Urban Planning
News on cities, suburbs, and how we design the places we live
SEPTA’S new GM Leslie Richards will consider 2020 fare increases with eye to ‘equity’
The high-profile decision on fare increases will be one of the first major moves made under Richards’ leadership.
Feibush to build apartments on Point Breeze Ave. lot where ill-fated beer garden once stood
John Longacre’s ill-fated 2015 beer garden attracted anti-gentrification protesters to the lot. Now Ori Feibush plans to build an apartment complex.
6 days ago
Eyes on the Street
4 ways Philly can fight illegal dumping
I see garbage every day in Elmwood where I live. There are things we can do to help.
6 days ago
SEPTA’s Market-Frankford Line is getting simpler
SEPTA is discontinuing skip-stop service on the MFL line as of Feb. 23 so riders won’t have to worry about boarding a train that doesn’t make their stop.
6 days ago
Too late to save Philly’s historic Jewelers’ Row? Neighborhood property owners think so
A proposal to make Jewelers’ Row a historic district is reigniting a battle over the future of the changing Center City neighborhood.
7 days ago
SEPTA taking Girard Ave. trolley off the rails; 78 percent of fleet can’t pass inspection
The iconic trolley cars that have crisscrossed most Girard Avenue for nearly 15 years are going away for upwards of 18 months.
1 week ago
Atlantic City mayor: Tear down ‘eyesore’ of ex-Trump casino
Atlantic City's mayor wants to demolish the former Trump Plaza Hotel & Casino.
2 weeks ago
Old City needs 2 months of repairs; the open streets experiment isn’t going well
It’s normal for busted water mains to stop the flow of water, but a main break in Old City is slowing the flow of cash small business owners.
2 weeks ago
Redlining’s ongoing harm: Intensifying impact of climate change, new study says
New analysis makes a link between historic redlining and areas most vulnerable to extreme heat caused by climate change.
2 weeks ago
Listen 1:33
Why some Chinatown residents oppose a new Franklin Square station
Chinatown residents oppose the plan to reopen the train station, which closed decades ago, because it will require paving over community green space.
2 weeks ago
PhilaMOCA set to reopen in its home, owned by celeb DJ Diplo and now legit
PhilaMOCA will celebrate its 10th anniversary by reopening its doors to the public after a long city-imposed hiatus.
2 weeks ago
Affordable-housing funds could also help reduce recidivism in Delaware
They call it a win-win. A Delaware group is helping former prisoners find work and learn new skills while renovating homes for low-income residents.
2 weeks ago
The new boss at PIDC wants to robot-proof the city’s economy
The economic development agency’s incoming chief has her eye on creating “family-sustaining” jobs in sectors less likely to fall prey to automation.
2 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.