Land Use

U.S> Department of Housing and Urban Development

Trump Administration Suddenly Drops Fair Housing Concerns in Westchester, New York

The news that the Trump Administration hired a former party planner to oversee HUD's New York and New Jersey office went viral in June. The hire has already had an effect on affordable housing policy in Westchester County, New York.

July 19, 2017 - lohud

Austin Neighborhood Objects to Proposed Transect Zone

The CodeNext project of updating the city of Austin's zoning code and land use policies has faced a controversial and protracted period of public scrutiny. The Allandale neighborhood provides a case study.

July 19, 2017 - Austin American-Statesman

Cleveland, Ohio

Cleveland Clinic Lacks a Prescription for its Community

According to an article by Dan Diamond, the Cleveland Clinic is a worldwide success story, but the community surround the hospital "remains mired in poverty."

July 18, 2017 - Politico

Marine Drive

The Remaining Gap Between 'Smart Cities' Ambition and Reality

A critique of a proposed "smart cities" development in Mumbai reveals how much work remains in providing the resources and maintaining the rigor to built sustainable, resilient, liveable cities.

July 18, 2017 - The Conversation

Property Tax Assessment Shake Up in Wisconsin

A highly anticipated decision by the Wisconsin State Supreme Court has stakeholders scrambling to anticipate changes to the property tax system.

July 18, 2017 - Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel

Los Angeles

A City With Room for Everyone

A vision set forth for Los Angeles in 1970 still has powerful relevance in 2017.

July 17, 2017 - Gerhard Mayer

Sea Level

Sea Level Rise Will Displace Communities in Every Corner of the Bay Area

Sea level rise is already flooding communities with such regularity that many residents are deciding to leave. The sea level rise tipping point will expand its reach as the climate changes.

July 15, 2017 - San Francisco Chronicle

Study: Bike Lanes Raise Property Values in Brooklyn

New bike lanes in the Brooklyn neighborhood of Bushwick started raising property values within a year.

July 15, 2017 - DNA Info

Report Predicts the End of Individual Car Ownership

The first report from independent think tank RethinkXL predicts that by 2031, 95 percent of U.S. passenger miles traveled will be served by on-demand, autonomous electric vehicles owned by companies providing transport as a service.

July 14, 2017 - San Francisco Chronicle

Chicago Developers Replacing Four-Plus-Ones with Single-Family Homes

A piece of Chicago development history as disappearing, as well as some of the city's uniquely urban density, as developers convert four-plus-ones into single-family homes.

July 14, 2017 - Crain's Chicago Business

Atlanta, Georgia

Emory University Wants in to the City of Atlanta

Emory University wants the city of Atlanta to annex its campus. Transit benefits and more could await.

July 13, 2017 - The Wall Street Journal

University of Washington

University of Washington's Campus Master Plan Gets Pushback on Equity Issues

The Campaign For Responsible UW is hoping to push for additional changes to a finalized version of a master plan for the University of Washington's Seattle campus before the city can approve it.

July 13, 2017 - The Urbanist

North Lake Shore Drive

Ambitions for North Lake Shore Drive Coming Into Focus in Chicago

Has Daniel Burnham-style planning returned to Chicago? The Redefine the Drive process so far seems like a resounding affirmation of 'magic to stir [women and] men's blood.'

July 13, 2017 - Crain's Chicago Business

Philadelphia Park

A New Green Thumb Tool for Planners

The Greenprint Resource Hub aims to integrate open space, parks, and agriculture into city and regional planning efforts.

July 12, 2017 - progrss

San Francisco, California

Density Debate Fills San Francisco's Balboa Reservoir

Developers, neighbors, and housing advocates are debating the fate of the Balboa Reservoir. Their visions for how many units should be built there range from 680 to 1,245.

July 12, 2017 - Beyond Chron

Lakeland, Florida

Explained: How 'Collaborative Consumption' Has Reshaped Real Estate

Everything you wanted to know about shared working and living spaces but were afraid to ask.

July 12, 2017 - Yulia Kozhevnikova

Des Moines, Iowa

Iowa Cities Will No Longer Enforce Rental Occupancy Limits

Iowa City's Mayor, Jim Throgmorton, opposes changes to the state's rental occupancy limits, arguing that these limits protect the state's elderly. The amendment's supporters say it's giving Iowans the freedom to live the way they want to.

July 11, 2017 - Iowa City Press Citizen

Public Engagement

Higher Quality Won't Prevent NIMBYism

Some argue that neighborhoods will be willing to accept new housing as long as it is high quality; this argument overlooks a wide variety of other objections to new housing.

July 11, 2017 - Michael Lewyn

Oil

Interior Secretary Issues Order to Expedite Drilling on Public Lands

Secretary Zinke's order is part of the "energy dominance" agenda of the Trump Administration to make the U.S. a major energy exporter. The order will reduce the time needed by the Bureau of Land Management to process permitting for new wells.

July 10, 2017 - The Washington Post

Staten Island

New Staten Island Zoning Rules Would Prohibit Most Development in Flood-Prone Areas

An article in Crain's Business New York calls the new zoning rules proposed for neighborhoods in Staten Island a "back to nature" scheme.

July 10, 2017 - Crain's New York Business

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.

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A short list of voices on social, video, and podcasting platforms.