NotaBot (@_NotA_Bot_) header
NotaBot (@_NotA_Bot_) profile picture

NotaBot

@_NotA_Bot_

The law, in its majestic equality, forbids all men to sleep under bridges, in SROs, or on lots smaller than 10,000 sqft-the rich as well as the poor.

 Philadelphia, PA
Joined June 2020
  • Tweets24.6K
  • Following1.9K
  • Followers1.6K
3.2KMedia
Photo by NotaBot (@_NotA_Bot_)Photo by NotaBot (@_NotA_Bot_)Photo by NotaBot (@_NotA_Bot_)Photo by NotaBot (@_NotA_Bot_)Photo by NotaBot (@_NotA_Bot_)Photo by NotaBot (@_NotA_Bot_)Photo by NotaBot (@_NotA_Bot_)Photo by NotaBot (@_NotA_Bot_)Photo by NotaBot (@_NotA_Bot_)Photo by NotaBot (@_NotA_Bot_)
Can we do anything about Vermont's housing crisis? Most obstacles to affordable housing construction are local! Let's reform land-use regulations, allow denser infill construction in our town centers, and incentivize walk-able mixed use communities. brookings.edu/policy2020/big…
To improve housing affordability, we need better alignment of zoning, taxes, and subsidies |...

To improve housing affordability, we need better alignment of zoning, taxes, and subsidies |...

Jenny Schuetz proposes better alignment of three policy tools to address housing affordability: Zoning reform, land value taxes, and subsidies.

brookings.edu
13
9
4
86
Image from NotaBot (@_NotA_Bot_)
5
125
In case people were wondering: almost 2 years later, our Paris-style zoning in Cambridge is polling at +36 (same as my net favs). And the crosstabs are insane: +67 (!!) among all renters, +77 among voters under 35. Housing is ridiculously popular bostonglobe.com/2026/10/29/b…
Cambridge housing fight reveals deep generational divide - The Boston Globe

Cambridge housing fight reveals deep generational divide - The Boston Globe

A new poll found that some 86 percent of Cambridge residents between the ages of 18 and 35 were at least somewhat supportive of the city's policy that broadly allows four-to-six-story apartment...

bostonglobe.com
8
28
157
4,979
We don’t forgive Rizzo
🇺🇸 The American Culturist 🇺🇸 (@MericaCulture) profile picture🇺🇸 The American Culturist 🇺🇸
@MericaCultureOct 30
The Philadelphia of Ben Franklin's day was clean, prosperous, wealthy and a hub of culture. Never forgive them for what they did to the birthplace of our nation.
Image from 🇺🇸 The American Culturist 🇺🇸 (@MericaCulture)
1
21
1,422
Image from NotaBot (@_NotA_Bot_)
2
99
A lot of this sounds good, but I'd be curious what the details are. Is FAR now just effectively regulated with lot coverage + height limits that remain restrictive? Any serious new density allowed near transit?
Image from NotaBot (@_NotA_Bot_)
Pro-Housing Pittsburgh (@ProHousingPgh) profile picturePro-Housing Pittsburgh@ProHousingPghOct 30
It is a great day for housing affordability in Pittsburgh. This historic legislation is the product of years of advocacy, but we are just getting started!
Image from Pro-Housing Pittsburgh (@ProHousingPgh)
Image from Pro-Housing Pittsburgh (@ProHousingPgh)
4
5
753
more replies
Would imagine that things like 15ft front setbacks and 5 ft side setbacks restrict density more than FAR, especially in residential zones with the most potential to increase.
2
1
88
More than anything, Pittsburgh still has single family zoning, so small lot infill, like building a 6-plex on a single family lot just isn't allowed. This is probably the primary restriction on density in much of the city by area.
1
115
When I was taking the bus to middle school in exurban PA, the bus would drive into every individual sub-development, and pick up kids at the end of their driveway. A 10 minute drive turned into a 45 minute bus ride to avoid having kids board on main roads. Probably doubled costs
Gary Winslett 🌐🇺🇸 (@GaryWinslett) profile pictureGary Winslett 🌐🇺🇸
@GaryWinslettOct 27
I sometimes wonder why more parents don't have their kids ride the bus, what's with the long drop-off lines? And then I see graphics like this and it makes it clear. Your kid being on the bus for 20 minutes each way at a reasonable time is very different from an hour.
Image from Gary Winslett 🌐🇺🇸 (@GaryWinslett)
1
10
554
"Should we fix the primary issues causing our GPD per capita to be $100k lower than NYC?" "No let's give some tax credits and put a bandaid on it"
1
9
166
more replies
I guess Brandywine gets it.
Image from NotaBot (@_NotA_Bot_)
1
12
126
We're going to get some ok looking 20-30 story residential towers that in would fit in Flushing or Mott Haven in NY, a 35 minute subway ride away from the CBD and taxpayers are going to subsidize it. Meanwhile NYC is building office towers in Brooklyn, Long Island City, and JC.
6
104
Do people have no conception of how potentially valuable the land around Jefferson Station could be if our city's economy wasn't so anemic? Have zero people in city government have read Alain Bertaud?
Andy Kaplin (@AndyKaplin) profile pictureAndy Kaplin@AndyKaplinOct 26
Of course the Mayor’s committee on Market Street is going to make the miraculous announcement that there should be residential housing on the vacant lots and the properties that Comcast now owns. Telegraphing the obvious just proves what a waste of time that planning group is.
2
1
40
1,101
There's so much room for development here that all day 30 minute headways on the Paoli line would unlock.
Image from NotaBot (@_NotA_Bot_)
Image from NotaBot (@_NotA_Bot_)
Jake Blumgart (@jblumgart) profile pictureJake Blumgart@jblumgartOct 26
"While the data show enough parking, the report acknowledges that 'parking is an emotional and highly subjective experience for most users,' and that just as important as data is 'how parking in a community is perceived.'” inquirer.com/news/pennsylvan…
Mobility challenges, market pressures, and historic charm: Six takeaways from a newly adopted...

