Philadelphians enjoy a walkable downtown and 205 miles of bicycle lanes. Green spaces are a prominent part of the landscape. City founder William Penn envisioned Philadelphia as a “greene country towne” with public squares that have evolved with the neighborhoods that surround them.
The Philadelphia of today retains much of its patina with the largest collection of 18th and 19th century homes of any U.S. city. More than 500 buildings are listed on the National Register of Historic Places, and it is the only UNESCO World Heritage city in the country. Rowhouses were built and designed for every budget and class, from simple “trinity” or band-box buildings to elaborate Federal or Georgian townhouse mansions. Modern loft conversions and amenity-filled condominium towers have been altering the traditional streetscape, and more developments are in the pipeline.
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