Land Use

Homeless

Protests Push O.C. to Kill Its First Real Plan to Help the Homeless

The affluent county finally authorized a concrete plan to address a housing crisis, but forceful opposition from residents put them 'back to Square One.'

March 29, 2018 - Los Angeles Times

Oklahoma City

2018 Planning Excellence Awards Announced

The APA revealed their annual recognition of the best of the best for planners and planning in 2018.

March 29, 2018 - American Planning Association

New York City

Governor Cuomo Wants Broad Powers to Redevelop Around Penn Station

The idea is still extremely speculative, but reports are that Governor Cuomo is pushing for legislation that would enable broad powers for the state to redevelop around Penn Station in New York City.

March 29, 2018 - Politico

Single-Family Neighborhood

Upzoning of Seattle's Single-Family Zoning Called a 'Disappointing Half-Measure'

A critical analysis of a proposal that would incrementally increase density in parts of Seattle.

March 28, 2018 - Sightline Institute

Planning Commission in World's Fair office, 1958

A Call to Broaden the Definition of 'Real Planning'

Deland Chan, a lecturer in the Urban Studies program at Stanford University and co-founder of the Stanford Human Cities Initiative, makes the case for a bigger tent for planners and planning.

March 27, 2018 - CityLab

Ohio

How One Lake Erie Town Got Free Waterfront Property for Public Use

Clear communication and a fair trade let Euclid, Ohio begin to rethink its lakefront—and its future.

March 26, 2018 - NextCity

Houston Flood

Houston's Latest Stormwater Project: 'Massive, Underground Tunnels'

The most recent post-Harvey proposal would mean the city could endure enormous rain events, but so far it's not clear who would pay for it.

March 26, 2018 - Houston Chronicle

Minneapolis

Minneapolis Draft Comprehensive Plan Revealed

The city of Minneapolis is deploying many of the most contemporary planning tools as it works toward approval of the Minneapolis 2040 plan.

March 26, 2018 - MinnPost

Chicago Snow and Winter

Surface Parking Lots Making Way for Higher Uses

Are the urban revival and the future of mobility already rendering parking lots obsolete? Chicago provides a case study of a new generation of skyscrapers rising were cars once parked.

March 26, 2018 - Chicago Tribune

The Bronx

Rezoning Approved in the Bronx

A plan to rezone a stretch of Jerome Avenue in the Bronx is the fourth rezoning completed during the tenure of Mayor Bill de Blasio, and the first to visit the Bronx.

March 26, 2018 - Commercial Observer

Allegheny River

Allegheny River Town Debates Fracking Water Treatment Plant

Opponents cite environmental risks, supporters hope the facility will boost the economy of a struggling community.

March 25, 2018 - Pittsburg Post-Gazette

Grocery Store

Competition, Debt Faulted in Bankruptcies of Two Major Food Retailers

Two major grocery store companies announced bankruptcy this week, sparking fears that the "retail apocalypse" has expanded to food retailers.

March 22, 2018 - The Washington Post

Bikeshare

Lessons from a Six-Hour Hearing on Planning and Zoning

A recent debate in Washington, D.C. echoed common concerns about the planning process in cities around the country.

March 22, 2018 - Greater Greater Washington

Uber CEO

Travis Kalanick Getting Into the Redevelopment Business

The former CEO of Uber, a highly controversial figure in urbanism circles, is still trying to influence the future of the built environment in a new post as CEO of a real estate investment startup.

March 21, 2018 - Recode

Bike Lane in Philadelphia

Op-Ed: Philadelphia City Council Shouldn't Be Able to Block Bike Lanes

The Philadelphia Inquirer Editorial Board pushes against a proposed bill that increases City Council oversight of new bike lanes. Traffic calming, the Inquirer argues, requires a citywide approach.

March 21, 2018 - The Philadelphia Inquirer - Philly.com

Washington, D.C. Rowhouses

How a Change in the Definition of 'Cellars' Could Downzone Much of Washington, D.C.

The D.C. Zoning Commission will revisit a proposed text amendment to the District Zoning Code in April.

March 21, 2018 - Greater Greater Washington

San Francisco Street

Mapping the Law of the Land: Curbside Access

More uses and modes than ever are fighting for curb space in growing cities. Here's an app to make sense of what you can do, and when, along this valued real estate.

March 21, 2018 - The Verge

Shasta Lake

Why Are the Feds Suddenly in Favor of Raising the Shasta Dam?

Despite state opposition and potential violations of California law, the Trump Administration has revived a project that was deemed impracticable only a few years ago.

March 18, 2018 - Los Angeles Times

Clermont County, Ohio

Celebrating the 'Greenspace Gems' in the Cincinnati Region

An advocacy organization in the Tri-State area (Ohio, Kentucky, Indiana) is raising awareness about the region's 116,000 acres of preserved greenspace.

March 17, 2018 - Cincinnati Business Courier

Fence

New Mexico Made Streams and Rivers Private Property

And now those property owners are putting barbed wire over the river to keep out "trespassers."

March 17, 2018 - The Guardian

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.