Land Use

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

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.

September 9, 2020 - WHYY

La Maison Rose

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.

September 9, 2020 - Eater Los Angeles

Los Angeles City Hall

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.

September 8, 2020 - The Planning Report

United Kingdom

'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.

September 8, 2020 - Charles R. Wolfe

Residential Neighborhood

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."

September 8, 2020 - Strong Towns

Toomsboro, Georgia

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.

September 7, 2020 - Revolt

Chicago Bike Trail

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.

September 7, 2020 - The Washington Post

Silicon Valley

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.

September 3, 2020 - The Mrecury News

Brooklyn Redevelopment

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.

September 3, 2020 - The New York Times

Akon City

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.

September 3, 2020 - The Washington Post

Los Angeles, California

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.

September 2, 2020 - Los Angeles Times

New York City Coronavirus

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.

September 2, 2020 - James Brasuell

Highway 65 Construction

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.

September 2, 2020 - City Pages

Sidewalk Parking

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.

September 2, 2020 - The Guardian

Portland, Oregon

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.

September 1, 2020 - Bike Portland

Hollywood Sign

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.

September 1, 2020 - Los Angeles Times

The old and the new

'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.

August 31, 2020 - The New Yorker

Chicago Lake Michigan Trees

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.

August 31, 2020 - Bloomberg CityLab

Suburbs

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.

August 30, 2020 - The Avenue (Brookings)

Trailer Parks

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.

August 28, 2020 - Urban Wire

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.