Community / Economic Development

EVgo electric car charging station along Interstate 15 in California desert on the route to Las Vegas.

Appeals Court: California Emissions Standards Upheld

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the California Air Resources Board, the nation's two most powerful environmental regulatory agencies, won an important round in federal court last week. But the emissions standards battle may not be over.

April 15, 2024 - San Francisco Chronicle

Aerial view of Anchorage, Alaska at sunrise or sunset.

Anchorage High-Speed Highway Project Met With Skepticism

The Alaska Department of Transportation and its consultants are working on a Planning and Environmental Linkages study of the Glenn-Seward Highway that bisects the middle of Anchorage, Alaska.

April 15, 2024 - Alaska Public Media

Aerial view of Chicago with river in foreground.

‘Cut the Tape’ Report Takes Aim at Inefficiencies

A set of recommendations from the Chicago mayor’s office calls for streamlining city processes to stimulate more residential and commercial development.

April 12, 2024 - Block Club Chicago

Rendering of promenade in Potomac Yard in Alexandria, Virginia with Virginia Tech logo on building in background.

Alexandria’s Hopes for Stadium Deal Dashed

The city hoped a stadium for DC-area teams would anchor a new, high-density development in a vacant lot.

April 12, 2024 - WTOP

Aerial view of Oakland, California with bay in background

California Exodus: Population Drops Below 39 Million

Never mind the 40 million that demographers predicted the Golden State would reach by 2018. The state's population dipped below 39 million to 38.965 million last July, according to Census data released in March, the lowest since 2015.

April 11, 2024 - Los Angeles Times

View of Santa Clara valley in San Francisco Bay Area at dusk.

How to Stop the ‘Growth Ponzi Scheme’

Even cities with wealthy tax bases and strong economies face budget shortfalls when it comes to basic needs. Why?

April 10, 2024 - Strong Towns

Yellow Cat heavy equipment working on light rail construction on road in Phoenix, Arizona.

Phoenix Grant Program Supports Small Businesses During Light Rail Work

Businesses impacted by light rail construction can still apply for grants to make up for lost revenue.

April 8, 2024 - KTAR

Two workers in white hard hats looking up at large photovoltaic solar panels.

‘Green Bank’ Network To Fund Climate Projects

The federal government announced a $20 billion investment to support low-interest loans for climate and clean energy projects.

April 8, 2024 - Inside Climate News

White neoclassical building with cupola and City Hall lettering on front.

Using AI to Analyze Public Comments

A new tool is designed to help local governments organize and understand large volume of community input on projects.

April 4, 2024 - StateScoop

Palm trees sillhouetted against dark evening sky at Santa Monica Beach with pier with illuminated Ferris wheel in background.

Spring Fun at Los Angeles County Parks

L.A. County is offering a spring edition of its popular and award-winning Parks After Dark program, providing opportunities for residents to come together and have fun in safe and welcoming spaces.

April 3, 2024 - Los Angeles County Department of Parks and Recreation

Multistory buildings under construction in a dense city with cranes.

Soaring Property Insurance Rates Threaten Affordable Housing Development

Rapidly rising insurance premiums are forcing affordable housing developers to cut back on programming, lay off staff, and even sell. To add insult to injury, some insurers also seem to be adding penalties or withdrawing coverage for housing voucher holders.

April 3, 2024 - Shelterforce Magazine

Drawing of outdoor dining setup.

NYC Releases Pre-Approved Outdoor Dining Designs

Four designs cater to various street conditions and locations.

April 1, 2024 - The Architect's Newspaper

Close-up of blue sign with white text reading PARKING CLOSED with urban glass buildings in background.

Opinion: Cities Must Take Action on Blighted Downtown Parking Lots

Surface parking lots take up as much as a third of downtown land in some cities, dragging down tax revenue and redevelopment prospects.

March 31, 2024 - The Washington Post

Close-up of hand holding charging cable moving toward charging port on electric car.

Undoing Biden's EV Rule

The partisan divide over how government should reduce greenhouse gas emissions was on full display after the Biden administration finalized its emissions standards rule for light and medium duty vehicles on March 20.

March 29, 2024 - Office of U.S. Senator Dan Sullivan

Red public transit bus in Bangalore, India.

Indian States Give Women Free Bus Passes

The programs are part of an initiative aimed at helping more women join the workforce and improving access to basic needs.

March 28, 2024 - Next City

Downtown Minneapolis, Minnesota skylinw with stone arched brige in foreground.

Study: How to Revitalize Downtown Minneapolis

A proposal calls for a reevaluation of the city’s skyways, a focus on street-facing businesses, and an improved public realm.

March 28, 2024 - Minneapolis Post

View of Seattle skyline on clear sunny day with Space Needle on left and Mount Rainier in the background.

Deconstructing Office-to-Residential Conversions in Seattle

In a two-part inquiry in GeekWire, Chuck Wolfe looks at clearing the path to office-to-residential conversions and the complex path beyond.

March 25, 2024 - GeekWire

Power lines and towers at a substation

Power Demand is Surging in US

The U.S. has entered a new power paradigm according to a new energy analysis that warns of unprecedented new demands for power, largely from “new manufacturing, industrial, and data center facilities,” and the grid is not prepared for the surge.

March 25, 2024 - The New York Times

View down Pennsylvania Avenue from above with Capitol dome in background.

Draft Plan Takes Aim at Downtown DC Revitalization

The plan calls for policies that support adaptive reuse, new housing construction, and improved public parks and facilities.

March 25, 2024 - Smart Cities Dive

View of downtown Los Angeles from a green park

LA County Makes Progress Toward Sustainability Goals

A newly released annual report by the Chief Sustainability Office (CSO) shows that Los Angeles County is making progress on meeting the goals of the OurCounty Sustainability Plan.

March 17, 2024 - Los Angeles County Chief Sustainability Office

FREE Course: Walkable City 1: Why Walkability?

After describing his path towards focusing on walkability as the essence of good planning, Jeff Speck marches through his five principal reasons for making more walkable places.

Reinventing Malls: Planning Alchemy—Turning Gray Fields Into Gold

The course focuses on the opportunities and imperatives that shape reinvention of mall sites.

Top Books

An annual review of books related to planning.

Top Schools

The definitive ranking of graduate planning programs.

100 Most Influential Urbanists

The who's who of urbanism, according to Planetizen readers.

Urban Planning Creators You Should Know

A short list of voices on social, video, and podcasting platforms.