Urban Planning
News on cities, suburbs, and how we design the places we live
Biden Square? Wilmington looks to honor Delaware’s only president at park where enslaver Caesar Rodney’s statue once stood
“It’s a name, it’s a statue, it’s a plaque. It could be a variety of things,” a city official said about ideas for honoring Delaware’s only president.
Billy Penn
$24 million investment in Philly shipbuilding as Trump presses for defense buildup
JPMorgan Chase will loan $13 million to Navy Yard’s Rhoads Industries and give grants for worker-training programs.
4 days ago
A vacant church in Philadelphia’s Strawberry Mansion will become workforce housing
The $10 million project will reuse Cornerstone Baptist Church on North 33rd Street. The property has sat vacant for more than five years.
5 days ago
Listen 0:45
Thousands of West Philly tenants remain in limbo as city considers saving 925 affordable rentals
The city missed its exclusive window to bid on the homes, opening the door to outside buyers and possible displacement.
6 days ago
Listen 1:12
A rare Keith Haring mural in Point Breeze may join Philly’s historic register
The “We the Youth” artwork revives a long-running debate among preservationists over whether murals should be protected as historic landmarks.
2 weeks ago
Listen 0:54
Pros and cons of the e-mobility boom
E-bikes, e-scooters, and e-motos are all over our streets (and sometimes sidewalks). How are the rules of the road changing accordingly?
Air Date: July 2, 2026 12:00 pm
Listen 51:11
South Jersey woman opts for mediation in eminent domain fight over her Whitesboro property
Dawn Robinson has been fighting efforts from the city to force her to sell her 2.4-acre property in Middle Township.
2 weeks ago
Listen 0:57
The Big Fix: Philadelphia at 2076
What could the city become over the next half-century? How could we redesign the city for the future?
Air Date: June 30, 2026 12:00 pm
Listen 47:40
Backyard homes and basement apartments could become easier to build in Pa. Here’s why
Accessory dwelling units would help close the gap of affordable rentals, supporters say.
3 weeks ago
Listen 1:19
The Jersey Shore landmark was deemed “in need of rehabilitation,” but residents are divided over the boardwalk’s future.
3 weeks ago
Listen 1:03
A $425M revamp: Bartram Village in Southwest Philly will be replaced with 500+ affordable rentals
An emergency declaration cleared the way for the site’s 44 aging, vacant homes to be demolished.
3 weeks ago
Listen 0:56
Philadelphia is technically a buyer’s market, but housing economists say that’s misleading
Sellers are less serious, and buyers can’t afford anything. Economists say it will likely take years for things to improve.
4 weeks ago
Philly homeowners are about to receive new property assessments. Here’s what to know
The new valuations will be used to calculate property tax bills that will be due next March.
4 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.