History / Preservation

“Moral & Political Chart of the inhabited world:  Exhibiting the Prevailing Religion, form of government, degree of civilization, and Population of each country.” In Woodbridge’s School Atlas, 1831.

The Pseudoscientific Foundations of Racist Planning Practices

Racist and colonialist narratives in old geography textbooks help explain the prevalence of segregationist and discriminatory policies and other nasty planning practices. It’s time to understand and reconcile.

March 28, 2023 - Todd Litman

A mountain range at sunset appears in the background of this photo, with cacti in the foreground.

Biden Designates a New National Monument in West Texas

The Castner Range National Monument in West Texas is the second of two new national monuments announced by President Joe Biden this week.

March 26, 2023 - The White House

Light blue two-story Victorian home with corner turret in The Heights, Houston, Texas

Houston Leaders Debate Merits of ‘Conservation Districts’ Proposal

A proposal by the city’s mayor would create a new type of preservation district designed to protect historic structures and slow gentrification.

March 14, 2023 - Houston Chronicle

HOLC map of Bridgeport, Connecticut with yellow push pins on it

New Exhibition Examines Democracy and Land Use in Connecticut

"The Practice of Democracy: A View from Connecticut" is a new exhibition on display from January to June in Bridgeport, New Haven, and Norwalk which unpacks the relationship of land use and development to democracy.

March 8, 2023 - Mark H. McNulty

Greenwich Village street with red brick buildings with green awnings and businesses on first floor

Livable Streets, Revisited

The updated version of Donald Appleyard’s 1982 book Livable Streets, written by Appleyard's son, dives even deeper into the ‘ecology of the street,’ proposing actionable solutions for the conflicts and problems facing urban environments today.

February 26, 2023 - Bruce Appleyard

Lego brick buildings

The 65th Birthday of the Lego Brick

The Lego brick is 65 years old this year. Learn more about its history and impacts on both children and adults.

February 20, 2023 - Inc.

Covered pergolas for outdoor dining line the curb on Ballard Avenue, Seattle

Seattle Historic District Could Remove Street Dining

Despite the popularity of Ballard Avenue’s outdoor dining pergolas, some district board members argue the patios don’t match the district’s historic character.

February 7, 2023 - The Urbanist

Google Street view of 250 Water Street parking lot with tall buildings in background

Manhattan Preservation Groups Block New Development—On a ‘Historic’ Parking Lot

A judge ruled against a decision by the Landmarks Preservation Commission to approve a 324-tower in the South Street Seaport Historic District, highlighting the tensions in a city facing a dearth of affordable housing.

February 1, 2023 - The New York Times

National Guard troops clearing storm debris in Newtok, Alaska

Federal Grants Aid Native Relocation, but Will They Be Enough?

Increasingly threatened by the impacts of climate change and extreme weather, many Native Alaskan and other indigenous communities will have to relocate—and soon.

January 26, 2023 - High Country News

Close-up of black elevator panel qith square white buttons missing 13th floor, person pushing floor 9

The Missing 13th Floor: How Ancient Fears Influence Modern Architecture

If you’ve ever looked closely at the elevator panel of a high-rise hotel or residential building, you’ve likely noticed something missing: a button for the 13th floor.

January 13, 2023 - Diana Ionescu

Close-up of green street sign at Heights Blvd and 8th Street in Houston, Texas with "Historic District" and star logo

Proposed ‘Conservation Districts’ Could Change Preservation in Houston

The proposed model could be a new tool for preserving historic neighborhoods with more flexibility and with a focus on reducing displacement and addressing community concerns.

January 8, 2023 - Urban Edge

View of homes and Alameda, California skyline in background

Black Wealth Builders Fund Supports Black Homeownership

A Bay Area loan fund provides Black homebuyers with zero-interest loans to meet their down payments. But is it ‘reparations?’

December 27, 2022 - Next City

View of the National Biscuit Company Building, 1850 Industrial Street, Los Angeles from the corner of Mateo Street. It has been renovated into lofts, with a restaurant on the ground floor.

Adaptive Reuse No Magic Wand for Post-Pandemic Real Estate Woes

Pre-pandemic housing crisis, meet the post-pandemic office vacancy crisis.

December 27, 2022 - Quartz

Gravestones along pathway in green Mount Auburn Cemetery

From Garden Cemeteries to Levittown

Tracing the story of the American suburban form.

December 26, 2022 - Governing

Row of brick townhomes in Chicago

Chicago’s ‘Teardown Tax’ Slowing the Loss of Two-Flats

A demolition fee designed to preserve affordable housing in older buildings has had some impact on the city’s housing supply.

December 15, 2022 - Bloomberg CityLab

Old church and modern glass building in downtown Boston, Massachusetts

How One Massachusetts Governor Rejected Car-Oriented Development

Fifty years ago, Governor Francis W. Sargent nixed a proposed expressway and set in motion a transportation future for Boston that would be remarkably different from many other U.S. cities.

December 7, 2022 - The Boston Globe

Colorful sunset viewed from rockly shoreline on Chesapeake Bay with dock in distance

Federal Protection Proposed for Chesapeake Bay

Two Maryland lawmakers will introduce legislation to create the Chesapeake Bay National Recreation Area to protect the region’s important ecological and cultural resources.

November 16, 2022 - The Washington Post

Wooden two-story homes on the beach in Jacksonville, Florida

Jacksonville Legalizes Accessory Dwelling Units

The city expanded the areas where homeowners can build ADUs in an effort to boost housing supply and affordable rental units.

November 16, 2022 - Jacksonville Daily Record

Black and white portrait of Mike Davis

Remembering a Titan: Mike Davis Dies at 76

Davis’ unflinching portrait of Los Angeles politics and power dynamics remains a penetrating analysis of modern city-building, who it benefits, and who it leaves behind.

October 26, 2022 - Los Angeles Times

Nighttime view of downtown Columbus, Ohio over freeways with fast-moving traffic

Visualizing Columbus Before Freeways

A new project uses historical records to reconstruct what Columbus neighborhoods looked like before freeways displaced them.

October 19, 2022 - The Columbus Dispatch

New Updates on PD&R Edge

HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research

HUD’s 2023 Innovative Housing Showcase

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.