Land Use

Kentucky

Seeking 'Opportunity Zones' Investments

The city of Louisville is making the most of the Opportunity Zone program in the early stages of the new federal program.

July 31, 2018 - Insider Louisville

Agriculture Exhibition

Urban Farming Program Struggles to Sprout

Los Angeles created a tax incentive to promote urban farms on the thousands of vacant lots around the city. So far, the incentive has been given out only four times.

July 31, 2018 - CityLab

Twitter Headquarters

San Francisco Could Zone Out Workplace Cafeterias

Large corporations providing on-site cafeterias are considered a threat to local restaurant business.

July 31, 2018 - San Francisco Examiner

Tax

Study Critiques the Fiscal and Racial Consequences of Capping Property Taxes

A new report by the Center for Budget and Policy Priorities finds major flaws with property taxes in several states, and proposes a solution that could mitigate the least desirable consequences of limits to property tax increases.

July 30, 2018 - Governing

Twin Cities

City Planning Criticism at a Critical Point in Minneapolis History

A columnist presents criticisms and recommendations for both sides of the density debate as Minneapolis considers a new comprehensive plan.

July 30, 2018 - Star Tribune

Santa Monica 3rd Street Promenade

Wanted: A Language to Reflect the Diversity of Suburbia

The suburb/city distinction is too general and prone to exceptions.

July 30, 2018 - Build a Better Burb

Washington, D.C. Street

Curb Pricing Could Offer Big Benefits

Free on-street parking costs cities in lost land and additional traffic, cities could realize huge benefits if they value their curbs, Henry Garbar argues in Slate.

July 29, 2018 - Slate

Glenwood Green Acres, Philadelphia

Not All Affordable Housing Shortages Are Alike

The city of Philadelphia shows that not all affordability crises are created with the same mix of supply and demand.

July 29, 2018 - PlanPhilly

Downtown Cincinnati, Ohio

Parking Reform Gaining Steam in Downtown Cincinnati, Over-the-Rhine

A proposed Urban Parking Overlay District would end requirements for off-street dedicated parking in two of Cincinnati's busiest neighborhoods.

July 29, 2018 - UrbanCincy

Renton, Washington

Seattle Suburb Plans its Civic Core

The city of Renton, Washington recently approved a Civic Core Vision and Action Plan.

July 27, 2018 - The Urbanist

Southwest Oregon

Surprise: Department of Justice Fights for an Expanded National Monument in Oregon

The U.S. Department of Justice is fighting a lawsuit that would overturn a decision by the Obama Administration to expand the Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument in Southern Oregon.

July 27, 2018 - The Oregonian

Washington State Department of Transportation

A Progressive Voice from the Washington Department of Transportation

Roger Millar, secretary of the Washington Department of Transportation, critiqued the status quo of statewide approaches to transportation planning and investment.

July 27, 2018 - Streetsblog USA

Op-Ed: Cap Philly's 10-Year-Tax Abatement

Qualifying developments are eligible for a ten-year tax abatement in Philadelphia. These op-ed authors say the abatement doesn't work as anything other than a government payout.

July 27, 2018 - The Philadelphia Inquirer

Durham

Evidence of Race's Role in Land Use Decisions

Analysis of a city's zoning and land use decisions over seven decades reveals the role race plays in decision making.

July 27, 2018 - CityLab

Prospect Hill Park, Waltham, MA

Housing Crunch Provokes Debate in Boston Suburb

The city of Waltham, Massachusetts has added over 11,000 jobs since 2010, but only a few hundred homes. Developers see a prime opportunity, but city officials are reticent.

July 26, 2018 - The Boston Globe

Urban Sprawl

Carbon Offsets for Suburban Developments? The Courts Could Decide

The county of San Diego wants sprawling suburban developments to buy carbon offsets, billing the idea as a fix to the region's housing affordability crisis.

July 26, 2018 - The San Diego Union-Tribune

Pittsburgh Redevelopment

Hazelwood Green Mega-Project Taking Shape in Pittsburgh

A 178-acre parcel of land, a trio of powerful foundations as owners, and looming planning approvals—it's time to take a close look at Hazelwood Green.

July 26, 2018 - Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Detroit, Michigan

Parking Lot Snafu Corrected in the Detroit Zoning Code

One unclear illustration almost reaped a $1 million reward for the Illitch family, owners of the Little Caesars Arena, the Detroit Tigers, and the Detroit Red Wings.

July 26, 2018 - Detroit Free Press

Derelict Commercial Buildings

Optimism and Investment, Not 'Managed Decline," for the Rust Belt

Managed decline assumes that struggling cities will continue to struggle indefinitely. Is there a better way to plot neighborhood stabilization?

July 25, 2018 - Notes from the Underground

Corner lot gas station

Berkeley Zoning Board Choose Current Gas Station Over Proposed Co-Housing Development

The Zoning Adjustments Board (ZAB) of one of the nation's most progressive cities has chosen a very conservative approach to new housing projects.

July 25, 2018 - Berkeleyside

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.