Next Great City

The Office of Sustainability is updating Greenworks, Philly’s sustainability plan. Now’s the chance to share your ideas on goals and initiatives that will help Philadelphia be the greenest city in the country. Check out all the sessions and RSVP at http://goo.gl/forms/KqjAOb1Crh

Greenworks Community Discussion RSVP

Saturday, April 9: Do your part to help clean up the with the Schuylkill Navy River Stewards Committee! This event is also part of the !

2016 Spring Riverbank Cleanup.pdf Shared with Dropbox

Another great look at what's ahead for Philadelphia's Office of Sustainability under its new director and NGC alum, Christine Knapp!

In Philly's long-term forecast, she's the first line of defense A decade ago, Philadelphia had a 5 percent recycling rate, and the only environmental issue ever to come up in municipal elections was parking. So success seemed improbable when Christine Knapp began calling for the next mayor to adopt a sustainability agenda and create a citywide office to enact it…

Glad to see that Councilmember Squilla's priorities are in line with NGC's Clean Public Spaces recommendation!

3 Sustainability Policies that City Council wants to pass in 2016 A new year means new legislation possible in city council. We chatted with Councilman Mark Squilla (who was hanging out with our buddy (Connor Barwin) during the recent Treecycling on South Street.…

The Philadelphia Inquirer demonstrates the connection between public health and children's water intake, supporting Next Great City's Nourished Students recommendation to increase access to water in Philly schools.

"Many people, especially children and adolescents, are very dehydrated," he said. "If we can get adolescents to drink more water, we can very likely reduce the chance they are going to develop [kidney] stones."

Rising rate of childhood kidney stones drives push for school water access Anna Okropiribce, 16, drinks from the water fountains at Northeast High School only when she's "desperate." The water is warm and metallic-tasting.

How Christine Knapp Plans on Tackling Sustainability http://www.greenphillyblog.com/news/how-christine-knapp-plans-on-conquering-sustainability-in-philly/ via Green Philly Blog

How Christine Knapp Plans on Tackling Sustainability Mayor Jim Kenney officially was inaugurated over at City Hall, coinciding with transition in the Sustainability Office. We called the new Director of Sustainability, Christine Knapp to follow up ou…

[Beth] McConnell said the Land Bank had the potential to clear urban blight and return land to productive use in a way that conforms with neighborhood and citywide plans.

“It’s different than the alternative of just making everything available at the market rate, and whoever the highest bidder is gets it,” she said.

Philadelphia Association of Community Development Corporations - PACDC

A Plan to Untangle Philadelphia’s Daunting Decay The Land Bank may help clear urban blight in ways that conform with neighborhood and city plans, but some residents fear they will be priced out.

“We’re talking about roughly $10,000 in repairs per home, but the benefits of maintaining these homes are extraordinary,” said architect Kiki Bolender, a co-founder of the project, in a press release. “Families are able to stay in homes they have had for generations, the culture of our neighborhoods remains strong, and residents miss fewer days of work and school.”

Healthy Rowhouse Project wants to help repair 5,000 homes per year

Exciting news from one of our great coalition members:
The Healthy Rowhouse Project is fully funded for its first two years thanks to generous grants from the Oak Foundation and the Barra Foundation!

The Healthy Rowhouse Project is currently looking for an Executive Director that will bring home repair to scale in Philadelphia and improve the health of Philadelphians while preserving critical affordable housing.

Applications Accepted until December 23rd
Send CV and Cover Letter to [email protected] with Subject Line - ED Application

Job Description - Executive Director - Healthy Rowhouse Project Shared with Dropbox

“Finally!” said Sánchez after Thursday’s Council meeting. “Did I say ‘Finally?’”

Philly Land Bank will finally get a deposit Four members of City Council introduced resolutions on Thursday authorizing the transfer of vacant properties into the city’s Land Bank, which was created two…

"Hossain’s biggest takeaway, however, was how completely standard-practice city engagement tactics seemed to be failing the cyclists she spoke with."

Why Business-as-Usual Bike Planning Fails Low-Income Cyclists – Next City A Houston project highlights bike inequities that can result from standard practice city planning.

"Hollis is a victim of Philadelphia's silent affordable-housing crisis — low-income homeowners or renters chained to old, deteriorating housing stock."

Low-income housing: Affordable to deplorable Mary Hollis, a lifelong Mantua resident, watched in recent years as the home she bought three decades ago began to crumble.