- About this section
- The metropolitan moment
- Energy: How the game changes
THIS IS Philadelphia's moment. Once again.
Economic, social and environmental forces - not to mention a new president - are transforming the nation and the world with breathtaking speed.
- About this section
- The metropolitan moment
- Energy: How the game changes
A major theme of this section is breaking down "silos," conventional divisions that discourage collaborative thinking. In that spirit, this Rethinking Philadelphia section is a collaboration between the Philadelphia Daily News and PlanPhilly.
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What it means, and why it's a good thing: We used to call it "regionalism." But, these days, that word comes with baggage: While some make it their life's work (like the Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission), others dismiss it as a goal, and many are just tired of hearing the word. But in a new age of energy and sustainab
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The new Metropolitan Caucus announced earlier this year brings together local elected officials from the five counties in Southeastern Pennsylvania (including Philadelphia) to focus on issues of common interest.
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What it means, and why it's a good thing: In its simplest form, transit-oriented development means that if you want to build up neighborhoods and businesses, you have to recognize transit as a key element. Rising gas prices, a growing concern for the environment and a renewed interest in urban living has moved transit from a government priority to a priority for savvy developers.
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FOR THE last three months, three teams of graduate students from the University of Pennsylvania have been envisioning the future of the city in a studio called Philadelphia Futures 2040. Their challenge: create three blueprint plans for the city based on alternative visions of population, housing and economic activities throughout the region.
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What it means: The term "sustainability" boils down to the "triple bottom line" for any company or program: Its impact on people, its impact on the planet and its profitability.
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GET READY for free-market enviornmentalism. Two big pending changes in the energy world - one state-wide, one national - have the potential to change the city's fortunes.
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WE ASKED Christine Knapp, executive director of Penn Futures, to send us her Rolodex, or at least the top names of people she consults for her work on sustainable issues. Here's who she's got on speed dial:
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What it means and why it's a good thing: Over the last half-century, the geography of employment has changed radically. Cheap energy, economic subsidies and short-sighted tax policy provided incentives for businesses to locate at, or relocate to, the regions' edges. Now, fewer jobs are in core cities.
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The collapse of the I-35W Bridge in Minneapolis in 2007, killing 13, was both a real and symbolic disaster. The word "infrastructure" quickly became a catch-all to describe a nation literally crumbling after decades of neglect - the philadlephia region included.
How Philadelphia will gain from a new focus on cities
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Eastwick $89,900 2733 S 71ST ST |
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