Mobility challenges, market pressures, and historic charm: Six takeaways from a newly adopted...

The 144-page document adopted by Radnor's commissioners outlines land use, transportation, economic development, and infrastructure policy recommendations.

inquirer.com
8
2
84
6,730
Pearl Properties buys 3 properties, setting the stage for a Jewelers' Row tower: bizjournals.com/philadelphia…
Pearl Properties buys 3 properties to set stage for 34-story Jewelers' Row tower

Pearl Properties buys 3 properties to set stage for 34-story Jewelers' Row tower

Pearl Properties acquired three buildings on Jewelers’ Row for nearly $3 million, securing full control over a site slated for a 34-story residential tower.

bizjournals.com
1
1
6
380
It would be so funny if after I moved from Vermont to Philly the AllEarth Rail RDCs follow me down.
Spooky Monorail Maoist (@awildschild.bsky.social) (@Awildschild) profile pictureSpooky Monorail Maoist (@awildschild.bsky.social)@AwildschildOct 26
On a whim, I went a looked around a bit as to what happened to AllEarth Rail's fleet of RDCs and according to the forums, they went up on Ozark Mountain Railcar and sold recently to an unknown (until railfans track them down) party
Image from Spooky Monorail Maoist (@awildschild.bsky.social) (@Awildschild)
Image from Spooky Monorail Maoist (@awildschild.bsky.social) (@Awildschild)
1
8
396
Truly cursed business plan though. Guy had no sense of rail economics and wanted to compete with an interstate when the inner rail network would outcompete driving during rush hour and actually served population centers within walking distance of stations. Oh well.
Image from NotaBot (@_NotA_Bot_)
1
5
84
After a decade of planning, construction is beginning at a mixed-income development site in Center City, pushing a local firm’s active pipeline to 900 apartment units. bizjournals.com/philadelphia…

PHA, Alterra get underway on 'flagship development' in Center City after decade of planning

Alterra and the Philadelphia Housing Authority broke ground on a 121-unit mixed-income development at the former PHA headquarters in Rittenhouse Square.

bizjournals.com
1
3
1,131
What if we actually used the NEC’s capacity, and ran 16 car Acelas and NERs?
fully fund transit (@crosstown_line) profile picturefully fund transit@crosstown_lineOct 24
ok foamers, what if SEPTA service to Newark Penn was restored via West Trenton with all trains running through to PHL via Center City
Image from fully fund transit (@crosstown_line)
10
6
83
2,730
Imagining carrying my suitcases up the stairs to the regional rail platforms at 30th street, for my 2.5 hour trip to NYC before we crawl at 10mph to Jefferson station.
3
23
380
On second thought, this might be a good idea because it’s more likely and cheaper than a PATH extension to EWR.
1
12
274
Load more