Land Use

Philadelphia Aims to Create or Preserve 100,000 Units of Housing
The city of Philadelphia released a document detailing its intentions around housing and related policies. The plan, which has been described as "ambitious," places a focus on equity.

For Tiny Vehicles, Safety Comes With Numbers
Motorists tend to look out for hazards they expect. If tiny vehicles proliferate, including electric scooters, greater safety will follow.

Big Redevelopment Plan for Detroit Neighborhood, But Little Progress
The Detroit project was slated to become a massive sports and entertainment district. After five years, little has changed.

Another SB 827? Ambitious California Housing Bill Isn't Quite Dead Yet
It received a lot of press, but ultimately California's Senate Bill 827 went nowhere. Now, the state senator who introduced the bill is working with advocates who opposed it on another version that just might have better chances.

Visions for Lidding I-5 in Downtown Seattle
The notion of fully capping I-5 as it runs through central Seattle has been gaining steam. The city could stand to gain hundreds of acres of urban land.

Minnesota Grants May Bolster Urban Farming's Legitimacy
For the first time, the state of Minnesota is offering money specifically for urban agriculture, in a win for urban farmers who want to challenge the notion that agriculture is necessarily a rural enterprise.

Portland State Invests $3 Million to Study Homelessness and Smart Cities
Two new research hubs will explore the intersections between homelessness, technology, and urban planning.

San Jose Proposes Turning Schools into Teacher Housing, Faces Outcry
A San Jose Unified School District plan to relocate several schools and build affordable housing in their place has sparked controversy. The district says teachers increasingly can't afford to live in the area.

Toronto Mayoral Candidate Suggests Repurposing City Golf Courses
Former chief planner Jennifer Keesmaat wants to transform three failing golf courses into free public spaces.

Potential Height of Dan Gilbert's Detroit Skyscraper Rises Again
The final height of the tower that will become Detroit's tallest building may exceed 900 feet. The tower and its complex are expected to include retail, office, residential, exhibit, and event space.

Boston to Consider Workforce and Investor Diversity in Real Estate Decisions
Beginning this week, the city of Boston will ask developers how they plan to include women and minorities as workers and investors when putting city-owned real estate out for bid.

A Year After Harvey, Homes Still Going Up on Houston Flood Plain
Despite the devastation wrought by Hurricane Harvey, builders and buyers alike are sustaining a market for new construction on land likely to get flooded again.

Report: NYC Not Doing Enough to Prioritize Buses
According to a bus advocacy coalition's progress report, New York City hasn't yet delivered on promises to get buses moving faster with comprehensive and well-enforced bus lanes.

Keeping Our Cool: Extreme Heat in the Twin Cities Region
A report discusses how rising temperatures affect the Twin Cities metropolitan area, and how those effects can be mitigated.

New Master Plan Envisions Brooklyn Navy Yard as Next-Gen Manufacturing Hub
Brooklyn Navy Yard Development Corporation's master plan for the site is a $2.5 billion bet that high-tech manufacturers can be enticed back to New York, bringing with them the economic heft to transform the whole area.

California's Housing Package, One Year Later
It's too early to gauge the long-term effects of California's housing package signed a year ago. But with a $4 billion bond on the ballot this November, some facts (and some dramas) have already made themselves known.

Closure of Tiny House Village in Seattle Prompts Concern
Meant to serve chronically homeless people, the Licton Springs tiny house village has been controversial from the start. It's uncertain whether enough permanent housing exists to resettle all residents.

Seattle to Use Surplus Public Land for Affordable Housing
New municipal and state laws have made it possible for Seattle to sell excess land to affordable housing developers at below-market rates, or even to give it away.

Should This Mass Pike Viaduct Come Down?
Public opinion favors an at-grade highway, but the state is still considering retaining the elevated section in Allston.

Memphis Downtown Boom Highlights the Potential of Adaptive Reuse
The city of Memphis, Tennessee is in the middle of an understated boom focused on downtown development and adaptive reuse.
Pagination
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