Land Use

Dallas, Knox Street

Dallas Exploring Parking Requirement Reform

Dallas relies on a formula introduced in 1965 to determine parking requirements for new developments, but city planners are studying how to update the city's development code for the future.

December 27, 2021 - D Magazine

A map with the location fo Fayetteville, Georgia highlighted among surrounding cities and highways.

Atlanta Suburb Freezes Residential Rezonings

Fayetteville, Georgia is seeing more applications for new townhomes than the city council can stomach.

December 27, 2021 - The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

New York Construction

New Interactive Mapping Tool Tracks all of NYC's Infrastructure Projects, Housing Permits, and City Facilities

The New York Department of City Planning has taken its open data practices to a new level with the launch of the Capital Planning Explorer.

December 27, 2021 - New York Department of City Planning

Magellanterassen at HafenCity, Hamburg, Germany

Living With Flooding in a German Port Town

A riverside neighborhood in Hamburg embraces flooding as part of its resilience planning, using old techniques to protect modern communities.

December 24, 2021 - Bloomberg CityLab

New York City Homelessness

Chain Retail Slow to Recover From Pandemic in New York City

2020 was a rough year for retail chains in New York City, making even a slow year, like 2021, look like a recovery.

December 24, 2021 - Commercial Observer

Marijuana

Zoning for Marijuana: Retail Not Included

Local municipalities in New Jersey retain local control in response to a state law that legalizes marijuana businesses throughout the state.

December 23, 2021 - NorthJersey.com

Trump supporting insurrectionists scale the walls of the U.S. Capitol Building on January 6, 2021.

Year in Review: Urban Planning in 2021

Part one of two of Planetizen's review of 2021—re-assessing failed predictions and daylighting the biggest planning stories of the year.

December 20, 2021 - James Brasuell

 Interstate 710 in East Los Angeles, California.

California Bill Could Ban Freeway Expansions in Underserved Neighborhoods

A proposed bill in the California State Legislature would bar the state from funding road construction in communities at risk for displacement and health impacts.

December 20, 2021 - Los Angeles Times

Pittsburgh

Pittsburgh Riverfront Development Could Include a Massive Ferris Wheel

A proposed mixed-use development on the Ohio River would enhance connections to the river and feature a Ferris wheel in tribute to the ride's inventor.

December 20, 2021 - CBS 2 Pittsburgh

Looking up at One Vanderbilt and Grand Central Station in East Midtown Manhattan.

New Supertall Planned for Grand Central Station-Adjacent Property

A new supertall skyscraper will rise at 175 Park Avenue, rising next to famous neighbors on a prime block in Manhattan.

December 20, 2021 - 6sqft

Residential Neighborhood

Fact Sheet: What Is a Housing Unit? What Are Group Quarters?

Most people live in housing units. But what counts as a housing unit? This article clarifies the basic concepts and provides examples using the Census Bureau’s guidelines. A clear definition is prerequisite for understanding an area's housing stock.

December 19, 2021 - PlanIt - Metropolitan Council

Natural Resources Conservation Service's Wetlands Reserve Program

Bay Area Developments at Risk From Sea Level Rise

A controversial proposed housing development in Newark exemplifies the struggle between increasing housing supply and protecting vulnerable shoreline communities from flooding.

December 17, 2021 - KQED

A man pushes a snow blower to clear the ground of an outdoor parking lot filled with cars.

Toronto City Council Removes Most Minimum Parking Requirements

The parking reform movement has a major new feather in its cap: the Toronto City Council has this week adopted sweeping changes to the parking requirements of the city's zoning bylaws.

December 16, 2021 - Toronto Storeys

Discovery Green and Houston skyline

Big Developments Coming to Houston Next Year

Houston residents can anticipate a slew of projects that will transform some of the city's most iconic landmarks and create new centers for work and play.

December 16, 2021 - The Houston Chronicle

Amazon Warehouse

The Impact of Amazon Warehouses on Communities

Often located in low-income communities of color, Amazon's warehouses contribute to public health impacts like poor air quality, noise pollution, and traffic congestion.

December 16, 2021 - Consumer Reports

New Orleans Freeway

How Federal Funds Can Benefit Freeway Removal Projects

The recently passed infrastructure bill dedicates $1 billion to freeway removal and capping, but the sum is only a 'first step' toward redressing the injustices perpetuated by urban highway projects.

December 16, 2021 - Streetsblog USA

New Zealand Bus Transit

New Zealand Approves Sweeping Land Use Reforms

The five largest cities in New Zealand will be zoned to allow townhouses. The latest bill continues a recent string of zoning reforms.

December 15, 2021 - Stuff

Orenco Station

Opinion: Upzoning Isn't Just for Major Streets

The practice of limiting high-density development to busy arterial streets puts renters and low-income households at higher risk for the effects of air and noise pollution created on major roads.

December 15, 2021 - Slate

Parking

Repurposing Car Parking Can Improve Commerce

In spite of concerns from business owners about losing parking, research shows that retail benefits from better bike and pedestrian infrastructure.

December 14, 2021 - Bloomberg CityLab

An aerial view of New Jersey suburbs, with Manhattan and New York City in the distant background.

Ambitious Zoning Reform Package Proposed in New York State Legislature

Single-family zoning, parking requirements, and minimum lot sizes are on the chopping block in Senate Bill S7574.

December 14, 2021 - TheRealDeal

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.