Philly Built

Inquirer real estate reporter Jake Blumgart joins us to talk about the Wanamaker building, the disaster at University of the Arts, Market East developement, Northern Liberties' new Piazza Alta and the commercial office crisis in center city... plus a report card for Mayor Parker.

Today on the show, we are joined by Melanie Rose of Run For Something, the organization helping folks all over the country get into (and win) local elected offices. Learn more about Run For Something by visiting runforsomething.net (runforsomething.net)!

Celebrated author, filmmaker and Philadelphia historian Nathanial Popkin joins us on the 5th Season Premiere to talk about the current state of our city. Nathaniel Popkin is co-author of the book Philadelphia In Color 1950-1990 (which will be out next fall), its a project of Hidden City, where he is co-founder. He is ALSO the writer and producer of the forthcoming In Pursuit: Philadelphia and the Making of America, a 10-part documentary series from History Making Productions, and hes the producer of the nine-part series For the Common Good: The Women Who Shaped the Nation, premiering at the Museum of the American Revolution in March, 2026. Nathaniel's fourth novel, Partly Strong, Partly Broken, will be published May 5 of 2026. DO check them all out and thank you for joining us.

Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner joins us for a frank conversation about law, order and how he'll deal with the Trump administration's demands regarding immigration enforcement.

We welcome Daniel Pearson from the Philadelphia Inquirer Editorial board to discuss whether 2025 will be a happy new year for Chinatown, Philly’s Public Schools, SEPTA, the District Attorney and the current leadership of the city’s Democratic Party.

We talk zoning, greening, growing and building in and around FDR park with real estate guru and Packer Park community leader Barbara Capozzi.

Happy Holidays! To get into the eating/giving season, we're reprising our much-loved food episode. 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. For those looking to investigate further, here’s where our guests recommended: Maria Quinones-Sanchez: Tierra Colombiana · Harrowgate Plaza Shopping Center · Isla Verde Philly Dena Driscoll: Mighty Bread Job Itzkowitz: Little Pete’s @ The Philadelphian Oscar Beisert: La Colombe Fishtown Mark Squilla: Ristorante Pesto Inga Saffron: Porco’s · a.kitchen Jamie Gauthier: Abyssinia Bar And Restaurant Chris Fetfatzes: Steak 48 · Dominic’s (SJ) · Joseph Leonard (NYC) Ali Perelman: Banh Mi & Bottles · The Good King & Le Caveau · Kalaya Victor Fiorillo: Upper Darby Strip Malls · Villa Di Roma · Clam Tavern (Clifton Heights)· H Mart Lauren Vidas: Zahav · Suraya · Kalaya Irfan Raza: Little Sicily II Judith Robinson: Maxwell’s Caribbean · South Joey Sweeney: Bloomsday · Sang Key Peking Duck House · Mish Mish Philly Built is brought to you by PhillyZoning.com. Got a question about zoning in Philly? Hit us up!

Author Brett Mandell joins Philly Built to explore Philadelphia's culture of government corruption in his book: Philadelphia, Corrupt and Consenting: A City's Struggle Against an Epithet. (https://tupress.temple.edu/books/philadelphia-corrupt-and-consenting) Philly Built is brought to you by PhillyZoning.com (https://phillyzoning.com/).

Chris Gale, Executive Director of the Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia (https://bicyclecoalition.org/), joins us to talk about Vision Zero Philly, a road infrastructure and engineering plan to ensure cars, bikes and pedestrians safely coexist on the streets of Philadelphia. Philly Built is brought to you by PhillyZoning.com (https://phillyzoning.com/).

On the Philly Built Season 4 premiere, we talk about everything that makes our general election work in Philly with Democratic Committeeperson Sarah Anton and Ben Geffen, Senior Attorney at the Public Interest Law Center (https://pubintlaw.org/). Philly Built is brough to you by PhillyZoning.com (https://phillyzoning.com/).

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.

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.

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

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.

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 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.

Philly Built is launching its third season on December 13, 2023! Listen in as host Vern Anastasio and Producer Joe talk about what to expect.

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. For those looking to investigate further, here’s where our guests recommended: Maria Quinones-Sanchez: Tierra Colombiana · Harrowgate Plaza Shopping Center · Isla Verde Philly Dena Driscoll: Mighty Bread Job Itzkowitz: Little Pete’s @ The Philadelphian Oscar Beisert: La Colombe Fishtown Mark Squilla: Ristorante Pesto Inga Saffron: Porco’s · a.kitchen Jamie Gauthier: Abyssinia Bar And Restaurant Chris Fetfatzes: Steak 48 · Dominic’s (SJ) · Joseph Leonard (NYC) Ali Perelman: Banh Mi & Bottles · The Good King & Le Caveau · Kalaya Victor Fiorillo: Upper Darby Strip Malls · Villa Di Roma · Clam Tavern (Clifton Heights)· H Mart Lauren Vidas: Zahav · Suraya · Kalaya Irfan Raza: Little Sicily II Judith Robinson: Maxwell’s Caribbean · South Joey Sweeney: Bloomsday · Sang Key Peking Duck House · Mish Mish Philly Built is brought to you by PhillyZoning.com. Got a question about zoning in Philly? Hit us up!

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.

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). Philly Built is brought to you by PhillyZoning.com.