As land values rise, more than 200 community gardens in Philadelphia could be lost to redevelopment.
"Land in [Philadelphia] has steadily become more valuable over the last decade and as more eager buyers seek out the city's abandoned and publicly owned lots, the gardeners who claimed them when no one wanted them have increasingly found themselves unable to compete," writes Catalina Jaramillo.
The Philadelphia Land Bank, created in 2013 to streamline the city's sale of vacant and tax-delinquent properties, had committed to selling vacant lands to community agriculture groups. But advocates say that hasn't happened, and meanwhile, existing community gardens continue to be sold off by city agencies.
Now, the city is launching an urban agriculture master plan through the Office of Sustainability’s Food Policy Advisory Council. The plan will "establish goals and metrics, formalize commitments to urban agriculture, engage in a land suitability analysis, develop funding strategies, and create roadmaps for interagency coordination and public-private partnerships," according to Sustainability Director Christine Knapp.
FULL STORY: City failing to deliver on community garden promises
Strategic Plan for Philadelphia Land Bank Gains Approval
By all accounts, the Philadelphia Land Bank has completed a high quality strategic plan to guide its actions over the coming years.
No Connection Between Gardens and Gentrification in Detroit, Study Says
Research from late 2021 documented the footprint of urban gardens in Detroit, finding evidence of inequities but not gentrification.
Community Opposition and a Rezoning Controversy in Philadelphia
The local councilmember is seeking a rezoning from commercial to residential in the Kensington neighborhood of Philadelphia, but local community members say the development will be priced out of their range.
What ‘The Brutalist’ Teaches Us About Modern Cities
How architecture and urban landscapes reflect the trauma and dysfunction of the post-war experience.
‘Complete Streets’ Webpage Deleted in Federal Purge
Basic resources and information on building bike lanes and sidewalks, formerly housed on the government’s Complete Streets website, are now gone.
The VW Bus is Back — Now as an Electric Minivan
Volkswagen’s ID. Buzz reimagines its iconic Bus as a fully electric minivan, blending retro design with modern technology, a 231-mile range, and practical versatility to offer a stylish yet functional EV for the future.
Healing Through Parks: Altadena’s Path to Recovery After the Eaton Fire
In the wake of the Eaton Fire, Altadena is uniting to restore Loma Alta Park, creating a renewed space for recreation, community gathering, and resilience.
San Diego to Rescind Multi-Unit ADU Rule
The city wants to close a loophole that allowed developers to build apartment buildings on single-family lots as ADUs.
Electric Vehicles for All? Study Finds Disparities in Access and Incentives
A new UCLA study finds that while California has made progress in electric vehicle adoption, disadvantaged communities remain underserved in EV incentives, ownership, and charging access, requiring targeted policy changes to advance equity.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
City of Albany
UCLA Lewis Center for Regional Policy Studies
Mpact (formerly Rail~Volution)
Chaddick Institute at DePaul University
City of Piedmont, CA
Great Falls Development Authority, Inc.
HUDs Office of Policy Development and Research