions about Philadelphia's broader identity as a city of homeowners.
5 days ago
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Delmarva Power’s rate hike request slammed as ‘largest in Delaware history’
Delaware Gov. Matt Meyer says the average annual Delmarva Power bill went up nearly $400 over the past five years.
5 days ago
Billy Penn
10 things to know about the new Sixers and Flyers arena
The yet-to-be-named new building is scheduled to replace the Xfinity Mobile Arena in 2030. It will be home to the two teams, plus Philly’s future WNBA team.
6 days ago
76ers and Comcast unveil design for South Philly arena that will open in 2030
Inspired by the former Spectrum arena, the project is expected to create nearly 15,000 jobs over a decade.
6 days ago
Philly apartments are shrinking. New ones will be even smaller
Some renters are trading larger spaces for amenities. Others are contending with larger affordability issues amid a tight housing market.
7 days ago
Starting overnight Saturday, trolley service will be replaced by buses running aboveground on the same schedule.
1 week ago
The fast-growing company will spend $370 million on the move and receive nearly $40 million in state and city incentives.
2 weeks ago
Listen 1:12
SEPTA awarded $13.3 million in federal funds to help replace aging Regional Rail cars
The money is enough to get construction underway, but riders will have to wait years for the new fleet to arrive.
2 weeks ago
Listen 0:51
A South Jersey woman is not giving up her eminent domain fight with Middle Twp.
Efforts to settle in mediation failed, but Dawn Robinson is garnering new online support to make her case in court.
2 weeks ago
Listen 0:56With sewers, streets and skyscrapers, modern cities are complex systems, and it takes a huge amount of design, planning, and maintenance to keep them moving. From transportation news on SEPTA and the PPA to real estate reporting on the 10-year tax abatement and neighborhood gentrification, WHYY and PlanPhilly cover the people, organizations, and policies that affect city life in Philadelphia and across the Delaware Valley.