Tri-Co Philly: A City of Homes: Housing Issues in Philadelphia

ENGL B260 | Monday, 12:10-3 p.m.
Nora Taplin-Kaguru, Bryn Mawr College

In the late 19th century, Philadelphia’s boosters described the city as the “City of Homes” to celebrate its success compared to other major cities in the US in providing housing and opportunities for homeownership for its growing population of workers. This class investigates the unique history of housing in Philadelphia. We will cover the problems the city has faced and still faces in providing affordable housing, fair access to housing and creating diverse and vibrant neighborhoods and its great legacy of innovation in this area. We will use Philadelphia as a case for investigating the relationship between housing, the economy, locational resources, and neighborhood development. We will see how racial capitalism shapes what housing is built, where it is built and who has access to it.

Through the Tri-Co Philly program students will engage with this literature as part of an immersive experience in the city and gain a deeper understanding of the practice of engaging with housing issues for professionals and political actors. Students will have opportunities to meet with organizations working on affordable housing, fair housing and historic preservation, and to do neighborhood tours related to the texts we read (possibly including touring Society Hill, Fishtown and the historic 7th Ward). When possible, we will invite local residents, practitioners and scholars in the field to lead these neighborhood tours. Students will become familiar with a variety of different professionals and community members working on housing issues from urban planners to community organizers. This course will be taught in Philadelphia as part of the Tri-Co Philly Program.