Land Use

Walking the Dog

New Dog Park a First for Downtown Phoenix

Phoenix. Phoenix let the dogs out.

March 22, 2019 - Arizona Republic

Density

Pop Quiz: Can You Identify Cities By Density Alone?

A Planetizen editor failed this quiz.

March 22, 2019 - The Guardian

Hurricane Harvey

Connecting the Issues of Flooding and Affordable Housing in Texas

A study released this week by the Greater Houston Flood Mitigation Consortium ( the University of Houston, the Kinder Institute, the Local Initiatives Support Corporation, and more) raises concerns that new floodplain regulations could harm renters.

March 21, 2019 - The Houston Chronicle

Third Street Promenade Santa Monica

Santa Monica Pedestrian Mall Wants People to Hang Out

Updates are coming to the Third Street Promenade as it seeks to innovate the retail experience.

March 20, 2019 - Los Angeles Magazine

Prospect Hill Park, Waltham, MA

Zoning Reform Gets Another Try as Massachusetts Wrestles With Housing Crunch

Strong support for local control has made statewide legislation to address the housing affordability crisis difficult to approve in the Bay State.

March 20, 2019 - The Boston Globe

Seattle

Seattle Gives Final Approval to 27 Upzones

An historic moment for planning in Seattle: Density bonuses for affordable housing are now allowed all over the city as Seattle implements a big piece of its long-percolating Mandatory Housing Affordability plan.

March 19, 2019 - The Seattle Times

Over-the-Rhine, Cincinnati, Ohio

On-Street Parking a Sticking Point for Cincinnati's Road Diet Plan

Liberty Street was once a narrow, urban street. Now it's seven lanes of unsafe speeds and pedestrian risks. The city has a plan to greatly reduce the number of traffic lanes on the street, or another plan that won't.

March 18, 2019 - WCPO

New York City

Study: Density Can Impede Growth

Size and growth go hand in hand, until they don't, according to a new analysis. Density might be the reason that synergy eventually shortcircuits.

March 18, 2019 - CityLab

New York City

Climate Resilience Plan Would Extend Manhattan

A plan to literally change the shape of Manhattan.

March 18, 2019 - New York Magazine

New Leadership at SPUR

Alicia John-Baptiste, a veteran of transportation and planning agencies in San Francisco will take the helm of the influential planning and urbanism think thank.

March 17, 2019 - San Francisco Chronicle

Chicago, Illinois

Proposed Mega-Development Would Expand Chicago's Skyline

The One Central development would transform 34 acres over Metro tracks near Soldier Field.

March 16, 2019 - Chicago Tribune

Manhattan

Review: The Hudson Yards Mega-Development, Open to the Public Today

Curbed Architecture Critic Alexandra Lange provides everything you need to know about the $25 billion, "city within the city" that opened to the public in Manhattan today. Also, the review isn't exactly positive.

March 15, 2019 - Curbed

Sangre de Cristo Mountains

A Direct Line From Forest Management to Water Supply

Urban water suppliers have had to learn quickly that fire ecology is a major concern in maintaining a secure water supply system.

March 15, 2019 - Yale Environment 360

Amarillo City Hall

A New Zoning Code for a More Effective Comprehensive Plan

Amarillo, a city of nearly 200,000 residents located in the Texas Panhandle, will rewrite its zoning ordinance for the first time in over 50 years.

March 15, 2019 - Statesman

Philadelphia

'Councilmanic Prerogative' Hindering Development in Philadelphia

The legislative quid pro quo is being used by members of the city council for the wrong reasons, leaving neighborhoods throughout the city in limbo.

March 14, 2019 - The Inquirer / Philly.com

Public Meeting

Study Examines the Benefits of Online Reviews to Planning Research

Online reviews aren't representative of overall neighborhood populations, but they can reveal data that otherwise might go unnoticed during research phases of planning processes.

March 13, 2019 - PhysOrg

San Jose, California

Editorial: Raise Height Limits to San Jose's Proper Stature

The city of San Jose has the "least distinctive" downtown skyline of the nation's major cities, according to editorial board of The Mercury News. The City Council has a chance to change that.

March 12, 2019 - The Mercury News

On-Street Parking

Demand-Based Pricing for On-Street Parking Pilot Finds Success in D.C.

It's rare to see a policy so effective in achieving its goals.

March 12, 2019 - Greater Greater Washington

New York City’s Zoning & Land Use Map

Upgraded Zoning and Land Use Webtool Released for New York City

The New York Department of City Planning is keeping itself on the cutting edge of internet technology.

March 11, 2019 - New York Department of City Planning

Portland Streetcar Bike

How, and Where, a Big Transit Oriented Density Bill Would Allow Change in Oregon

Analyzing the potential outcomes of Senate Bill 10, one of two statewide upzoning bills under consideration in the state of Oregon this year.

March 10, 2019 - Sightline Institute

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.