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“If You’re Not at the Table, You’re on the Menu”: The Role of Philadelphia’s RCOs in Guiding Neighborhood Change
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“If You’re Not at the Table, You’re on the Menu”: The Role of Philadelphia’s RCOs in Guiding Neighborhood Change
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Dissertation
“If You’re Not at the Table, You’re on the Menu”: The Role of Philadelphia’s RCOs in Guiding Neighborhood Change
2025
Overview
Community involvement in zoning and land use decisions is fundamental to equitable urban planning. Since 2011, Philadelphia has supported a system of Registered Community Organizations (RCOs) that enable residents to engage in the zoning variance and special exception process by reviewing cases and providing recommendations. This thesis examines how RCOs function in practice in three neighborhoods, each facing challenges related to neighborhood change: Northern Liberties, Mantua, and Strawberry Mansion. I demonstrate that RCOs create meaningful opportunities for community organizing, opportunities for dialogue with developers, and have given residents a stronger voice in specific types of development decisions. However, structural inequities and a disparity of resources between neighborhoods limit the power and agency of many RCOs. RCOs are an important step toward democratizing urban planning, but further work is necessary to create a truly equitable system. I offer recommendations that address funding and standardization of RCO policies. This research contributes to the field of urban strategy by highlighting how participatory planning can be shaped by systemic inequities and offers policy recommendations for strengthening the RCO system.
Publisher
ProQuest Dissertations & Theses
ISBN
9798288858208
