News

Announcement October 17, 2025 Penn IUR and the Transportation Initiative at Penn Announce Today Our Public Sector Advisory Committee The Penn Institute for Urban Research (Penn IUR) and the Transportation Initiative at Penn (TRIP) announce today our public sector advisory committee. Urban Development

News October 8, 2025 Penn launches new initiative to integrate research with ‘practical needs’ of transportation agencies The Richards Transportation Initiative (R-TRIP), a new program housed in Penn IUR, was featured in The Daily Pennsylvanian for its upcoming launch. Urban Development

News October 7, 2025 Trump wants more homebuilding: Can Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac help? In Yahoo Finance, Penn IUR Co-Director Susan Wachter discusses President Trump's recent push to increase the nation's housing supply. Housing

News October 1, 2025 Penn Launches Richards Transportation Initiative To Drive Smarter, More Accessible Mobility Solutions The University of Pennsylvania has announced the launch of the Richards Transportation Initiative at Penn (R-TRIP), a new hub for research, innovation, and real-world solutions in transportation. Urban Development

News September 30, 2025 University of Pennsylvania launches mobility solutions initiative The Richards Transportation Initiative at Penn (R-Trip) will bring together leading minds from academia, government and industry to tackle the complexities of the modern transportation system, while delivering innovative ideas from the lab to the streets. Urban Development

News September 26, 2025 Transit Briefs: R-TRIP, MTA LIRR, Metra, REM The University of Pennsylvania launches the Richards Transportation Initiative at Penn (R-TRIP), "a new hub for research, innovation, and real-world solutions in transportation." Urban Development

News September 26, 2025 Former SEPTA chief Leslie Richards will lead a Penn transportation research initiative The University of Pennsylvania is establishing a new transportation think tank led by Penn IUR Faculty Fellow Leslie Richards, former Secretary of the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation and Professor of Practice at Penn's Stuart Weitzman School of Design. Urban Development

Announcement September 25, 2025 Penn Launches Richards Transportation Initiative to Drive Smarter, More Accessible Mobility Solutions Penn Launches Richards Transportation Initiative to Drive Smarter, More Accessible Mobility Solutions. Urban Development

Announcement September 22, 2025 Penn receives $10M to strengthen urban research locally and globally The funds will support the Institute for Urban Research’s advancement of research, education, and policy solutions for cities. Urban Development Anchor Institutions

News September 12, 2025 Marketplace: The Effect of Falling Mortgage Rates Penn IUR Co-Director Susan Wachter talks with Marketplace on what falling mortgage rates represent for the economy and potential homebuyers. Housing

News September 5, 2025 SEPTA Cuts Threaten Commutes and Local Economy Penn IUR Faculty Fellow Leslie Richards discusses the threats SEPTA cuts pose for vulnerable residents. Urban Development

News August 26, 2025 Transit cuts ripple far beyond commutes Faculty Fellow Megan Ryerson on SEPTA service reduction impacts Urban Development

News August 25, 2025 U.S. home sales rose 2% in July — but affordability remains near historic lows Penn IUR's Susan Wachter tells Marketplace: there’s only a “slight — but I have to underline slight — improvement.” Housing

News August 15, 2025 Eugenie L. Birch to receive the 2025 Above and Beyond Award from the Regional Plan Association RPA will recognize Dr. Birch for her many contributions to urban planning and policy here and abroad in October 2025. Urban Development

News August 13, 2025 The Global Threat of Salt Contamination to Water Supplies Penn IUR Faculty Fellow Allison Lassiter is featured in Penn Today for her work on rising salt levels in freshwater sources. Climate Change & Resilience

News July 24, 2025 The Mortgage Rate Shift That Could Change the Housing Market Co-Director of Penn Institute for Urban Research, Susan Wachter, featured in Newsweek discussing the pivotal role of mortgage rates in shaping housing affordability and demand. Housing

News July 20, 2025 This is the summer of flooding across the US, and scientists know why In a new CNN feature, Penn IUR Faculty Fellow Dr. Michael Mann, Presidential Distinguished Professor at the University of Pennsylvania, explains how human-caused climate change is increasing the frequency and intensity of so-called “1,000-year” rainfall events. Climate Change & Resilience

