Land Use

Maryland School

For Lack of Schools: Building Moratorium Set to Take Effect

The Montgomery County Council made a few last minute changes to a residential building moratorium that will take effect next week, halting construction in areas around the county's schools.

June 27, 2019 - Bethesda Magazine

CPAC 2018

More Details on the Trump Administration's Sudden Pro-Development Moves

New efforts by the Trump administration to potentially curtail local land use regulations require closer examination.

June 26, 2019 - The New York Times

Presidential Campaign

Urban Planning and the Democratic Debate Field

The Democratic Party will hold a two-day debate event, starting tonight. It's time to brush up on the positions of the leading candidates on policies and politics relate to housing, climate change, and infrastructure.

June 26, 2019 - James Brasuell

Trump Campaign

Trump Creates Council to Study 'Eliminating Barriers to Affordable Housing Development'

President Trump is scheduled to sign an executive order today that will create a federal-level group to study the obstructionist practices of local governments and the potential for a federal response.

June 25, 2019 - The Wall Street Journal

Porch

State of the Nation's Housing: Housing Production, Supply Still Coming Up Short

The Joint Center for Housing Studies of Harvard University released its annual "The State of the Nation's Housing" report this morning. There are some signs of post-recession normalcy in the housing market for high-income earners.

June 25, 2019 - Joint Center for Housing Studies of Harvard University

Lake Michigan

'Yes in My Back Yard Act' Introduced in the U.S. Senate

U.S. Senator Todd Young (R-Indiana) has introduced a new law that picks sides in the housing debate, though the law is unlikely to produce structural change in the development process the near future.

June 25, 2019 - Senator Todd Young

Chicago, Illinois

Editorial Board Calls for Tax Increment Financing Reform in Chicago

The Chicago Tribune says the city of Chicago can't be trusted with tax increment financing (TIF), so it's time for a do-over.

June 25, 2019 - Chicago Tribune

U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development

HUD Secretary Carson Supports Minneapolis-Style Upzoning

U.S. Housing and Urban Development Ben Carson, in Minneapolis last week, expressed support for the planning reforms included in the Minneapolis 2040 Comprehensive Plan.

June 25, 2019 - Star Tribune

Toronto Waterfront

Master Plan for Quayside 'Smart City' Released by Sidewalk Labs and Waterfront Toronto

The long-awaited master plan for Quayside in Toronto was released to the public today.

June 24, 2019 - Toronto Star

Supreme Court Statue

APA Disappointed With Supreme Court's Decision in Takings Case

The decision in Knick v. Township of Scott prompted a response from the American Planning Association.

June 24, 2019 - American Planning Association

Seawall Crescent City California

As Sea Levels Rise, Some Cities Will Be Saved While Others Will Be Left Behind

U.S. coastal cities need to prepare for the effects of climate change, but the pot of funding is limited. There’s no way around the fact that there will be winners and there will be losers.

June 22, 2019 - The New York Times

Mississippi River Missouri

Polluted Chicago Water Travels Over 1,000 Miles and Wreaks Havoc in the Gulf

An algae bloom in the Gulf of Mexico has resulted in an oxygen-starved area the size of Massachusetts. Part of the problem is sewage runoff flowing south from Chicago.

June 22, 2019 - Chicago Tribune

Boston Seaport

Boston’s Seaport District, Where Building Started Before Flood Preparation

The Boston waterfront has been booming, but the area is extremely vulnerable to climate change and rising sea levels. Measures to address those risks have come just recently.

June 22, 2019 - Bloomberg BusinessWeek

Phoenix, Arizona

A Growth Plan for the Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport

With a growing population comes a need for more airport capacity, and Phoenix is no different. The challenge is finding the space to grow.

June 21, 2019 - Arizona Republic

Manhattan Skyline

More Skyscrapers Coming Soon to New York City's Skyline

After a decade of skyward expansion, even more skyscrapers are on the horizon in Manhattan.

June 21, 2019 - The New York Times

Embarcadero

Revealed: New Plans for San Francisco's Waterfront

The Port of San Francisco is wrapping up a three-year planning process to chart the ongoing transformation of the city's waterfront.

June 20, 2019 - San Francisco Chronicle

Compost Pile

Community Composting Network Launching in Philadelphia

The city of Philadelphia is seeking 25 locations around the city for composting facilities that will help the city achieve its goals of zero waste and litter.

June 20, 2019 - The Philadelphia Inquirer

Seattle, Washington

Measuring Job Densification Trends in U.S. Metropolitan Areas

A new report details the trend of jobs densification in U.S. metropolitan areas between 2004 and 2015, finding a few large metropolitan areas leading an overall increase in jobs density. Still, many areas are seeing jobs disperse around the region.

June 20, 2019 - Brookings Institution

San Francisco

Accessory Dwelling Units Legalized, Finally, in San Francisco

Legislation approved this week finally brings the city of San Francisco up to date with state laws approved in 2016.

June 19, 2019 - San Francisco Public Press

Philadelphia Street

Proposed Law Would Require Community Benefits Negotiations for 'High Impact' Projects in Philadelphia

A recently proposed law would attempt to force developers and neighborhood projects to the table to negotiate large projects in the city of Philadelphia.

June 19, 2019 - PlanPhilly

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.