Land Use
NYC Will Finally Bring Sewer System to Flood-Prone Brooklyn Neighborhood
A 12-block area known as ‘The Hole’ straddling Brooklyn and Queens has struggled with flooding and sewage contamination for decades.
New California Law Lets Counties Seize RVs — Even if Their Owner Lives in Them
Advocates for the homeless say the law could make life harder and more unstable for people who use RVs as shelter.
Jeff Speck’s “Interesting Walk,” In Unexpected Art Forms
We thought it would be fun to ask the Planetizen family to show us their version of the Interesting Walk. What we got back surprised and delighted us beyond expectation.
Houston 'Abandons' Street for Convention Center Expansion
The city plans to eliminate multiple blocks of public streets as part of an expansion project that some residents say didn’t take into account local connectivity.
Manhattan Office-to-Apartment Conversions Doubled in 2024
Thanks in part to recent zoning changes, a record number of office space is being converted to housing in the city’s former business districts.
A Wealthy California Suburb Wants to Cut its First Affordable Housing Development by Two Thirds — and Could set a Precedent
Los Altos Hills wants to alter its housing element to limit proposed new housing, a move that could run afoul of state law.
New California Law Allows 9-Story Buildings Near Transit
Gov. Newsom signed a low that overrides local zoning laws in the state’s biggest counties to allow for larger buildings near rail or rapid bus stations.
Study: Cramped Quarters Worsen Sleep — but not as Much as Long Commutes
A Japanese study links commutes over 50 minutes to higher rates of insomnia and daytime sleepiness.
Sinking Into Wetlands, This Northern California Highway Needs a Rescue
A plan to elevate the roadway and restore adjacent wetlands could take decades to complete.
Rural Texans are Forming a City to Fight a Noisy Crypto Facility
In the face of state inaction, residents of an unincorporated community want to take matters into their own hands to limit the noise from a bitcoin mining operation.
New Florida Law Bars Communities From Planning for Climate, Disaster Resilience
A law aimed at speeding up redevelopment after hurricanes bars “burdensome” land use regulations that could help communities rebuild with more resilience.
Car Culture Kills. Motornormativity Explains Why.
From “car accidents” to “traffic violence,” language shapes perception — and policy. When it comes to the words we use, let’s put the power with the people.
Study: Houston’s Vacant Lots Worsen Heat Island Effect
Paved lots and abandoned buildings can raise surrounding surface temperatures as much as 20 degrees, according to a new study.
Nearly Half a Million New Arizona Homes Halted Due to Water Crisis
The Arizona Department of Water Resources has put a moratorium on new water supply permits, making the future of planned residential developments uncertain.
Seattle’s Zoning Reform Could Unlock a ‘Multiplex Boom’
A package of stackable density bonuses could make it easier for developers to build 12-plexes.
September Must-Reads: Top 10 Articles From Last Month
EV drivers can no longer use carpool lanes alone, Bay Area transit is saved — for now — by a $750 million loan, and a Florida commuter rail line loses its state subsidy, jeopardizing its future.
In a Warmer, Wetter and More Disaster-prone World: “Nature is the Greatest Designer”
A conversation with the American Society of Landscape Architects’ CEO Torey Carter-Conneen and board president Kona Gray.
Denver, Colorado Bursts with Dozens of 'Food Forests'
Denver Urban Gardens is building green spaces that clean the air and offer free, fresh fruit to neighbors.
San Diego County ADUs Account for Over 30% of New Housing Permits
A now-expired incentive helped boost ADU applications since 2021 while larger housing projects have stalled.
Salem, Massachusetts Eliminates Parking Minimums
An analysis found that the city’s real parking demand is around 0.85 spots per housing unit, far less than the 1.5 spaces required under the old zoning code.
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.
One Hundred Miles
County of Mendocino
planning NEXT
The Architects Foundation
University of Cincinnati Online
Montrose County
Northern Illinois Transit Authority (NITA)
The Pocatello Development Authority
