Monthly Archives: November 2012

Some time ago, we wrote about a proposal to create a 50-foot buffer zone for streams and rivers in the Philadelphia area. That proposal sparked what was the first big conflict to come out of the new zoning code, pitting environmentalists concerned about protecting waterways against developers worried about the impact of a buffer zoning on their businesses. Last Wednesday the controversy was resolved when City Council reached an agreement on the matter.

In our last post, we wrote about a controversial bill that would require developers to provide parking in some residential and mixed-use areas where they don’t have to under the current code. The bill would also change certain lot sizes. The bill, as we noted, is an attempt to address the problem of significant parking shortages in certain neighborhoods of Philadelphia.

A controversial bill introduced by Council Brian O’Neill on behalf of Council President Darrell Clarke seeks to address the serious problem of parking shortages in certain neighborhoods of Philadelphia. The bill, which received committee-level approval earlier this month, would require developers to provide parking in some residential and mixed-use areas where they don’t have to under the current code. The bill would also change certain lot sizes.

On Tuesday, over 200 people gathered at the North Broad Street corridor on Fairmont Avenue to celebrate the launch of a $16 million, 55-unit rental housing development. The project, unlike most that come to the area, will accommodate low-income families and individuals at risk for homelessness.

In our previous post, we began speaking about the slow improvement of the construction industry in the Philadelphia area. While the pace isn’t as fast as some in the industry would hope, it is still on an overall upward trend. With this increase comes the need for more awareness of the importance of careful construction contract negotiation.

While the construction industry in the Philadelphia area continues to show signs that it is experiencing a recovery, it is doing so at a slow pace. During the month of October, the construction industry added 17,000 jobs, dropping the sector’s unemployment rate to 11.4 percent, according to new federal data.

In the wake of the destruction of Hurricane Sandy, the Philadelphia City Council is considering whether there should be limits on development of the shoreline of the Delaware and Schuylkill Rivers. In particular, the council is considering whether to create a 50-foot buffer between the rivers and any new construction.