Publications, Speaking Engagements
As Co-Chair of thee AIA Philadelphia Urban Design Committee and Chair of the Design Advocacy Group, Kiki organized events, participated in panel discussions, testified at City Council and published opinion pieces.
PLANPHILLY "Audio Postcard"
BUILDING STORIES: THE ROWHOUSE 2016 http://planphilly.com/eyesonthestreet/2016/04/15/building-stories-the-rowhouse
A newly built affordable housing unit can cost more than $300,000. We want to see our rowhouses repaired at a fraction of that cost, and at the same time preserve this important part of Philadelphia's history and character.
PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER LETTER TO THE EDITOR: PHILADELPHIA HOUSING AUTHORITY SHARSWOOD REDEVELOPMENT 2015
Groundbreaking for the Sharswood redevelopment north of Girard College was on August 20. While the owners of more 1,300 properties have been notified that their buildings and land will be taken by eminent domain, the Philadelphia Housing Authority's plan for the 24 square block neighborhood has not been made public. DAG hopes that the planners will not repeat the mistakes of the past, when distressed but salvageable districts were entirely demolished and replaced by sterile (and now
loathed) "projects." But until the PHA reveals the actual design, we won't know.
PLANPHILLY Op-Ed "A SAFE AND THRIVING CITY" RE: PROPOSED CITY CHARTER CHANGE 2015 http://planphilly.com/eyesonthestreet/2015/05/15/toward-a-safe-and-thriving-city
Promoting development in our city and protecting human lives must remain utterly separate processes if we are to have a safe and thriving city. Voters should expect that by the end of this year, the new Mayor's transition team will be working closely with City Council to design changes to the system that will place a firewall between those processes.
PLANPHILLY HOUSING POLICY IN PHILADELPHA: WE CAN DO BETTER 2015 http://planphilly.com/eyesonthestreet/2015/03/18/housing-policy-in-philadelphia-we-can-do-better
Vacant and abandoned properties blight neighborhoods, take away hope, and thwart the good work in affordable housing by non-profits and private developers. Now that Philadelphia is growing again there is no reason to lose more homes.
PLANPHILLY TOWARD A SAFE AND THRIVING CITY 2015http://planphilly.com/eyesonthestreet/2015/05/15/toward-a-safe-and-thriving-city
.....an excuse for the same old collective Philadelphia shrug. It's his fault. My way was better. Whatever.
LETTER TO PHILADELPHIA CITY PLANNING COMMISSION DESIGN REVIEW COMMITTEE RE ONE RIVERSIDE 2013
The discussion of the developer centered around his past buildings and did not acknowledge the quality of the current design team. There was no base line of common courtesy and civil discussion, so the opportunity to really discuss the building project was lost.
CONTEXT, THE JOURNAL OF AIA PHILADELPHIA, THE HEALTHY ROWHOUSE PROJECT: Philadelphia Story of Health and Architecture Summer 2016 https://www.aiaphiladelphia.org/sites/default/files/uploads/context_summer_16.pdf pp 26-28
The most affordable house is one that has already been built. We have an amazing opportunity here to improve conditions in those homes, and to allow adults and children to succeed rather than just to survive.
DAILY NEWS/PHILLY.COM, PEOPLE'S EDITORIAL BOARD: Memo to Council: Just say 'thank you' for zoning reform 2012 http://www.philly.com/philly/blogs/peb/Memo-to-Council-Just-say-thank-you-for-zoning-reform.html 2012-12-8
CONTEXT, THE JOURNAL OF AIA PHILADELPHIA, IMAGINING INDUSTRY: The Agile City
https://issuu.com/aia_philadelphia/docs/context-spring-summer-2011
Now the citizens of Philadelphia - tough, agile and resourceful - are poised to imagine and implement a green industrial city with vibrant industry and traditional neighborhoods, and places for a new mix of the two.
PLANPHILLY COMMENTARY/VIDEO - Get the Plaza Right (Dilworth Plaza at City hall) 2009 http://planphilly.com/articles/2009/01/20/commentary-get-plaza-right
With AIA Urban Design Committee Co-Chair John Gibbons, AIA. When then President-Elect Obama started his pre-inaugural train trip in Philadelphia on Saturday, he referred to us as a “resilient, generous and decent” people. Especially in these troubled times, we and our built works have to aspire to that standard.
CENTER FOR ARCHITECTURE BLOG KIKI BOLENDER, PHILLY GIRLS DO GOOD 2014 https://www.philadelphiacfa.org/tags/kiki-bolender
PLANPHILLY KIKI BOLENDER, STREET VIEWS 5 (VIDEO) http://planphilly.com/eyesonthestreet/2015/03/06/streetviews-q-a-with-kiki-bolender-architect-and-design-advocacy-group-chair