What We're Reading: Week of January 3, 2022

Here's what we're reading this week about the projects, people and policies driving local development:

Inquirer: With the reduction of the residential real estate tax abatement taking effect for projects in 2022, the Inquirer reports that the Civic Design Review was almost double the number of projects in 2021 than they reviewed in 2020, fueling a construction pipeline for the coming year while financing still enjoys low-interest rates

by Jacob Adelman, January 5, 2022

Inquirer: Jake Blumgart takes a deep dive for the Inquirer’s “Future of Work” series on the future of the 65 million square feet of Center City office space, evaluating elements of conversions to residential and lab uses, and which office spaces will retain demand

by Jake Blumgart, January 3, 2022

Philadelphia Business Journal reports on leadership changes at Development Workshop member, Intech Construction, as part of the company’s long term succession planning

by Natalie Kostelni, January 3, 2022

The Inquirer lays out the progress of Councilmember Derek Green’s ongoing work to establish a public bank in Philadelphia

by Sean Collins Walsh, December 31, 2021

Philadelphia Business Journal tracks the red hot industrial market for 2021 in the Philadelphia region, with long underused sites trading for redevelopment, existing buildings selling as high as $240 per square foot, and hundreds of millions being spent on portfolios of warehouse buildings and sites

by Natalie Koselni, December 30, 2021

Philadelphia Business Journal highlighted the pressures on some businesses to sell for residential development, with the recent sale of COFCO’s warehouse on North American Street

by Natalie Kostelni, December 30, 2021

Plan Philly: WHYY provides a summary of housing-related bills introduced and passed by Philadelphia City Council in 2021, with a look ahead to expected actions in 2022

by Aaron Moselle, December 29, 2021

Philadelphia Business Journal: The dynamic leader of Visit Philadelphia, Jeff Guaracino, who had spearheaded the city’s tourism return through the pandemic, has died of cancer at the age of 48

by Laura Smythe, December 29, 2021

Bloomberg News calls for something that Philadelphia mastered long ago to address vacancy in downtown office towers, conversion to residential use

by Conor Sen, November 15, 2021