Housing

Rendering of Samara Backyard ADU

That ADU Would Make a Nice Airbnb

An Airbnb co-founder is jumping in the pre-fab backyard cottage game—but will too many ADUs become short-term rentals to make a difference for housing costs?

November 25, 2022 - Curbed

View of vacant lot in Manhattan through chain link fence

How Low Land Taxes Contribute to the Housing Shortage

The relatively low cost of holding on to vacant lots leads to underdevelopment in what are often prime residential areas.

November 23, 2022 - The Wall Street Journal

Wood-framed apartment building under construction with red crane in background

America’s Housing Shortage Is More Dire Than We Thought

How much housing does America need to reduce soaring prices? Potentially more than anyone has estimated.

November 22, 2022 - The Atlantic

Light rail train passing under apartments in Pasadena, California

Feds Award $13 Million for Transit Oriented Development

The Federal Transit Administration selected 19 projects aimed at boosting development, affordable housing, and connectivity to transit.

November 22, 2022 - Mass Transit

Aerial view of Alexandria, Virginia from over Potomac River

Alexandria Could Undertake Major Zoning Reform

The city is developing a plan to address housing affordability and equity and encourage more housing production.

November 22, 2022 - Alexandria Now

Blueish tinged shot looking up at modern glass office buildings

Office Conversions More Popular Than Ever

The adaptive reuse of non-residential buildings has soared in recent years as demand for office space drops and the housing shortage deepens.

November 21, 2022 - Smart Cities Dive

Musician playing guitar in front of outdoor seating and sidewalk vendors in Houston, Texas

Houston Development Aims to Create Hyper-Walkable, Micro-Living Neighborhood

The 17-acre Second Ward project has spurred both optimism for a more walkable city and concerns about displacement and gentrification.

November 21, 2022 - Houston Chronicle

The  Rue Sainte-Catherine in Bordeaux is crowded with pedestrians in a lively European scene.

European Cities Act on Density

The sprawling mass of suburbia has been a disaster for the environment. But now smaller, denser cities herald a renaissance in city living.

November 20, 2022 - Wired Magazine

"No homeless sleeping" stenciled on grey dumpster in urban alley

‘Dignity Village’ Threatened by Anti-Camping Law

Portland’s ‘aggressive’ new camping ban could threaten the city’s most stable community of unhoused people, the two-decade old, self-governing Dignity Village.

November 18, 2022 - Next City

Multicolored four-story New York City buildings with storefronts on ground floor

New York’s Small Landlords Protest for the Right to Exclude

Landlords with fewer properties say rent stabilization, eviction moratoriums, and rising costs for repairs and maintenance are making it impossible for them to keep their businesses going.

November 17, 2022 - Curbed

Silicon Valley

Palo Alto Includes Industrial Rezonings in its State-Mandated Housing Element

Palo Alto, a Silicon Valley city with a history of exclusionary zoning tactics, has produced a new Housing Element that calls for more than 6,000 housing units to be built in the city by 2031.

November 16, 2022 - Palo Alto Online

View of Ocean Drive with colorfu three-story buildings and palm trees

Voters Reject Miami Beach High-Rises

Developers planning to build above the city’s current height limit will have to go back to the drawing board.

November 16, 2022 - The Wall Street Journal

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

One-story houses dusted with snow in Durango, Colorado with snowy mountainside in background

Affordable Housing Measure Passes in Colorado

A voter-approved measure will set aside existing tax revenue to support affordable housing projects, homeownership initiatives, and rental assistance programs.

November 15, 2022 - The Colorado Sun

Rendering of 14-story Chestnut Commons building at twilight

‘Passive House’ Development Brings 275 Affordable, Efficient Units to Brooklyn

A 14-story tower uses the ‘Passive House’ approach to drastically reduce energy use and improve quality of life for residents.

November 15, 2022 - Bloomberg CityLab

Buckhead, Atlanta

Atlanta Poised to Pass Protections for Voucher Holders

The city council will vote on a proposal to require publicly subsidized landlords to lease units to recipients of housing assistance vouchers.

November 14, 2022 - Atlanta Civic Circle

A close up image of the exterior of the U.S. Capitol Rotunda illuminated at dusk.

Elizabeth Warren Points to Development as a Path for Electoral Success

An op-ed written by Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Massachusetts) details Democrats’ recent track record of large-scale capital investments and calls for more.

November 14, 2022 - The Washington Post

Fort Worth Stockyards sign at night

Business Group Fights Apartments in Fort Worth Stockyards

The city’s zoning commission voted to require city council approval for new apartments east of Packers Street and Niles City Boulevard after a local business group coplained about added traffic.

November 11, 2022 - Fort Worth Star-Telegram

"Vote Here" sidewalk sign with American flag

2022 Midterm Election Results for Land Use, Transportation, and the Climate

The most closely watched midterm election since the last midterm election offered voters an opportunity to decide on matters of consequence related to land use, housing, transportation, and the environment.

November 9, 2022 - James Brasuell

A Link light rail transit train navigates a corner with an empty field and parked cars in the background.

Airport-Adjacent Seattle Suburb Aims for a Transit-Oriented Overhaul

The challenges and opportunities of transforming from a car-centric to a transit-oriented, affordable built environment are on display in a Seattle suburb.

November 9, 2022 - The Urbanist

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.