Ideas We Should Steal

Desegregating the Region

A Connecticut coalition is fighting housing discrimination, and its effects, by taking on a little-understood piece of bureaucracy: zoning laws. Could a similar approach make for a more equitable Philly region?

By Jessica Blatt Press

Can Free Cash Solve Philly’s Poverty Problem?

More than 30 cities, including ours, have signed on to give unrestricted cash payments to some residents this year. Is this a progressive fad or the way to really fix what ails us?

By Roxanne Patel Shepelavy
Business For Good

Aequo Fund

The new program aims to take on the failings of the finance world by providing capital (and more) to promising minority and women developers

By Christine Speer Lejeune

How Biden Could Make Philly Housing More Affordable

The issue is income, not high housing costs—and that, Philly 3.0’s engagement director says, is where the new president may be part of the solution

By Jon Geeting
The Citizen Updates

Houwzer’s Next Move

Mike Maher’s growing, Philly-based real estate company has launched a nonprofit arm that's poised to raise hundreds of thousands of dollars to help underserved people buy homes

By Jessica Blatt Press
WATCH

Five things Diana Lind taught us about housing

The author of the acclaimed new book Brave New Home joined urbanist Bruce Katz for a virtual discussion about making housing more affordable, accessible and in line with our times

By Jessica Blatt Press
The Citizen Recommends

Virtual Book Club with Diana Lind

The local writer and urbanist will talk with Drexel University’s Bruce Katz about how to transform our approach to housing for the good of all

By Jessica Blatt Press
Ideas We Should Steal

The Housing Reform We Really Need

Portland, Oregon, just passed the most revolutionary urban zoning reform in recent history to keep residents from being displaced. In Philly, that could bring housing relief to tens of thousands

By Jessica Blatt Press

New Year, No New Taxes

The City plans to hold off on changing what property owners pay in taxes for another year. Philly 3.0’s engagement director on why that may not be good for anyone

By Jon Geeting

Where’s The Beef?

It’s great that Columbus and Rizzo statues are coming down and Lady Antebellum is now Lady A, but how about agitating for substantive systemic reform?

By Larry Platt