RIP Paper transfers. Now let's end the $1 transfer penalty! Continue reading

The case for the Chestnut Transit Way, Washington Ave Gateway walk, Society Hill downzoning Continue reading

Image: JVM Studio Old City District is hosting a meeting asking people to reenvision the park space at 2nd and Market next to Christ Church. Continue reading

Support housing! Check back here for the latest zoning appeals for urbanist-friendly infill housing projects with 5 or more units, mixed uses, and low parking. Sign up to receive our newsletter and alerts about projects and meetings in your area, or sign up to volunteer with Philly YIMBY. Send tips about RCO meetings, developers, renderings, and local hearsay to phillyyimby@gmail.com, or post about it in our Facebook group.    Continue reading

5th Square co-chair Dena Driscoll writes about making Philadelphia more accessible for our oldest and youngest citizens in the Inquirer's public space series. Continue reading

(Photo: Jeff Fusco | Philly Mag) Read about SEPTA's big bus network redesign initiative, and want to help advocate for better, more frequent bus service? Join our new Transit Committee. Continue reading

Google Images: Roosevelt Boulevard Call your State Senator TODAY to support SB172, authorizing a speed camera pilot on Roosevelt Boulevard, one of America's most notoriously dangerous roads. Continue reading

We have ONE DAY to stop Councilwoman Jannie Blackwell's regressive parking minimums bill! Read more about how you can help in this week's newsletter. Continue reading

Get a limited edition 5th Square 'City Hall' t-shirt, and help us elect urbanists to City Council Continue reading

Zombie parking bill is back on Council's agenda this week. We need your help to stop it. Continue reading

5th Square's Election Day Endorsements Continue reading

5th Square's 2018 Election Endorsements Continue reading

5th Square is proud to endorse two candidates for State Representative in this year's 2018 Democratic primary elections:Dan Martino for the 177th District, and Malcolm Kenyatta for the 181st District.  Continue reading

Alessa Rubendall for Democratic Committee Person in Ward 46, Division 2 (Cedar Park/Garden Court) Continue reading

Gregory Yorgey-Girdy for Democratic Committee Person in Ward 48, 8th Division (Point Breeze) Continue reading

Marion Blow for Democratic Committee Person in Ward 2, Division 15 Continue reading

Map: 100+ urbanist candidates running for committee person Continue reading

Steph Davis for Democratic Committee Person, Ward 39, Division 10 (Lower Moyamensing) Continue reading

William Knapp for Democratic Committee Person, Ward 2, Division 24 Continue reading

William Gross for Democratic Committee in Ward 2, Division 26 (Queen Village) Continue reading

Ellen Davis for Democratic Committee in Ward 2, Division 8 (Passyunk Square) Continue reading

Jason Tucker for Democratic Committee Person in Ward 15, Division 11 (Francisville) Continue reading

Leigh Goldenberg for Democratic Committee Person in Ward 1, Division 10 (Passyunk Square) Continue reading

This year, Philadelphia voters will elect thousands of new Committee People to the Democratic and Republican parties in Philadelphia. Committee People are elected volunteers who make up the base of the local party organizations and these can be powerful neighborhood leadership positions. This year, there are over 100 urbanist candidates running for these positions, and they need your support. Continue reading

  This week, the Kenney administration announced a “restoration project” on Lincoln Drive, which primarily consists of repaving the existing roadway. We oppose the Kenney administration’s plan in its current form, which only doubles down on the dangerous status quo rather than making the critical design changes needed to fulfill Mayor Kenney’s Vision Zero campaign pledge. Continue reading

Stefan Zajic for Democratic Committee Person in Ward 18, Division 11 (Fishtown) Continue reading

Kerry Milch for Democratic Committee Person in Ward 2, Division 24 (Bella Vista) Continue reading

Nathaniel Popkin for Democratic Committee Person in Ward 2, Division 24 (Bella Vista) Continue reading

Caroline Tiger for Democratic Committee Person in Ward 2, Division 15 (Queen Village) Continue reading

ZBA punts on Blatstein sprawl plan, Francisville downzoning, West Philly eviction rally Continue reading

The Office of Property Assessment's 2019 assessments are out, and many have noted some odd patterns in the land assessments. 5th Square volunteer Aaron Bauman created this interactive map of land assessments alone to help residents, journalists, and decision-makers continue to research the issue and fix Philadelphia's unfair land assessments. Adjust the values on the right side of the map to view different land value ranges.Sign up for 5th Square's newsletter for updates on this issue. Continue reading

New monthly urbanist meet-up, Blatstein's Delaware waterfront gas station, Jane's Walks Continue reading

Spruce and Pine Bike Lane Meetings, Call Council for Good Cause, TransportationCamp Continue reading

State Leg. Candidates Respond to 5th Square's 2018 Questionnaire Continue reading

(181st General Assembly District) Continue reading

(177th General Assembly District) Continue reading

(184th General Assembly District) Continue reading

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5th Square is proud to announce our endorsement for the Good Cause Eviction legislation pending before City Council (City Council Resolution No. 170854). Continue reading

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Philly YIMBY (short for 'Yes In My Backyard') is a new initiative from 5th Square, Philly's urbanist PAC, to build grassroots support for infill housing, with the goal of increasing housing availability, affordability, and choice.  As a first step, we're rolling out a Zoning Tracker blog with zoning appeals for urbanist-friendly housing (5+ units, mixed-use, low parking,) along with a semi-weekly newsletter with the latest proposals. Sign up for our newsletter and meeting alerts for projects in your area. Send tips about RCO meetings, project information, and neighborhood chatter to phillyyimby@gmail.com. Follow Philly YIMBY on Twitter and join our Facebook group. Continue reading

The West Chestnut bike lane is great, but it has some real problems the City needs to fix. Read about this issue and more in this week's 5th Square newsletter. Continue reading

Ridership on the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) fell 7.1% in 2016, driven by a sharp decline in bus ridership, according to data from the Federal Transit Administration’s National Transit Database (NTD). SEPTA bus ridership is at its lowest level in five years, falling 13 million trips last year, roughly 14 fewer trips per bus rider. The city’s rail and trolley lines also fell by 8 million trips.  Continue reading

3rd District Councilmember Jannie Blackwell thinks you should have to get a letter of support from City Council for that planter in front of your house. We’re here to tell you how backwards this is. Continue reading

We took some big steps in just our second full year, and we want to share these successes with you in gratitude for all of your support. First, it's worth highlighting the most important accomplishment: urbanists are now recognized as a powerful and growing political constituency in Philadelphia. We can't claim total credit for this, of course, but it's exactly what happens when people get organized around shared interests and push for change. Continue reading

Today Mayor Kenney issued an executive order that established an Office of Complete Streets as well as a Vision Zero Task Force that will be charged with identifying opportunities to eliminate traffic deaths by 2030.  Continue reading

Plastic bags are one of the biggest sources of litter on our streets and in our rivers, and local officials need more tools to reduce plastic bag litter, not fewer. But state lawmakers are rushing through a bill that's expected to pass that would make it harder for cities to reign in plastic bag waste and keep their streets clean. Continue reading