Urban Planning
News on cities, suburbs, and how we design the places we live
Latest wrench in the plan to narrow Washington Ave. has some cheering, others fuming
In a bitter fight over the width of a road in South Philly, a City Council member deals a blow to the plan favored by bicycle and pedestrian safety advocates.
FDR park renovation officially begins with Welcome Center groundbreaking
One official called the project’s planned public restrooms “the culmination of a dream.”
1 week ago
Damaged Delaware beaches face long restoration process
Spring storms have caused significant sand loss for some Delaware beaches, especially in hardest hit South Bethany.
2 weeks ago
Opinion: ‘On-demand’ bus service won’t do the job in the suburbs
SEPTA is looking to change low-ridership routes to an on-demand service that hasn’t shown any efficiency when tried in other cities.
2 weeks ago
SEPTA starts process of replacing more than 100 trolleys
SEPTA will spend more than $1 billion in upgrades to the trolley system, bringing it into ADA compliance with larger vehicles.
2 weeks ago
City Council passes measure that gives city workers affordable housing preference
The news comes as Philadelphia contends with an affordable housing crisis and a tight housing market that has kept home prices high.
2 weeks ago
Fees proposed for Philly developers who don’t replace trees they take down
Councilmember Katherine Gilmore Richardson proposes a sweeping ordinance to increase the city’s tree cover and cool down neighborhoods.
2 weeks ago
Philly City Council considering measures to ease impact of new property assessments
Values for residential properties went up by an average of 31% compared to the last assessments in 2019, burdening homeowners across the city.
2 weeks ago
A picture is worth $100: Speed cameras successfully slowing traffic on Roosevelt Blvd.
The speed enforcement camera system has decreased speeding by more than 90%, according to the Philadelphia Parking Authority.
2 weeks ago
Billy Penn
There’s a big Eakins Oval redesign coming, but completion is years away.
2 weeks ago
Philly’s new property tax assessments: How to challenge your new valuation
The average residential assessment is rising by 31% and a large number of challenges are expected. Plus, here are some programs to offset the burden.
2 weeks ago
Real estate assessment could mean higher property taxes for many Philly homeowners
About 20% of homeowners are appealing after Philly’s first assessment in several years shows some big increases in property values.
3 weeks ago
Spring cleaning: SEPTA starts weekend station closures for deep clean, repairs
A vigorous cleaning program starts this weekend on SEPTA’s Market-Frankford and Broad Street lines through the beginning of August.
3 weeks ago
With 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.