Land Use

Ivy Covered Green Building

15 Cities Receive Grant Support LEED for Cities and Communities Program

The LEED for Cities and Communities grant program will support the first 15 cities to seek certification under LEED v4.1

May 25, 2019 - Smart Cities Dive

Iowa State Flag

'Property Tax Transparency' Approved in Iowa

A new law, signed by Governor Kim Reynolds this week, will require extra steps of local officials before they can raise property taxes in the state of Iowa.

May 25, 2019 - Cedar Rapids Gazette

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Philadelphia Could Hit the Brakes on Housing

With bills on the table to update its zoning code, Philadelphia may be poised to slow the pace of its housing construction.

May 24, 2019 - Philadelphia Inquirer - Philly.com

Accessory Dwelling Unit

How One Town Solved its ADU Regulation Challenges

Against opposition, the town of Durango, Colorado has successfully found a way to permit accessory dwelling units and legalize those that already existed under the radar.

May 24, 2019 - CityLab

Colorado

Zoning Changes Produce Quick Development Results in a Colorado Town

In September, the city of Longmont, Colorado approved new land use and zoning laws. By April, developers were proposing thousands of residential units and hundreds of thousands of square feet in commercial space.

May 23, 2019 - Times-Call

Queens, New York City

New York Almost Ready to Move on From Failed Amazon Plans

The city of New York has made initial moves toward developing a plan to replace the failed Amazon Headquarters development in Long Island City, Queens.

May 23, 2019 - Politico

Grocery Stores

New Grocery Chain on the Block Offers an Alternative to the Walmarts of the World

If you haven't heard of Aldi yet, you probably will soon.

May 22, 2019 - CNN

Jefferson Memorial

2019 ParkScore Rankings Now Available

The trust for Public Land today announced the 2019 ParkScore rankings.

May 22, 2019 - The Trust for Public Land

Geno's Steaks

Streets in Dense Urban Areas Safer Than Suburban 'Stroads,' Study Finds

A new study considers urban form, roadway characteristics, traffic collisions, and fatalities in the Philadelphia region, to show that the densest parts of regions are the safest places to drive and walk.

May 22, 2019 - PlanPhilly

High Line park NYC - Manhattan - New York City

Study: How Beauty Is a Boon for Cities

Richard Florida discusses a study finding a range of connections between a city or neighborhood's aesthetic appeal and its economic health.

May 22, 2019 - CityLab

Atlanta, Georgia

Big Development Opportunities Envisioned for Atlanta's Hulsey Yard

CSX moved operations away from Hulsey Yard, so what should the land become?

May 21, 2019 - What's Next ATL

Starbucks Drive-Thru

Citywide Ban on New Drive-Thrus Moves Forward in Minneapolis

The city of Minneapolis doesn't want any more drive-throughs in the city, in an effort to cut down on emissions, car trips, and conflict points in the public realm.

May 21, 2019 - Star Tribune

City Fog

Asthma and Planning

Re-evaluating the role of planning in creating, and reversing, disturbing public health outcomes, like asthma rates among African-Americans in Philadelphia.

May 21, 2019 - Next City

urban planners look at Biloxi plans

Planning and the Public Trust

The Go Cultivate! podcast recently discussed the question of public trust in local government planning.

May 21, 2019 - Strong Towns

Sprawl

The Wonderful World of Vicious Circles

Government's pro-sprawl and anti-density policies often create problems that justify more of the same.

May 20, 2019 - Michael Lewyn

Chicago Mayor

Evaluating the Planning and Development Record of Rahm Emanuel

Mayor Rahm Emanuel came into office in Chicago from the Obama White House. Before a new takes office mayor, on May 20, Curbed looked back at Emanuel's track record on matters related to planning.

May 19, 2019 - Curbed Chicago

Google bikes

Google Expanding its Presence in San Jose

Google has expanded its footprint in North San Jose to cover 1.27 million square feet. Local officials are saying that the company's acquisitions ensure the long-term financial stability of the city.

May 18, 2019 - The Mercury News

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Mega-Project Trades Trail Funding for Extra Height

In Philadelphia, the Liberty on the River development will transform the Delaware River waterfront.

May 18, 2019 - PlanPhilly

Horse Farm

Support for Shrinking the Nation's Oldest Growth Boundary

Lexington, Kentucky's growth boundary survived a comprehensive plan update in 2019, after years of controversy. A housing crisis, a growing city, and a broken land use system are rearranging the political arithmetic behind the greenbelt.

May 18, 2019 - CityLab

Desert Rain

And Now, Some Good News for the Environment

It's not all gloom and doom for the environment.

May 17, 2019 - Outside

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.