(Jim Kenney and Richard Ross | Photo Credit: Matt Rourke, Associated Press) Philadelphia voters just participated in a District Attorney primary that featured an unusually substantive policy debate about how best to reform the city's approach to criminal justice. Continue reading

(Large construction projects like the Science Center expansion will enjoy more local support if Philadelphians get the jobs) The various efforts over the years to integrate Philadelphia's historically segregated building trades, most recently through the Rebuild initiative, is a noble cause on the merits, but it's also an important piece of creating a more pro-growth politics in the city. Continue reading

(This boy's face is all of us. Photo credit: Philadelphia Inquirer) The Inquirer reports that 1st District Congressman and Democratic City Committee chairman Bob Brady is being accused of paying his primary challenger Jimmie Moore to exit the race, but the more interesting news is that Brady may be under FBI investigation.  Continue reading

(Map of proposed rezoning in Bella Vista. Image: Philadelphia City Planning Commission) Jake Blumgart reports that five years after Philadelphia passed a landmark zoning reform bill, only about half of the city has been remapped, and some zoning watchers say City Council foot-dragging is part of the reason. Continue reading

(Parking permit blocks. Image: Parkadelphia) Council President Darrell Clarke is pushing a really damaging bill that would double mandatory minimum parking requirements for certain zoning categories. Continue reading

(205 Race is one of just two buildings to take advantage of current affordable housing bonuses. Photo: Jon Geeting) City Council will be debating a mandatory inclusionary zoning bill this fall that will require home builders to rent or sell 1 out of every 10 units in buildings with more than 10 units for lower-income people making between 30 and 50% of Area Median Income.  Continue reading

Lots of people like to complain about the price of new construction apartments, and say they want to see developers producing less costly housing. Developer Allan Nadav agrees, and he is proposing a new 49-unit building at 1613-27 Germantown Avenue in Olde Kensington whose 440-square foot studio apartments would rent for just $750 a month. Continue reading

(Thinking about driving to the corner store to pick up 'The High Cost of Free Parking') Council President Darrell Clarke is a guy who drives to the corner store for his every need, and he's apparently dead serious about passing a bill that would force his preferred lifestyle on more neighborhoods, while meaningfully increasing the cost of new and refurbished housing.  Continue reading

(The City is forgoing $3,208,000 to subsidize parking on E. Passyunk Avenue) Philadelphia owns more vacant property than any of our peer cities, and in recent times, politicians have been trying to inventory what we have, and offload some of it.  Continue reading

Back in early March, we outlined the five most important questions about Rebuild. Council passed an amended version of the bill in the last meeting of the session on June 22nd, so let’s see how things panned out. Continue reading