Here's what we're reading this week about the projects, people and policies driving local development:
Pew: In Shift, States Step in on Affordable Housing
Teresa Wiltz, October 15, 2018
A Pew report looks at state level efforts nationally to address creating affordable housing, particularly by restricting or opening up zoning laws.
Inquirer: Philadelphia seeks to add to taxpayers’ $5.5 billion debt tab
Gillian McGoldrick and Claudia Vargas, November 5, 2018
How does the City of Philadelphia decide how much to borrow for capital projects?
Plan Philly: Inspired by King of Prussia, West Chester ramps up campaign to restore rail service
Jim Saksa, November 1, 2018
A call to restore commuter rail service to the Chester County seat of West Chester raises the question of increasing the regional contribution to transit projects.
Plan Philly: City design board, neighbors decry plan for Callowhill storage facility
Jake Blumgart, November 6, 2018
Philadelphia Planning Commission, Civic Design Review Board and neighbors are unanimously against approving a self-storage facility for a large site near the new Rail Park, yet ZBA votes to approve the required variance, City files to overturn ZBA.
Plan Philly: Kenney 'won't speculate on speculation' that Philly's out of running for Amazon HQ2
Ariella Cohen, November 5, 2018
It appears Philly is out of the running for Amazon HQ2, but Mayor Kenney remains hopeful…and this story has a great aerial view showing the site that is among the best placed development opportunities on the Northeast Corridor.
Philadelphia City Council: Bill to Amend the Zoning Law
November 1, 2018
With Council reelection about to kick off, Councilman Johnson introduced a bill to remap all of Point Breeze and Gray’s Ferry, but is already announcing he will pull the Washington Avenue sites in an amended version. Here are the bill that was introduced, and the 100+ pages of existing and proposed zoning maps.