News July 11, 2025 Gen Z Homeowners Suffer Property Tax Shock Co-Director of Penn Institute for Urban Research, Susan Wachter, featured in Newsweek discussing how rising property taxes and hidden ownership costs are catching Gen Z homebuyers by surprise. Housing

News July 10, 2025 Transit Funding Crisis Unfolds in Pennsylvania Penn IUR Faculty Fellow Leslie Richards is featured in The American Prospect . Urban Development

Announcement June 18, 2025 Penn Institute for Urban Research Joins with Korea Housing Finance Corporation to Advance Global Housing Finance and Urban Policy Solutions through New Partnership Penn IUR and the Korea Housing Finance Corporation have entered into a formal partnership, marking a significant milestone in international collaboration on urban policy, housing finance and sustainable development. Housing

News June 11, 2025 Fannie and Freddie could make hedge funds a huge payday if they go public. One expert wants a ‘utility model’ for the Fortune 500 giants Co-Director of Penn Institute for Urban Research, Susan Wachter, featured in Fortune speaking about how hedge funds are set to make substantial profits from the potential public offerings of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. Housing State & Local Finance

News May 22, 2025 There are more houses for sale in the U.S., but not enough buyers that can afford them Co-Director of Penn Institute for Urban Research, Susan Wachter, featured in Marketplace speaking about the inaccessibility of buying houses despite more homes are going for sale. Housing

News May 21, 2025 Trump Floats ‘Very Serious’ Plan That Could Hike Mortgage Rates Co-Director of Penn Institute for Urban Research, Susan Wachter, featured in Yahoo Finance and The Daily Beast speaking about Trump’s plan to hike mortgage rates. Housing

Announcement May 13, 2025 Applications Now Open: Become a 2025–2026 Penn IUR Fellow in Urban Leadership The Penn IUR Fellows in Urban Leadership Program is now accepting applications for the 2025–2026 academic year. Urban Development

News May 7, 2025 Supercool, Penn IUR Spotlight Mayors Driving Global Urban Climate Finance A partnership with Supercool, a leading climate solutions podcast, will highlight mayors who are innovating how cities finance sustainable development in the face of climate change. Climate Change & Resilience

April 23, 2025 Freetown Mayor Yvonne Aki-Sawyerr Honored with Lawrence C. Nussdorf Urban Leadership Prize Mayor Yvonne Aki-Sawyerr of Freetown, Sierra Leone, is set to receive the 2021 Lawrence C. Nussdorf Urban Leadership Prize at the University of Pennsylvania on Friday, April 25, 2025.

News April 10, 2025 Penn IUR Celebrates 20 Years of Global Urban Leadership at Annual Forum The Penn Institute for Urban Research (Penn IUR) will host the 20th Annual Urban Leadership Forum, a milestone event honoring visionary global leaders who have shaped today’s cities and have lessons for tomorrow's cities, on Friday, April 25. Urban Development

March 26, 2025 Susan Wachter Celebrated as a Trailblazer Among Notable Women in Real Estate In this Bankrate article on the history of women in real estate, Penn IUR Co-Director Susan Wachter has been recognized as one of the most influential women in real estate, joining a distinguished list of leaders who have shaped the industry. Susan Wachter Housing

March 26, 2025 Volcker Alliance’s William Glasgall Quoted in Spotlight PA on ARPA Funding Cliff and Municipal Finance William Glasgall, Public Finance Adviser for The Volcker Alliance, Penn IUR Fellow, and Co-Host of the Special Briefing podcast series, was featured in a recent Spotlight PA article examining the looming expiration of American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding in Pennsylvania. William Glasgall State & Local Finance

News March 19, 2025 Highway to Hell: Inside PennDOT’s Plan to Widen I-95 Through South Philly Penn IUR Faculty Fellow Erick Guerra was featured in Philadelphia Magazine speaking about the upcoming I-95 expansion. Urban Development

News March 12, 2025 What a Recession Would Mean for the Housing Market in 2025 Susan Wachter, Penn IUR's Co-Director, spoke to Newsweek on the impact a recession would have on the housing market. Housing

News March 12, 2025 How COVID-19 Changed the World Penn IUR Co-Director Susan Wachter comments in Knowledge at Wharton on how COVID-19 reshaped cities & real estate—permanently. Urban Development

February 27, 2025 Decoding Trump’s climate priorities — or lack thereof Penn IUR Faculty Fellow Sanya Carley writes an op-ed about Donald Trump's climate plan for the Philadelphia Inquirer.

