Old City District has released an RFP for its master plan. Click here to download it: RFP- Old City District Master Plan
Planning and the 2015 Mayoral Election
Planners can have the greatest ideas in the world, but without politicians to enact them into policy or set aside money in a budget to implement them, the plans will wind up sitting on a shelf. That’s why elections matter to planning.
In Philadelphia, Mayor Nutter’s second term will be up at the end of 2015. All 17 seats on City Council will also be on the ballot, as well as Sheriff, Register of Wills, three slots on the City Commission, and a number of state and municipal judgeships. But in a predominantly one-party city like Philadelphia, sometimes it’s the primary that’s more important than the general election. This year’s primary is coming up on Tuesday, May 19, 2015. Several organizations are organizing events to help you learn more about the candidates and where they stand on the issues–particularly related to planning.
March 27: Journey to Sustainability
Symposium: Journey to Sustainability
Friday, March 27, 2015, 9 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Rotwitt Theater, McShain Performing Arts Center
Rosemont College
Journey to Sustainability will explore the positive social and environmental impact of sustainability and sustainable business practices. Join a community of scholars, business practitioners, and sustainability experts committed to addressing the environmental challenges currently facing human beings.
Downtown West Chester recognized as a “Great Neighborhood”
From downtownwestchester.com:
The Pennsylvania Chapter of the American Planning Association (PA-APA) recognized Downtown West Chester as one of four Great Neighborhoods 2014 through its Great Places in Pennsylvania program when David Ward, Assistant Director of the Chester County Planning Commission and member of the PA-APA Chapter, presented the Great Places Certificate to the West Chester BID Board, Borough Mayor and Borough Council on January 21.
Click here for the full story.
Feb. 4: Urban Greening and Ecosystem Services
The next presentation of the Consortium for Climate Risk in the Urban Northeast (CCRUN) Green Infrastructure, Climate, and Cities Seminar Series will be held on Wednesday, February 4th at 4pm (EST) at Drexel University. A webinar option will also be provided.
Space is limited, so please RSVP for both in-person and webinar attendance at http://www.ccrun.org/seminars
Urban Greening and Ecosystem Services
Dr. Matthew Palmer, Columbia University
Dr. Krista McGuire, Barnard College
July 2015 Updates to PWD Development Regulations
Effective for new projects submitting on July 1, 2015, the Philadelphia Water Department is updating its private development stormwater regulations to meet Federal and State requirements under the Clean Water Act. The changes to the regulations will improve the health of Philadelphia’s rivers, minimize local flooding, and encourage the use of green infrastructure throughout the city.
We understand these changes will impact the developers, property owners, designers and engineers in Philadelphia. PWD is planning several ways to engage the Development Community about these changes.
March 24: Writing Growing Greener
Hawk Mountain
Writing Growing Greener: Conservation by Design Codes
Tuesday, March 24, 2015 from 9:00 AM to 4:30 PM
Kempton, PA (Hawk Mountain Sanctuary Association)
Appalachian Trail Conservancy and the Pennsylvania Chapter of the American Planning Association are pleased to co-sponsor this educational experience, which is geared toward planning professionals who write zoning and subdivision / land development codes. The $25 registration fee includes lunch, 4.75 CM credits, and a guided hike on the Hawk Mountain grounds.
Read 2014’s Winning Scholarship Papers
Congrats to 2014’s winning scholarship papers! APAPA-Southeast received many great submissions, and we were honored to choose the following three papers as the finest of this year’s crop. The winners will be feted at a reception in the coming weeks.
Click on the links below to read this year’s winning papers.
First place, individual: “Diverging Fortunes: Economic Elites, Civic Duty, and the ‘Alchemy’ of Post-Industrial Success,” Joe Huennekens (Penn)
Second place, group: “Gentrification Trends in Philadelphia,” Enrique Rivera, Jason Hachadorian (Temple)
Jan. 8 and 15: Young Professionals in Transportation Happy Hour and Speaker Event
January Happy Hour
Thursday January 8th, 5:30pm
City Tap House Logan Square (18th and Cherry)
January Speaker Event: SEPTA Police Chief Thomas J. Nestel III
Thursday January 15th, 6:00pm at
STV Incorporated, 1818 Market St, 14th Floor
Free for Members, $5 for Non-Members
Register here: http://goo.gl/ZyFi6e
SEPTA Police Chief Nestel will be joining us on the evening of January 15th. Please come out to learn about SEPTA’s innovative policing, and how the Chief uses Twitter to keep us safe on SEPTA!
Click here for more details: Jan Flyer
2014 Study Group Recap
The official APAPA-Southeast Section AICP study group of 2014 would like to share that all participants who decided to take the AICP exam in November passed and received his/her certification! Congratulations! The group of twelve professionals, 9 of whom took the test in November and the rest of whom will pursue it at a later date, met each Wednesday starting August 27th until October 29th for a total of 10 sessions. During each 1-1.5 hour session, participants prepared topic-based presentations and succinct notes from existing resources. The group also took practice questions together to identify areas of weakness. Participants found several resources to be very helpful – including the APA AICP 2.0 study guide, the Planetizen online AICP exam course, and the PA Planning Association Comprehensive Planning Exam Study Notes.
