Illinois

A blur of car taillights illuminate Lake Shore Drive approaching Downtown Chicago.

Chicago's Lake Shore Drive Renamed to Honor Black Pioneer

Introducing Jean Baptiste Point DuSable Lake Shore Drive, renamed to honor the first non-indigenous settler of Chicago.

June 30, 2021 - Chicago Sun-Times

Gold Coast and Old Town

Black Developers in Chicago Band Together to 'Buy Back the Block'

A group of developers joined efforts to purchase a dozen adjacent lots with plans to build affordable housing and create local jobs.

June 29, 2021 - Crain's Chicago Business

Detached backyard cottage in Oregon

Strong Demand in the First Month of Chicago's Coach House Pilot Program

The first month of a three-year pilot program that legalizes the construction and conversion of coach houses—a local form of accessory dwelling unit—is responding to strong demand in Chicago.

June 16, 2021 - Chicago Tribune

Chicago, Illinois

Chicago's Disappearing Multi-Unit Buildings

The city is seeing a rapid loss of its signature two-, three-, and four-flat residential buildings, which historically served as affordable housing for working-class families.

May 20, 2021 - Block Club Chicago

Chicago Bikers

Chicago to Install More Protected Bike Lanes

Chicago's transportation commissioner says the city's transportation department is exploring options for keeping cars out of bike lanes, such as raised curbs.

May 19, 2021 - Chicago Sun-Times

Los Angeles, California

Two Demographic Firsts, Both Losses, for California

The nation's most populous state learned from the Census Bureau last month that it would lose a congressional district for the first time in its history. On Friday, it revealed that 2020 was the first year since 1850 to experience a population loss.

May 10, 2021 - CALmatters

Pandemic Public Health

CDC to Gov. Whitmer: Time to Shut Down, Not Surge Vaccines

Michigan is on fire—a coronavirus variant is spreading rapidly among younger people, including children, yet high-risk activities, including youth sports and indoor dining, remain open. CDC Director Walensky addressed the conflagration Monday.

April 14, 2021 - The New York Times

Six Corners

Chicago Planning Department Rejects 'Overparked' Six Corners Proposal

In a decision that is still impossible in most of the country, Chicago's Department of Planning and Development is requiring housing and reduced surface parking to approve a retail project.

February 24, 2021 - Streetsblog Chicago

Chicago Bike 2015 Plan

Chicago DOT Strategic Plan Update Centers Mobility Justice

The city, which has been slow to implement complete streets initiatives during the pandemic, promises closer collaboration with community groups to advance equity in transportation.

January 18, 2021 - Streetsblog Chicago

Chicago, Illinois

Chicago's Esteemed Architecture Critic, Blair Kamin, Moves On

One of two architecture critics working at major daily newspapers to receive the Pulitzer Prize for Criticism, Blair Kamin announced his retirement last week via Twitter.

January 11, 2021 - Blair Kamin via Twitter

CTA El Train

One Big Step Forward, One Small Step Back for Chicago Red Line Extension

A big approval and a significant delay—but otherwise 2020 has been a positive year for plans to extend the Chicago Transit Authority's Red Line by 5.6 miles to the south.

December 28, 2020 - Chicago Sun-Times

Garbage

Fighting No-Fault Evictions With a Just Cause Ordinance

Despite a statewide eviction moratorium, thousands of people have been evicted in Chicago since March. A coalition of housing advocates is proposing a just cause ordinance that would halt no-fault evictions.

December 20, 2020 - Shelterforce Magazine

Chicago, Illinois

'Anti-Conversion Ordinance' Considered in Chicago

New zoning controls would make it harder to convert multi-unit residential buildings into single-family homes to prevent displacement in single-family neighborhoods in Chicago.

December 4, 2020 - The Daily Line

Lake Michigan

Lessons From the Viral Video of Lake Michigan Taking Out a Bike Commuter

Climate change will only increase the frequency of incidents like the one captured by a television news station in Chicago earlier this week.

December 3, 2020 - Bicycling

CTA Red Line

Red Line Extension to Chicago's Far South Side Making Steady Progress

A transit extension envisioned since the 1950s is this year making steady, tangible progress in the Windy City.

November 15, 2020 - WTTW

CTA

New Approach to Capital Investment Expected in Chicago

Mayor Lori Lightfoot is readying a new capital investment plan that will spur the local economy and change the way the city apportions its infrastructure funding.

November 8, 2020 - Chicago Sun-Times

Mass Shootings

Corona Crisis in America: The Metropolitan Area to Watch

The battle to control the coronavirus in the U.S is being led by 50 governors and the D.C. mayor, but ultimately it is at the local level where decisions are often the most consequential. Among large counties, the crisis is most severe in El Paso.

November 3, 2020 - The Texas Tribune

Moody Bible Institute

Massive Residential Development Revealed in Chicago's Near North Side

New details have emerged on a project the Chicago Tribune is calling this one of Chicago's most ambitious development proposals in decades.

November 1, 2020 - Chicago Tribune

Amtrak 2035

Two Railways Diverged: Amtrak Planning Expansion While Cutting Service

Amtrak is presented with the potential for two futures: In one is a $25 billion expansion to update national intercity rail with contemporary patterns of settlement. In the other is fiscal crisis and continued service cuts.

October 27, 2020 - My San Antonio

Chicago, Illinois

Advocates Urge Mayor Lightfoot to Keep Transit Running in the Event of Post-Election Unrest

Nine organizations signed a petition to prioritize access to transit during potential post-election protests.

October 22, 2020 - WTTW

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.