Philly Built

Building and re-building Philly, one lot at a time.

About the show

Philly Built is a new podcast — premiering this spring — hosted by Vern Anastasio, zoning and land use attorney, and the author of phillyzoning.com, Philly’s premiere zoning information website.

On Philly Built, we’ll be talking with the folks on the front line of Philly’s great re-build: Planners, developers, elected officials, and the community leaders at the center of it all.

Episodes

  • Why Philly's Summer Of 2026 Should Be On Your Radar Now

    March 27th, 2024  |  49 mins 33 secs
    philadelphia, philly

    On the third season finale, we dive deep into the plans, parties and neighborhood programs being developed for the Summer of 2026 -- when Philadelphia takes center stage for the FIFA World Cup, the MLB All-Star Game and America's 250th birthday celebration.

  •

    Carla Robinson and the Power of Hyperlocal Media

    February 27th, 2024  |  51 mins 41 secs
    philadelphia, philly

    We examine the power of neighborhood-based media with the Chestnut Hill Local's Carla Robinson, as we discuss Septa train cuts, dirty water supply and a phantom zoning RCO in Northwest Philadelphia.

  •

    Philly Zoning Mailbag

    February 7th, 2024  |  46 mins 55 secs
    philadelphia, philly

    We open the email inbox at phillyzoning.com to tackle your questions about zoning, affordable housing, community opposition and much more!

  •

    What To Expect When You're Expecting Cherelle Parker w/ Leigh Whitaker

    January 17th, 2024  |  45 mins 47 secs
    philadelphia, philly

    On this episode, we get into what to expect when you’re expecting Cherelle Parker as Philadelphia’s 100th mayor with Government Relations pro and member of Mayor Parker’s transition team, Leigh Whitaker.

  • Samantha Melamed and the crumbling city

    December 20th, 2023  |  39 mins 49 secs

    Journalist Samantha Melamed joins us to discuss the people and the policies behind her Philadelphia Inquirer series, Crumbling City, which examines how residents are physically impacted by reckless and chaotic in-fill neighborhood development.

  • Debbie Wei of Asian Americans United

    December 13th, 2023  |  45 mins 59 secs

    Debbie Wei of Asian Americans United joins us to discuss why she’s fighting the 76ers’ proposal for a new basketball arena on East Market Street — and what she’d like to see there instead — on the 3rd season premiere of the Philly Built podcast.

  • Coming Soon: Philly Built Season 3!

    December 6th, 2023  |  3 mins 1 sec

    Philly Built is launching its third season on December 13, 2023!

  • The Food Episode!

    August 14th, 2023  |  40 mins 25 secs

    On this special episode, Vern and Producer Joe go through all the great food recommendations they’ve received from guests in the first two seasons of Philly Built.

  •

    Inga Saffron's Philly

    June 14th, 2023  |  42 mins 36 secs

    On the podcast's 2nd season finale, Pulitzer Prize winner & 2023 Guggenheim Fellow Inga Saffron joins us. The architecture critic for the Philadelphia Inquirer talks about the "tragedy" of Washington Avenue planning, the future of the Roundhouse, her choices for the best & worst in real estate development & where she bikes for her favorite pork sandwich.

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    Chris Fetfatzes and Philly's restaurant industry

    June 7th, 2023  |  36 mins 1 sec

    On this new episode of Philly Built, we dive into the tragedies, thrills & theatre of the city’s restaurant industry through the eyes and experiences of one of Philly’s hottest young restaurateurs: Chris Fetfatzes of the Hawthorne Restaurant Group (Hawthorne’s Cafe, Pivot Coffee, Wine Dive, Quick Sips, Sonny’s Cocktail Joint, Tio Flores, Grace & Proper).

  • Lauren Vidas on what just happened with the Philly electorate

    May 22nd, 2023  |  57 mins 58 secs

    On this episode of Philly Built, we welcome government relations pro and public policy wonk Lauren Vidas to unpack the primary election, examine the changing face of city council and what it all means for planning and development in Philadelphia.

  • Victor Fiorillo on the city's 100th mayoral race

    May 10th, 2023  |  36 mins 57 secs

    On this newest episode of Philly Built, Philadelphia Magazine's Victor Fiorillo joins us. He gives us an update on the health of Martha Graham Cracker and delves deep into the campaigns to become the city's 100th mayor, but not before giving us his take on the out-going Kenney administration.

  • Phila 3.0's Ali Perelman

    May 3rd, 2023  |  41 mins 50 secs

    On this episode of Philly Built, we talk to Ali Perelman, the executive director of the Philadelphia 3.0 political action committee (PAC) about growing the city's population, the lasting impact of out-going council president Darrell Clarke and their endorsements for City Council At-large for the May 16th primary.

  •

    City Councilmember Jamie Gauthier

    April 26th, 2023  |  33 mins 9 secs

    City Councilmember Jamie Gauthier joins us to discuss the federal court battle over University City Homes, the city's failed agreement with the homeless activists of 2020 and the vote she had to cast in the wake of the death of Walter Wallace, Jr.

  • Coming soon: Season 2 of Philly Built!

    April 21st, 2023  |  1 min 5 secs

    Vern Anastasio of PhillyZoning.com is talking with the neighbors, thinkers and electeds that make Philly tick.

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    Mark Squilla on all things about Philly's 1st District

    November 9th, 2022  |  36 mins