Land Use
Chicago ADU Law Gives Alderpeople Veto Power
After years of debate, the city approved an ordinance that legalizes ADUs in some neighborhoods, but gives alderpeople the power to restrict them in single-family zones.
Study: Nearly Half of Portland TOD Residents Commute by Transit
People living in transit-oriented developments are more likely to ditch the car and opt for transit or walking, new research shows.
Australian Governments Offering $1 Pre-Approved Housing Plans
The New South Wales government is the first to sell pre-approved architectural plans to citizens for $1 in the hopes of spurring more housing construction.
A Multimillion Dollar Virginia Company is Turning Empty Office Buildings Into Farms
Area 2 Farms envisions a world where 90% of the U.S. population lives within 10 miles of an indoor farm.
Delaware Governor Could Force Cities to Upzone
Gov. Meyer says the state will work with cities to encourage land use reforms that make room for more affordable housing types, but could take stricter measures if jurisdictions don’t comply.
DC ‘Streatery’ Fees Could Kill Most Outdoor Dining
The new, permanent outdoor dining program will cost businesses $20 per square foot of dining space, prompting most restaurants to dismantle their Covid-era ‘streateries.’
Harvard Report Cites Zoning, Construction Costs as Obstacles to New Housing
Zoning restrictions and onerous building codes make mid-sized multifamily housing prohibitively expensive or illegal to build.
Portland to Issue Land Use Violation to ICE Detention Center
The city says the agency breached its agreement not to detain people overnight or for longer than 12 hours in a downtown Portland facility.
Boston Upzoning Proposal Moves Forward
The Boston Planning Department approved a proposal that would raise allowable building heights in downtown and streamline permitting for small businesses.
Ventura, CA Makes Car-Free Main Street Permanent
Main Street has been closed to cars since 2020, when the Covid-19 pandemic spurred a flurry of open streets projects.
Texas Could Have the Nation’s 3 Largest Cities by 2100. Are They Ready to Embrace Density?
Houston, Dallas, and Austin are growing fast. The old sprawl model is no longer sustainable.
San Francisco Mayor’s ‘Family Zoning’ Plan Faces Pushback, Displacement Concerns
Newly proposed legislation aims to protect long-term tenants from displacement caused by Mayor Lurie’s proposed zoning reform plan, which would allow for more housing construction in parts of the city.
Trump Administration Wants to Remove Conservation From Approved 'Uses' of Public Land
The Department of the Interior moved to officially rescind the Public Lands Rule passed in 2024, which elevates the conservation of public lands to the same level of protection as other uses.
A San Francisco University Just Built Over 650 Affordable Units. Are Institutions the Answer to the Housing Crisis?
With access to planning resources not always available to private developers, universities are uniquely positioned to build housing quickly and cost-effectively.
LA Mall Garage Converted to 200 Housing Units
As indoor malls continue to struggle, more of them are being converted to housing and other uses.
Maryland Issues Executive Order to Create Affordable Housing on State-Owned Properties
Gov. Wes Moore’s order, which follows on the heels of an unsuccessful attempt to pass the housing reforms in the legislature, prioritizes transit-oriented development and streamlines permitting.
August Must-Reads: Top 10 Articles From Last Month
In suburban Houston, cities are scrambling to expand water infrastructure to serve new communities. But can sprawl be part of a workable solution to the housing crisis?
‘Montana Miracle:’ The State Actually Succeeding at Housing Reform
A series of ambitious zoning reforms is having a significant impact on the state’s housing supply.
20 Years After Katrina, New Orleans is More Unaffordable Than Ever
The city’s post-hurricane redevelopment has failed to include its most vulnerable residents.
Poll: 2/3 of Virginians Don’t Trust Local Governments to Address Housing Crisis
Three-quarters of residents say the state needs to do more to address housing supply and affordability.
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