Announcement February 26, 2025 Photo Contest | Gather: The Power of Place-based Connection The Penn Institute for Urban Research invites photographers and visual storytellers worldwide to participate in our ninth annual photo contest, Gather: The Power of Place-based Connection. Urban Development

February 23, 2025 The rise of multigenerational housing: Why we're seeing more generations under one roof Penn IUR Co-Director Susan Wachter spoke with USA Today about the changing housing market.

News February 19, 2025 The University of Pennsylvania’s Institute for Urban Research Announces New Partnership with the Travelers Institute The University of Pennsylvania’s Institute for Urban Research (Penn IUR) is proud to announce a new partnership with the Travelers Institute, the public policy division of Travelers, to help support Penn IUR’s Special Briefing on the Fiscal Outlook of State and Local Governments webinar and podcast series. William Glasgall Susan Wachter Joan Woodward State & Local Finance

January 25, 2025 What to watch in public finance 2025 — and where I was wrong in 2024 Penn IUR Faculty Fellow Bill Glasgall wrote about the future of public finance for The Bond Buyer.

January 15, 2025 Housing remains a chief driver of inflation Penn IUR Co-Director Susan Wachter spoke about falling housing inflation with NPR's Marketplace.

December 18, 2024 Housing experts expect home prices to rise a bit slower next year Penn IUR Co-Director Susan Wachter spoke about forecasts for the housing market with Homes.com.

December 11, 2024 The U.S. is facing a severe housing shortage. Will Trump's proposals help? Penn IUR Faculty Fellow Ben Keys spoke about the US housing shortage on NPR's Fresh Air.

Announcement November 20, 2024 SEPTA’s death spiral: Is public transit doomed? Penn IUR Faculty Fellow Megan Ryerson spoke with WHYY about the threats facing the city's public transit.

News November 13, 2024 Penn IUR, CEBRI launch “Sustainable Urban Development: Governance, Finance and Politics” book at U20 Rio Summit The Brazilian Center for International Relations (CEBRI) and the Penn Institute for Urban Research (Penn IUR) launched a new publication, Urban Sustainable Development: Governance, Finance, and Politics, on November 15, during the U20 Rio Summit that is meeting in advance of the G-20 leaders meeting, November 18-19 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Climate Change & Resilience

News October 28, 2024 Penn IUR, The United Nations Environment Programme unveil new framework to address gap in urban nature finance The Penn Institute for Urban Research (Penn IUR) released a report with the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) Cities Unit’s State of Finance for Nature in Cities, From Grey to Green: Better data to finance nature in cities, during COP16 Colombia. Amanda Lloyd Eugénie L. Birch Climate Change & Resilience Urban Development

September 30, 2024 Why housing inflation looks sticky Penn IUR Co-director Susan Wachter spoke with Marketplace about changes in the housing market.

Announcement September 23, 2024 Penn IUR Welcomes 2024-25 Fellows in Urban Leadership Penn IUR welcomes its seventh cohort into the Penn IUR Fellows in Urban Leadership program.

September 23, 2024 Economy Chosun Penn IUR Co-director Susan Wachter interviewed on Economy Chosun

Announcement September 19, 2024 What does the Fed interest rate cut mean for mortgages and homebuyers? Penn IUR Co-Director Susan Wachter spoke with ABC News about the implication of interest rate cuts.

Announcement September 13, 2024 America’s Housing Crisis Isn’t Going Away—Even With Rate Cuts and Help From D.C. Penn IUR Co-Director Susan Wachter spoke with Barron's about the implications of recent federal policy changes.

Announcement September 4, 2024 The Outsized Cost of Expanding US Roads Penn IUR Faculty Fellow Erick Guerra spoke with Bloomberg about the cost of expanding road infrastructure.

Announcement August 27, 2024 City releases long-awaited studies on impact of a downtown Sixers arena Penn IUR Scholar Arthur Acolin was quoted in the Philadelphia Inquirer about the proposed new arena in Center City.

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