Land Use

Revealed: $2.2 Billion Redevelopment Plan for Philadelphia's Waterfront
The city of Philadelphia has a new, highly anticipated plan for a valuable site on the Delaware River waterfront.

A 'Dining Revolution' Comes Home
A California bill approved in 2018 legalized restaurants to locate in homes, setting the foundation for a new restaurant economy just when communities needed it most.

Keeping Bees Away from Honey? Corruption Cases Expose Flaws in L.A. City’s Land Entitlement Process
Three former Los Angeles public officials share their collective perspective on how best to reform the city of Los Angeles' corrupted land use approval process.

'Place-Healing': From Adaptation to Manifesto
Amid pandemic and protest, the need for urban mending has become abundantly clear, with responses that invoke the more ethereal elements of a physical place I like to call it "place-healing," a term that seems right for the times.

Missing Middle Density Will Take More Than Zoning Changes
Looking for change in the housing supply? "Don't stop at the zoning code and think you're done. There's so much work left to do."

The Freedom Georgia Initiative Buys 97 Acres to Build a New Black Community
Inspired by the killing of Ahmaud Arbery and a speech by rapper Killer Mike, a group of Black families is investing from the ground up in a new community that prioritizes the safety and financial empowerment of Black residents.

More Cities Pressing Pause on Development as Gentrification, Displacement Concerns Persist
Chicago and Atlanta both approved development moratoriums in areas surrounding new urban amenities this year. Other cities could soon add to the number.

Linkage Fee for Affordable Housing Funding Approved in San Jose
The city of San Jose will charge developers a fee to help fund affordable housing projects in the city. But critics say the fees are insignificant compared to the scale of the need.

Opinion: How to Protect Cities From a Private Development 'Feeding Frenzy'
A New York city councilmember, trained in urban planning, presents ideas for protecting tenants and small businesses in the ongoing economic downturn.

R&B Artist Akon Plans for $6 Billion City Built From Scratch in Senegal
Akon City would rise from farmland in Senegal, in the tradition of previous master-planned urban areas like Washington, D.C. or Canberra, with ambitions on creating a "very, very African" city with a futuristic take on technology.

Gehry's Latest Downtown L.A. Project Rises While Workers Stay Home
A high-profile project in the heart of the cultural and civic center of Downtown Los Angeles is rising quickly, and practically in secret, as the area's daytime population stays home during the pandemic.

The Media Can't Stop Talking About the End of Cities
The latest installment of Planetizen's ongoing effort to track the stories about the future of planning in a world forever changed by COVID-19 notices a recurring theme.

Zoning Reforms Underwhelm in Minneapolis as Development Market Holds Course
As one of the first city's to comprehensively allow for residential density, Minneapolis was probably hoping for more than what it's achieved so far.

Parking on Sidewalks Could Be Prohibited Throughout the U.K.
The United Kingdom could preempt local laws that allow drivers to park cars on sidewalks. The policy would provide clearer paths for people with disabilities and people choosing active transportation modes.

Portland Transit Station to Get Multi-Modal Mixed-Use Overhaul
The regional transit agency for Portland, Oregon is working on a development plan that would drastically multiple the planning considerations at a local transit station.

Another Defeat for Statewide Zoning Reform in California
Another year, another defeat for sweeping changes to the status quo of single-family zoning in the state of California. SB 1120 would have allowed duplexes in areas previously zoned for detached single family zoning.

'The City' Documents Formative Planning Advocacy on Film
Streaming on YouTube, the 1939 film "The City" is a powerful cinematic account of advocating for planned communities.

Addressing Equity by Strategically Planting Millions of Trees
As part of the Trillion Trees Initiative, cities across the country are pledging to plant trees and restore urban forests to fight climate change and cool off disadvantaged communities.

What Trump Gets Wrong About America’s Suburbs
The Trump administration’s talk about protecting the suburbs is based on misrepresentations of who really lives in suburbs and what these communities need.

Owners and Renters of Manufactured Homes Lack Assistance During the Pandemic
Millions of people who live in manufactured homes were already vulnerable. The pandemic has made their housing situations even more precarious.
Pagination
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