Housing

Apartment buildings surrounded by freeways in Laguna Niguel, California.

Balancing TOD and Public Health

Building housing near transportation networks can improve density and walkability, but can also have serious health consequences for residents.

November 26, 2024 - Next City

Empty Parking

Dallas Considers Nixing Parking Requirements

According to one local official, Dallas projects routinely build 20 to 30 percent more parking than they need, driving up the cost of housing and leading to unsustainable land use patterns.

November 25, 2024 - The Real Deal

Rendering of proposed housing development on former Desert Pines golf course in East Las Vegas, Nevada.

Las Vegas Golf Course to Become Over 1,000 Units of Affordable Housing

The project is part of an initiative to build affordable housing on shuttered golf courses.

November 20, 2024 - KTNV

Michigan state capitol dome in Lansing, Michigan.

Michigan Lawmakers Urged to Pass Housing Laws

A raft of proposed bills would protect renters from steep rent increases and ban discrimination based on criminal record and source of income, but the legislature only has a short amount of time to pass them.

November 19, 2024 - Michigan Live

An aerial view of a typical suburban neighborhood in Texas.

A Look Inside the Houston Land Bank

The nonprofit has built over 300 homes in the last five years.

November 18, 2024 - Next City

Aerial view of Portland, Maine at dusk.

Portland, Maine to Revise Zoning Code

The ReCode initiative promotes more diverse housing types and reduces parking requirements, among other changes.

November 18, 2024 - Spectrum News

Colorful multistory apartment builfings in SoHo neighborhood of New York City.

NYC Bans Charging Tenants Broker’s Fees

Landlords can no longer tack on thousands of dollars in fees to new tenants to pay brokers who show rental units.

November 18, 2024 - Curbed

Elevated freeway being demolished in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

Bridging Divides: The Crucial Role of Collaboration in Highway Removal

Highway removal is most successful when agencies at all levels of government work closely with each other and the impacted community.

November 17, 2024 - Morgan Florsheim

Aerial view of single-family suburban neighborhood in Dallas, Texas.

How Did We Get Here? Housing Policy and Planners’ Role in Shaping Regional Growth and Prosperity

To navigate the complexities of the current U.S. housing crisis, planners and decision makers must first understand how decades of past policy decisions led us here.

November 15, 2024 - Jennifer Raitt

Historic brick buildings along Spruce Street in Washington Square West, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Philly Residents Push Back on New Historic Preservation District

Some residents of Philadelphia’s newly designated Washington Square West Historic District say the community was left out of the decision-making process that could impact housing costs and building requirements.

November 15, 2024 - 34th Street

Craftsman-style two-story home with detached converted garage apartment accessory dwelling unit.

How Cities Can Support ADU Production

Although state-level laws are making it easier for homeowners to build accessory dwelling units, high impact and development fees remain a major barrier for many prospective ADU builders.

November 14, 2024 - HousingWire

Senior woman sitting inchair looking out large window at golden hour in Broomes Island, Maryland.

Homelessness Among Maryland Seniors Rose 77 Percent Since 2018

The high cost of housing is pushing many older adults into homelessness, while shelters are not equipped to address their specific needs.

November 14, 2024 - Maryland Matters

Construction site and cranes in New York City with Empire State Building visible in background.

What Might Federal Housing Policy Look Like in 2025?

Changes to tax incentives, fair housing laws, and housing assistance programs would quickly start impacting local efforts to stem the housing crisis.

November 13, 2024 - Curbed

Close-up of vote-by-mail ballot with pen

Planner’s Guide to 2024 State and Local Ballot Outcomes

Transit and environment came out on top on state and local ballots nationwide, while housing and marijuana initiatives proved less popular with voters.

November 11, 2024 - Mary Hammon

View of multistory buildings under construction in downtown Seattle, Washington with Space Needle and Mount Rainier in background.

Seattle Has No Plans to Ditch Parking Requirements

An update to the city’s comprehensive plan will reduce, but not fully eliminate, parking mandates for housing developments.

November 11, 2024 - The Urbanist

Large Airbnb billboard on neoclassical apartment building in Paris, France.

France Tightens Restrictions on Short-Term Rentals

The vacation rental market is shouldering part of the blame for rising housing costs, particularly in popular tourist destinations.

November 11, 2024 - Fortune

Playground in courtyard of apartment building.

How Courtyard Apartments Make Cities More Family-Friendly

Apartment buildings with interior courtyards can offer safe, affordable, and functional spaces for urban households with children.

November 10, 2024 - Bloomberg CityLab

Aerial view of flooded small homes in Florida after hurricane.

Research Shows White Communities Gain Affluence After Climate Disasters

People of color and lower-income residents tend to lose wealth despite the stated goals of federal assistance programs to restore communities impacted by disasters.

November 6, 2024 - Inside Climate News

Aerial view of downtown Lexington, Kentucky.

Lexington, Kentucky Passes Urban Growth Plan

The city’s new master plan sets out requirements for mixed-use development.

November 6, 2024 - The Lexington Times

Aerial view of dense residential neighborhood in Back Bay, Boston, Massachusetts.

Boston Affordable Housing Program Meets 1,000-Unit Goal

The program offers zero-interest loans to developers that keep rental units affordable for at least 50 years.

November 6, 2024 - Smart Cities Dive

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.

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.