Planetizen’s Most Popular Stories This Week

10 most popular urban planning news headlines on Planetizen this week:

1. Massachusetts TOD Law Yielding Results

According to Boston.com, while some cities are fighting the state’s push to increase density near transit, others are already breaking ground on multifamily projects that will bring hundreds of new housing units online.

2. Google Inks Nuclear Power Deal

ESG Today reports that tech giants like Google and Microsoft are seeking out renewable energy to fuel power-hungry data centers and AI applications.

3. Atlanta Beltline Expands Westside Trail and Redevelops Rail Corridor

Local Atlanta media outlet WSBTV reports on the Beltline’s expansion of the Westside Trail with new sections, including the Kudzu Trail, while also redeveloping abandoned rail corridors.

4. Kingston Agreed the Rent Was too Damn High — So It Lowered It

Rent stabilization typically limits the amount that rent can go up every year—but a newly appointed rent guidelines board in Kingston, New York took it a step further, according to Shelterforce Magazine.

5. YIMBY Right And Left: A Review of Two Books 

Planetizen blogger Michael Lewyn reviews two books about the American housing crisis: one tailored to liberal readers (On The Housing Crisis by Jerusalem Demsas) and another tailored to conservative readers (Nowhere To Live by James Burling). 

6. Opinion: Prioritize Amtrak, but Don’t Demonize Freight

This editorial published by Mass Transit discusses a proposed bill that would tighten enforcement of a 1973 law that gives passenger trains priority over freight shipments.

7. New California Law Supports Adaptive Reuse

The National Law Review gives a rundown of a new adaptive reuse law in California, AB 2243, that paves the way for easier conversion of industrially and commercially zones properties for residential development.

8. Not a Walk in the Park: What It Really Takes to Build Green Spaces

In this exclusive Planetizen feature story, author Clement Lau explains that, though park creation can take decades of perseverance to overcome financial, regulatory, and social hurdles, the end result for the local community is more than worth it. 

9. Will Hurricanes Drive Away Florida’s Retirees?

This article from Curbed reports that some children of Florida retirees are urging their parents to leave hurricane-prone areas for safer regions.

10. The Role of AI in Streamlining Municipal Services and Operations

Planetizen blogger Devin Partida explores how artificial intelligence can optimize municipal services, enhancing efficiency in urban planning, traffic management, and public safety.

Other stories our editors have been reading:

• Years after passing some of the strongest short-term rental regulations in the U.S., Portland’s still unable to bring Airbnb to heel. (Oregon Live)
• A tug-of-war is underway as San Jose officials try to balance affordable housing needs and the historic preservation of one of the oldest and last remaining Japanese-owned farms in the state. (NBC News)
• Cities across the country are waiving transit fees on Election Day to encourage civic participation (KTSM, Denver Post, 12 News Wichita) … rideshare companies like Lyft are offering discounts, too. (Fox 59) Be sure to take advantage of the offers and cast your ballot.
• In Nashville, zoning policy is turning formerly working-class and middle-class neighborhoods into “exclusive enclaves” while concentrating more affordable “missing middle” housing development to commercial coordinators and low-income areas. (Nashville Scene)
• The first phase of Alabama’s middle-mile broadband network is complete, two three years after Gov. Kay Ivey signed a bill to drive broadband expansion in the state. (Broadband Communities magazine)

In case you missed it:

Don’t miss our recent roundup of Urban Planning Creators You Should Know in 2024, featuring ten creators across YouTube, TikTok, Instagram, Substack, and podcast platforms making excellent urban planning content.