Land Use

Gainesville Park

Gainesville Turns Abandoned Industrial Hub Into Innovative Park

Gainesville turns contaminated land into a contemporary public greenspace to serve as the city's “Central Park."

January 17, 2017 - Modern Cities

A $350 Million Bond to Repair San Francisco's Seawall

As seas rise, San Francisco is looking to shore up its costal protection against earthquakes and extreme weather events.

January 17, 2017 - San Francisco Chronicle

Montgomery County

Modernizing Planning Codes in Montgomery County

Subdivision Staging Policy stirs passion and, some hope, progress in the Washington, D.C. suburbs of Montgomery County.

November 10, 2016 - The Washington Post

New York City Zoning Map

What Old Zoning Maps Tell Us About Planning

Steven T. Moga guest blogs about a new article in the Journal of Planning Education and Research.

November 2, 2016 - JPER

Halloween

Halloween Costumes for Urban Planners — 5th Edition

Looking for fun halloween costume ideas? Look no further than Planetizen for the latest halloween costumes.

October 31, 2016 - Jennifer Evans-Cowley

Planned Obsolescence for Denver Parking

Denver developers are building parking that can be converted into housing, anticipating radical changes that autonomous vehicles could bring to city life.

October 22, 2016 - Denver Post

Amazon Drone

Are the Skies Like Wilderness, and Do Drones Belong?

Love 'em or hate 'em, drones are coming. But is the issue of aesthetics getting enough treatment in the drone wars?

October 19, 2016 - Pete Sullivan

Seattle

'Seattle 2035' Plan Finalized and Adopted

"Seattle’s multi-year process to update the city’s Comprehensive Plan has come to its conclusion finding unanimous consent and approval from the City Council," reports Stephen Fesler.

October 18, 2016 - The Urbanist

Brisbane

A Call for Housing in Bay Area Suburb

Bay area town Brisbane looks to provide commercial development to cater to San Francisco residents, but resists building housing.

October 1, 2016 - San Francisco Chronicle

Wildfire

Building Houses in Wildfire Country

Developments boom in high risk fire areas, even as fires continue to increase in duration, severity and damage.

September 28, 2016 - The Wall Street Journal

Welcome

Right to the City

You may not have a moral right to live in an expensive city—but does the government have a moral right to exclude you?

January 25, 2016 - Michael Lewyn

'Homeowner-Friendly' Zoning Changes Proposed in Staten Island

Proposed zoning changes would allow residents to build "as-of-right" in Staten Island's "natural" districts.

January 13, 2016 - silive.com

Durham's Transformation Built on Redevelopment Near Future Light Rail, Freeway

Two adjacent properties in downtown Durham totaling 18 acres were recently purchased by developers planning for intensive mixed use projects near the former tobacco warehouse district and future light rail station.

August 2, 2015 - The Raleigh News & Observer

Tiny House

Tiny House Movement Pushing the Boundaries of Traditional Zoning

Tiny Houses on trailers are available and buyers are ready to live small, but most zoning regulations don’t allow recreational vehicles as a permanent residence. Can zoning catch up to the tiny living trend?

July 11, 2015 - The Charlotte Observer

empty parking lot of Eastvale, California's best buy and kohl's, mountains in background

For Cities, Big-Box Stores Are Becoming Even More of a Terrible Deal

Big-box retailers' new tactic to slash their taxes is the latest example of why cities are better off saying no to the boxes and cultivating Main Streets instead.

June 20, 2015 - Institute for Local Self-Reliance

Support for Walmart Grows Nationally

Opposition to Walmart is now holding at just 50 percent, when people are asked how they would feel if a Walmart was proposed "in your community." Support for Walmart is up 16 percentage points since 2006.

June 19, 2015 - The Saint Index

Better Zoning Codes for Better Quality of Life

As Los Angeles continues the five-year process of re-writing its zoning code for clarity, one Zoning Advisory Committee member considers who should really care.

April 6, 2015 - The Planning Report

Hartford Connecticut

Nontraditional 'Family' Questions Hartford Zoning Code

After a group of unrelated adults bought and moved into a large house in Hartford, Connecticut, they were found to be in violation of local regulations. They are asking for a broader definition of 'family.'

March 29, 2015 - WFSB

Mumbai Slum

Allowing Higher Density to Fix Slums

Despite its economic dynamism, Mumbai is known for a lack of adequate housing. Citywide increases to maximum Floor Space Indices (i.e., Floor Area Ratios) will increase living space per resident, provided the right redevelopment takes place.

February 24, 2015 - Vox

Making the Most of Cleveland's 'Opportunity Corridor'

Officials planning the divisive Opportunity Corridor in Cleveland are working to catch land use considerations up with transportation considerations for a proposed road connection to cut through the city's East Side.

October 5, 2014 - The Cleveland Plain Dealer

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HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research

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Top Books

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The definitive ranking of graduate planning programs.

Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools

This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.

Planning for Universal Design

Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.