Land Use

Sunnyside Yard

Previewing NYC's Next Big Megadevelopment

Sunnyside Yard, a 180-acre railroad yard in Queens, is in the initial stages of a planning process that may eventually bring development surpassing the scale of Hudson Yards. This time, it is hoped, there will be greater focus on affordability.

December 26, 2018 - Intelligencer - New York Magazine

Pennsylvania Borough's Rezoning Snags on Last-Minute Public Opposition

The borough of Homestead, Pennsylvania, just outside of Pittsburgh, is in the middle of its first comprehensive planning process since 2001.

December 24, 2018 - Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Venezuela

Lamenting the Decline of Caracas, Once the 'Jewel of Latin America'

"A generation ago, Venezuela’s capital was one of Latin America’s most thriving, glamorous cities; an oil-fuelled, tree-lined cauldron of culture that guidebooks hailed as a mecca for foodies, night owls and art fans."

December 24, 2018 - The Guardian

Japan Shared Space

Japan Offers Up Free Abandoned Houses

Due to an aging populace, lackluster construction quality, and other factors, Japan is facing a glut of abandoned homes. For those with the ability to live there, these homes can be had for next to nothing.

December 24, 2018 - Fast Company

University of Washington

University of Washington Gets Approval for Major Expansion

With several stipulations, Seattle City Council has signed off on the university's plans for up to 6 million square feet of new construction, including high-rises.

December 22, 2018 - The Seattle Times

St. Petersburg

Lots of Ballpark Planning in Play as St. Petersburg Plots to Keep the Tampa Bay Rays

With no shot at a new ballpark in Tampa, and pressure mounting to relocate the team to Portland, Oregon, among other possibilities, the Tampa Bay Rays could still end up at a new location in St. Petersburg.

December 21, 2018 - Tampa Bay Times

San Francisco

San Francisco Sets the Parking Reform Bar High

The city of San Francisco became the largest city to end minimum parking requirements through the city earlier this month.

December 21, 2018 - Streetsblog USA

Hollywood, Los Angeles

Two Signs of Approval Process Failure Finally to Proceed in Los Angeles

Neighborhood groups blocked the construction and completion of a Target-anchored retail complex and a 22-story residential high rise for years. Developers and the city have finally moved forward.

December 21, 2018 - Urbanize.LA

Malibu Zuma Beach

YourCoast App Will Make California's Public Beaches More Accessible

The app, developed by tech mogul Sean Parker (of Napster and Facebook fame), brings technology and environmental regulation together to give people the information they need to get to public beaches.

December 20, 2018 - Los Angeles Times

San Francisco Parklet

West Hollywood Pilots Pop-Up Walkability Improvements

Six-month pilot projects along the Sunset Strip include a parklet and painted sidewalk extensions by a street artist.

December 19, 2018 - Wehoville

Boulder Colorado

Sweeping Building Moratorium Issued in Response to Potential Opportunity Zone Investments

From opportunity zone to 'opportunity-free zone.'

December 19, 2018 - Daily Camera

River Mile

Skyline Redefining Redevelopment Moving Forward in Denver

The Denver City Council approved a development agreement and rezoning for a 58-acre parcel along the South Platte River that is currently home to the Elitch Gardens Theme and Water Park.

December 19, 2018 - The Denver Post

Kentucky

Updating the Land Development Code to Protect Trees in Louisville

The Louisville Metro Council has tasked the Louisville Metro Department of Planning and Design with updating the code to preserve and add trees to the city.

December 18, 2018 - WFPL

Trailer Parks

The 'Goldilocks' Problem of Housing Supply

All over the country, housing markets are faced with too much supply, too little supply, and just the right of supply.

December 18, 2018 - Brookings

Food Trucks

Food Trucks, Already an Industry Force, Set for More Growth

A new report details the state of the mobile food vending industry and makes predictions for the short-term future.

December 17, 2018 - Next City

San Diego Gaslamp District

A Transit-Oriented Parking Reform Proposal in San Diego

Under a new plan proposed by the mayor of San Diego, new developments in transit-rich parts of the city would no longer require parking.

December 17, 2018 - Voice of San Diego

Beach Homes

Oregon to Consider Statewide Ban of Single-Family Zoning

Legislation in Oregon would follow the lead of Minneapolis in overturning single-family zoning—for all cities in the state with more than 10,000 residents.

December 15, 2018 - Willamette Week

Bay Area Wetlands

EPA and Army Corps of Engineers Propose Revision of Wetlands Definition

Fulfilling a promise he made as a candidate, the Trump administration proposed a redefinition of what is classified as a wetland, with the result being the loss of federal protection of millions of acres of waterways and wetlands.

December 14, 2018 - NPR

California Streetcar

Gas Stations, Other Car-Centric Uses Banned From Transit-Oriented Areas in Sacramento

The city of Sacramento has implemented one of the most aggressively transit-oriented land use regulation schemes in the country.

December 14, 2018 - The Sacramento Bee

Brazil City

How Many People Live in Cities? The Answer Isn't Obvious

The measures of urbanization vary widely, and the differences pose a challenge in developing policies and plans for cities.

December 14, 2018 - CityLab

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.