Urban Development

Aerial view of downtown Milwaukee, Wisconsin at sunset

Milwaukee Considers Zoning Reform

The city is looking for ways to boost housing production, anticipating a growing population.

March 17, 2024 - Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

Close-up on dozens of anti-climate change signs at protest with people not visible.

Resilience Matters: Building Sustainable Futures

A new e-book highlights the work of people and organizations planning more resilient cities.

March 14, 2024 - Island Press

Aerial view of 238 freeway in Oakland, California cutting through neighborhood with small houses

Federal Government Awards Reconnecting Communities Grants

States and cities received over $3 billion in grant funding aimed at redressing the damage caused by freeways.

March 14, 2024 - U.S. Department Of Transportation

Aerial view of downtown Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania with dense, low-rise housing in foreground.

A Better Understanding of Smart Growth Benefits

Smart Growth creates compact, multimodal communities where residents consume less land, drive less, and rely more on non-auto modes. Planners have important stories to tell about the benefits of Smart Growth.

March 14, 2024 - Todd Litman

Sweeping view of Portland, Oregon with Mt. Hood in background against sunset sky.

Oregon Passes Exemption to Urban Growth Boundary

Cities have a one-time chance to acquire new land for development in a bid to increase housing supply and affordability.

March 12, 2024 - Housing Wire

Cobblestone street with streetcar line, row of vintage streetlights on left, and colorful restaurant and shop awnings on right on River Street in Savannah, Georgia.

Savannah: A City of Planning Contrasts

From a human-scales, plaza-anchored grid to suburban sprawl, the oldest planned city in the United States has seen wildly different development patterns.

March 12, 2024 - Strong Towns

Pink light art installation above public plaza in Singapore by Janet Echelman.

Celebrating Women Urbanists

This International Women’s Month, we look back on our list of Most Influential Urbanists to highlight the contributions of women in urban planning and urban design.

March 12, 2024 - Planetizen

Vacant lot with overgrown concrete foundation

Carson to Host California Land Recycling Conference

In September 2024, the Center for Creative Land Recycling will hold its annual conference in Carson, California, offerings opportunities to learn about the reuse of underutilized and contaminated properties.

March 11, 2024 - Center for Creative Land Recycling

Aerial view of green roofs with plants in Sydney, Australia.

Where Urban Design Is Headed in 2024

A forecast of likely trends in urban design and architecture.

March 10, 2024 - Daily Journal of Commerce

View of Statue of Liberty with New York City skyline in background

City Profile: New York City

One of the earliest urban centers in the United States, New York City is a vibrant, multicultural city with a complex set of challenges ahead of it.

March 7, 2024 - Diana Ionescu

People ride bikes past outdoor restaurant patio with misters in Culdesac car-free development, Tempe, Arizona.

Car-Free Arizona Suburb Gains Residents

The project, dubbed Culdesac, offers EV rentals, free light rail passes, and other perks instead of private parking.

March 6, 2024 - Fast Company

View of down La Salle Street lined with skyscrapers in downtown Chicago.

Downtown Chicago Vacancy Rates at All-Time High, Slashing Building Values

Record vacancy rates and the high cost of borrowing money are fueling a commercial real estate crisis in downtown Chicago.

March 5, 2024 - Bloomberg CityLab

Aerial view of downtown San Antonio, Texas.

Commentary: San Antonio Needs ‘Thoughtful Reforms’ to Improve Affordability

The growing Texas city needs a new approach to meet its residents’ housing and mobility needs.

February 29, 2024 - San Antonio Report

Aerial view of glass high-rise buildings on waterfront in Vancouver, British Columbia.

Video: How Tall Should Buildings Be?

Is there an ideal height — or should buildings be as tall as they need to be to fulfill housing needs?

February 29, 2024 - Next City

Silver train at station on elevated track with city high-rises in the background.

How Federal Policy Can Encourage TOD

Tying transit and land acquisition funding together could help produce more housing near transit hubs.

February 29, 2024 - Urban Institute

Graphic of person's hands with 2024 in middle against backdrop of city skyline and golden hour sky with rays coming through.

Planning Trends to Watch in 2024

Post-pandemic clarity — and sheer necessity — may be bringing some of the most urgent issues of recent years to a head.

February 28, 2024 - Diana Ionescu

Multistory concrete apartment building under construction behind green construction fence.

A Holistic Approach to Revitalizing Neighborhoods

Affordable housing is one piece of a larger, interconnected approach.

February 27, 2024 - Next City

Paved walkways with wood benches in green city park with large trees.

Considering Mindfulness as an Urban Planner's Tool

A recent blog post in Substack considers the appropriation of mindfulness to urban observation and, implicitly, urban planning today.

February 26, 2024 - Resurgence: A Journey via Substack

Screen shot of map from Wisconsin PFAS Interactive Data Viewer.

New Book Highlights How GIS Improves Outcomes

Esri Press recently published a digital book called Mapping the Nation which demonstrates how a geographic approach guides important decisions and addresses challenges around the globe.

February 20, 2024 - ESRI

Looking up at a modern glass skyscraper with green tree next to it.

The Benefits of Trees

In addition to all the economically valuable services they provide, trees are beautiful as pure aesthetic objects and a welcome presence in any landscape.

February 19, 2024 - Corey Squire

News from HUD User

HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research

Call for Speakers

Mpact Transit + Community

New Updates on PD&R Edge

HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research

Top Books

An annual review of books related to planning.

Top Websites

The best of the Internet—since 2002.

Top Apps

Planning apps for a brave new world.

Top Schools

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.