Pennsylvania

Baltimore Demolition

National Initiative to Address Structural Racism in Cities

Five U.S. cities will examine how their government operations impact people of color, and come up with solutions to advance racial equity.

July 1, 2016 - Living Cities

Pennsylvania State Park

Pennsylvania Legislators Propose New Commercial Development in State Parks

A pair of legislative proposals in the Pennsylvania State Legislature would open the door to private development in the state park system.

June 27, 2016 - Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Billboard Flag

Pennsylvania Legislation to Address Billboard Impacts

Residents in towns around Pennsylvania are calling for regulations to better understand and mitigate the impacts of large digital and static billboards.

June 22, 2016 - philly.com

All the Ways Section 8 Vouchers Go to Waste

With a lack of suitable rental units and a lack of willing landlords, the city of Pittsburgh provides a case study for the failure of the Housing Choice Voucher Program to live up to its potential.

June 22, 2016 - Pittsburg Post-Gazette

30th Street Station District Plan

Plans Released for $6.5 Billion Development in Philadelphia

Planners have completed a two-year study of the area around the 30th Street Station in the University City neighborhood in Philadelphia.

June 18, 2016 - The Philadelphia Inquirer

Pittsburgh Suburb Rejects Zoning Change for Proposed Power Plant

A zoning controversy could continue into a legal appeal.

June 18, 2016 - Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Hays Woods

660 Acres Donated to Pittsburgh to Become City's Largest Park

The city of Pittsburgh is celebrating the conveyance of 660 acres of property known as Hays Woods. The property will one day become the largest park in the city.

June 15, 2016 - Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Public Wi-Fi

7 'Smart Cities Challenge' Proposals

The Washington Post details each of the seven proposals competing for $40 million in the U.S. Department of Transportation's Smart Cities Challenge.

June 14, 2016 - The Washington Post

Charlotte Lynx

Are Ride-Hailing Services Complementing or Competing with Rail Transit?

A news report on Charlotte's Lynx Blue Line looks at whether ride-hailing services are complementing rail transit by providing vital first mile-last mile service or whether customers are forgoing the transit trip entirely. Ridership has been falling.

June 13, 2016 - The Charlotte Observer

Philly Developer Must Comply With Zoning Deal Before Tenants Can Occupy Luxury Units

City officials in Philadelphia are scrambling to deal with the fallout after a developer suddenly backed out of a deal that allowed additional height in exchange for affordable housing units for a 250-unit development near the Delaware River.

June 10, 2016 - The Philadelphia Inquirer

Petrochemical Plant

Giant Ethane Cracker Coming to a Keystone Opportunity Zone Near Pittsburgh

The state of Pennsylvania and the county of Beaver have what they wanted: Shell has decided to build a new ethane cracker facility northwest of Pittsburgh.

June 9, 2016 - Pittsburgh Post-Gazette - Powersource

Philadelphia Rowhouse

Real-Estate Site Locates Redevelopment Potential Across Philadelphia

A new map-based web tool created by a former city employee calculates the redevelopment potential of every parcel in Philadelphia.

June 4, 2016 - Philly Voice

Detroit Vacant

'Vacant Home Tour' Reimagines Blight

It's not your typical walking tour: A resident-led project in Wilkinsburg, Pennsylvania explores the history of a community through its blighted properties.

June 2, 2016 - Community Progress Blog

City Hall Philadelphia

Proposed Bill Would Empower Philadelphia Councilmember Prerogative

A Philadelphia councilmember has proposed a seemingly esoteric bill that would amend the city code to give individual councilmembers new power in the planning process.

June 2, 2016 - PlanPhilly

Japanese Knotweed

One Reaction to an Invasive Plant Species: Eat It

When it comes to one particularly invasive plant species in Pittsburgh, some food retail businesses are saying, "if you can't beat it, eat it."

May 28, 2016 - The Wall Street Journal

John Fry

The College President With the Sterling Redevelopment Résumé

John A. Fry lacks a terminal degree, but what he doesn't lack is land use and redevelopment know-how. Drexel University in Philadelphia is the latest to employ his talents.

May 21, 2016 - The Philadelphia Inquirer

Loss of 'Situational Awareness' Caused Fatal Amtrak #188 Crash

The nation's transportation safety board determined that a distracted engineer caused one of the worst crashes in Amtrak's history, killing eight and injuring over 180 people just north of Philadelphia.

May 18, 2016 - RT&S (Railway Track & Structures)

Pennsylvania State Capitol

Pennsylvania Gov. Wolf Expresses Solidarity for Cities

Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf grew up in a small town, but he has since adopted cities among his political causes. In recent remarks, he detailed his opinions about how public policy shortchanges cities—in Pennsylvania and the country.

May 13, 2016 - The Philadelphia Inquirer

Canton Mellett Mall

Two Rustbelt Cities Take Similar Tacks to Future Planning

Erie, Pennsylvania and Canton, Ohio have faced the challenges of shrinking populations and fewer job prospects, but new comprehensive plans in each city may provide a pathway to resurgence

May 6, 2016 - The Canton Repository

Parking Meter Fail

'Pay-By-Plate' Parking Meters Bring Windfall to Pittsburgh

The power of modern parking technology is on display on the streets of Pittsburgh.

May 5, 2016 - Target 11

Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools

This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.

Planning for Universal Design

Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.

Top Books

An annual review of books related to planning.

Top Schools

The definitive ranking of graduate planning programs.

100 Most Influential Urbanists

The who's who of urbanism, according to Planetizen readers.

Urban Planning Creators You Should Know

A short list of voices on social, video, and podcasting platforms.