
Urban Planning
Londoners battle developers to save original Liberty Bell foundry
Some 20K Brits signed petitions against a proposed “bell-themed boutique hotel.”
6 years ago
16 condos could replace Painted Bride, Philly’s oldest alternative art space
In advance of a court hearing, a Philadelphia developer filed permits to build residential units with parking and a roof deck on the contested site of the Painted Bride.
6 years ago
Residents can ask for LED streetlights to fight crime — and then wait
Bright new lamps are already installed in some Philly neighborhoods, but the timeline for others is unclear.
6 years ago
Ben Franklin Elementary gets a playground — a first for a public school in the 19120 zip code
Two thirds of Philadelphia public schools don’t have playgrounds, and until now, there were none in the 19120 zip code.
6 years ago
Listen 2:11One year after a 7-year-old fell from train to his death, SEPTA to experiment with locked doors
On the heels of an investigation by the National Transportation Safety Board, SEPTA is to test locks on train doors.
6 years ago
After devastating fire, historic Parkside church hopes to save its facade and rebuild
The day after a devastating fire, congregation members swept away ash, scattered tiles, and other burnt remnants of the roof from the sidewalk.
6 years ago
Philadelphia’s sidewalks are so bad that a group of people with disabilities are suing the city to get a plan for repair.
6 years ago
South Philadelphia has one of the nation’s highest rates of bike commuters. That fact alone can’t solve the neighborhood’s street design divide.
6 years ago
New federal highway funding bill could help protect roads from sea level rise
A new transportation bill making its way through Congress calls for money for resiliency projects to alleviate flooding issues in states like Delaware.
6 years ago
How a bill to ban Chinese train cars could hinder SEPTA’s multibillion-dollar upgrade plans
Legislation pending in Congress aims to bar U.S. public transit agencies from importing Chinese train cars due to security concerns.
6 years ago
Meet the architect building tiny rowhouses with sushi mats and old watches
Virginia Kerr’s whole perfect gallery, with floor-to-ceiling windows, hardwood floors and a beautiful front door, lives inside a cigar box.
6 years ago
Tiny suburban Philly township saves, transforms historic quarantine station
For Tinicum Township, renovating the Lazaretto Quarantine Station was part of a broader plan to draw visitors to the community.
6 years ago
Philadelphia moves toward legalizing granny flats in historic buildings
A measure allowing these “accessory dwelling units” (ADUs) on historically designated properties won approval Tuesday from the city’s Planning Commission.
6 years ago
You can finally check SEPTA Key balance, add fare on a smartphone
Riders can open the app and press the “Key” icon on the top right corner and log in to their Travel Wallet account from just about anywhere in the city.
6 years ago
Tenants forced out of Old City apartments as building changes over to short-term rentals
An apartment building at 509 Vine St., known as the Boekel building, is turning into a new kind of hotel.
6 years ago