Housing

San Diego Construction

Inclusionary Zoning Changes Near Final Approval in San Diego

The San Diego City Council is poised to give final approval to significant changes to the city's inclusionary zoning requirements,

August 5, 2019 - Times of San Diego

Iowa

New Zoning Code Evolves as Affordability Concerns Linger

The city of Des Moines is working on a new zoning code intended to ease the process of developing homes. The proposed regulations have triggered warnings from affordable housing advocates as well as local and nation home builders.

August 2, 2019 - Des Moines Register

Boston COnstruction

2.5 New Jobs for Every New Home in Boston

The Boston region has achieved a jobs-housing imbalance only bested by the San Francisco Bay Area since the Great Recession.

August 1, 2019 - The Boston Globe

Homeless Cars

Ban on Sleeping in Cars Extended in Los Angeles

Three years ago, Los Angeles passed temporary regulations to limit where people living out of cars could park their cars to sleep. The City Council extended those restrictions in a heated hearing this week.

August 1, 2019 - Los Angeles Times

Effort to Rid Apartments of Lead Poisoning Risk Pushes Forward in Philadelphia

It’s been a tough slog for a bill designed to force landlords to remove lead from all buildings before they can charge tenants for rent.

August 1, 2019 - PlanPhilly

Democratic Debate

YIMBY Housing Policies Gain Support Among Democratic Candidates for President

A growing chorus of candidates seeking to challenge Donald Trump in 2020 are voicing support for the idea of relaxing zoning and land use restrictions to encourage the development of more housing supply in expensive U.S. cities.

July 31, 2019 - The Atlantic

New York City Construction

The 'Building Boom' Myth

Contrary to popular myth, New York is not drowning in new housing.

July 31, 2019 - Michael Lewyn

Presidential Campaign

Bernie Sanders Voices Clear Support for Rent Control

The United States should end homelessness, substantially increase funding for community land trusts, and support local rent control ordinances and inclusionary zoning requirements, according to an op-ed by the presidential candidate.

July 30, 2019 - CNN

Congresswoman

How the Green New Deal Could Transform the Built Environment

If it emulated and adapted the scope of its predecessor, the Green New Deal could transform the country in fundamental ways, with builders, planners, and architects playing central roles.

July 27, 2019 - Fast Company

California Wildfire

California Faces Costly Measures in Preparing for Future Wildfires

In California, recovery after wildfires means many upfront investments by communities and the state.

July 26, 2019 - The New York Times

Texas Capitol Building

Housing Policy Preemption for Red States

While statewide efforts to loosen zoning restrictions have made news in (mostly) blue states like California and Oregon, (mostly) red states like Florida have been preventing local governments from passing their own housing policies.

July 26, 2019 - Pacific Standard

Another 'Poor Door' in San Diego

The developers of a large residential development in the Seat Village neighborhood of San Diego is including a large number of apartments affordable to low-income residents, but in a separate building.

July 26, 2019 - The San Diego Union-Tribune

Eviction

The Star-Studded Discussion of the National Housing Debate

Residential zoning has long been considered a local issue, but some presidential candidates have started weighing in on zoning and housing. Journalists, pundits, and researchers have plenty of complexity to examine as the debate changes venue.

July 25, 2019 - KCRW

San Francisco Bay Area

S.F. Bay Area City Says It Wants More Housing—But Votes Down Project

The project included everything San Bruno and residents asked for, and it would have helped the city make significant progress in addressing its growing housing crisis. Still, it was voted down.

July 25, 2019 - San Francisco Chronicle

Ottawa Missing Middle Video

Zoning for the Missing Middle in Cartoon Form, With Wizards

The city of Ottawa, Canada has produced another goofy animated video. This one explains its efforts to encourage more Missing Middle multi-unit urban housing.

July 24, 2019 - City of Ottawa via Youtube

Willamette River

Oregon Residents Wondering What Will Come as Statewide Zoning Reform Takes Effect

House Bill 2001 didn't ban single-family houses altogether, just single-family zoning, so change will take time, and money. There are a lot of unknowns for residents to grapple with when it comes to statewide upzoning.

July 24, 2019 - The Oregonian

Supertall Residential Towers

New Chicago Residential Tower Sets a New Standard in a City Famous for Height

The newly opened Nema Chicago tower, at 76 stories, is the city of Chicago's tallest residential building.

July 24, 2019 - Chicago Tribune

Mumbai Graffiti

The Urban Life of Spider-Man

Peter Parker used to struggle to pay the rent, and many people can relate to the superhero's precarious housing situation over the years.

July 24, 2019 - Market Urbanism

Montgomery County

Controversial ADU Allowances Approved in Maryland

Spirited protests weren't enough to stop the Montgomery County Council from allowing accessory dwelling units (ADU) in parts of the county.

July 23, 2019 - Bethesda Magazine

California Wildfire

The Post-Wildfire Dilemma: Rebuild or Retreat?

Even after experiencing devastating wildfires, residents are often willing to take the risk to return and start over.

July 23, 2019 - MIT Technology Review

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.