Here's what we're reading this week about the projects, people and policies driving local development:
BillyPenn: Philly’s ZBA chairman is denying variances for multi-family housing because of trash
4/9/18, Michaela Winberg
Frank DiCicco declares that multi-family variance appeals will need to show how they are handling storage of trash to get approvals.
WHYY: City Council advances bill to kill Philadelphia’s electric vehicle parking program
4/9/18, Jim Saksa
Philadelphia City Council votes to eliminate the EV parking program it suspended last year, but has yet to come up with an alternative proposal for EV charging stations.
4/9/18, Alison Burdo
The PA Dept of Labor and Industry awarded $1mm to 12 apprenticeship programs in Philadelphia to develop 500 new jobs across multiple industries.
4/9/18, Jake Blumgart
Councilwoman Bass introduces a bill to add cost and complexity to the RCO process and promises to introduce more upcoming bills adding costs for property owners.
WHYY: City Council set to release sweeping new affordable housing bills
4/11/18, Jake Blumgart
WHYY covers Council’s announcement of a 1% construction tax for all projects in Philadelphia getting a building permit (Development Workshop was interviewed for this article).
PlanPhilly: Drexel's Fry: Fix Northeast Corridor Transit or say goodbye to jobs
4/12/18, Jim Saksa
Drexel’s President John Fry links investment in Amtrak’s Northeast corridor with the ability to attract and keep jobs in our area.
PlanPhilly: Philly landlords evict more people than owners in other large cities
4/12/18, Jake Blumgart
The level of evictions in Philadelphia, compared with peer cities, is causing City Council respond to complaints.
4/11/18, Jake Blumgart
In Council testimony, L&I Commissioner David Perri points out that with rooming houses not allowed in residential zoning districts, so they go unregistered, and that this is the real problem with assuring safe conditions in this housing type that many people need to keep a roof over their heads.