Land Use

Security cameras on a building

How Surveillance in Cities is Evolving

Across the globe, smart cities are increasingly procuring and implementing information technology in order to improve the efficiency and sustainability of urban spaces. The former CTO of L.A. and the mayor of Beverly Hills weigh in on the subject.

April 13, 2018 - The Planning Report

Condos Smart Growth

Squaring Urbanism, Equity, and Density in the SB 827 Debate

As Sen. Wiener has announced new amendments to the controversial land use, transit-oriented development, and real estate bill, The Planning Report turns to three experts to unpack the legislation's consequences.

April 12, 2018 - The Planning Report

Klyde Warren Park

Cities Turn to Highway Cap Parks for Economic Development

Some worry that, of the many reasons cities pursue cap parks, creating quality green space is low on the list.

April 12, 2018 - Stateline

Desert Farm

Trump Administration Would Slash 22 Percent of Farm Bill's Conservation Funding

The Farm Bill is one of the federal government's biggest, most controversial (yet still intractable) bills. The Trump Administration has plans for change.

April 10, 2018 - Crosscut

Miracle Mile

Reviving the 'Miracle Mile' May Be Tucson's Next Big Thing

After tremendous success with a streetcar line, the desert city is considering strategies for investing in its historic automobile corridor.

April 9, 2018 - CitiesSpeak

Rainy Wetlands

Why Would Arizona Deregulate Groundwater Now?

For decades the arid state has required most new construction projects to demonstrate adequate water supply, but at the edge of the next dry spell, two lawmakers are trying to get rid of the rules.

April 9, 2018 - The Arizona Republic

Texas Flood

Houston Seriously Tightens Rules on Floodplain Construction

It was the city's "first major regulatory response" to Hurricane Harvey.

April 9, 2018 - Houston Chronicle

Canadian Street

Eyes from the Street: The Neighbourhood Fabric that Matters

The mantra “eyes on the street" focuses on the physical and functional traits of urban fabric but fails to explain the high crime rate of my Jacobsian neighbourhood. Time to reconsider, look for explanations, and exchange mantras for research.

April 9, 2018 - Fanis Grammenos

National Parks Service

Maybe National Park Entrance Fees Won't Triple After All

After public outcry, Department of the Interior officials seem to have changed their mind about raising the price of entrance fees into National Parks.

April 7, 2018 - AP via The Washington Post

Millennium Tower

S.F.'s Central SoMa Plan Would Add 40,000 Jobs, 7,000 Housing Units

YIMBYs are describing the jobs-housing imbalance represented in the Central SoMa Plan as reminiscent of the housing policies of cities farther down the Peninsula.

April 6, 2018 - BeyondChron

Volunteers

When Coastal States Kill Building Codes, FEMA Pays

Despite the increasing number and intensity of natural disasters, some vulnerable states are relaxing building regulations and leaving the federal government to pick up the tab when tragedy strikes again.

April 5, 2018 - Bloomberg

Intercontinental Hotel

Massachusetts Considering a Hotel Tax on Short-Term Rentals

Legislation moving through the Massachusetts Legislature would implement the same tax on short-term rentals that already applies to hotels. Local jurisdictions would also be free to implement their own taxes on short-term rentals under the law.

April 5, 2018 - The Boston Globe

Weymouth, Massachusetts

The Planned Community of the Future Is Also a 'Smart City'

Planned community developer LStar Ventures is building a smart city experiment near Boston.

April 5, 2018 - The New York Times

New York Vacant Storefront

Mayor de Blasio Wants a Vacancy Tax to Combat Empty Storefronts

The hottest trend in commercial real estate, letting storefronts in Manhattan sit empty while waiting for top dollar, is robbing the city's streets of the benefits of a bustling economy.

April 5, 2018 - New York Post

Jersey City Demolition Ban Is All About the 'Bayonne Box'

An inexpensive architectural style is deemed unfit for a town looking to preserve its history—and become a more sophisticated city.

April 4, 2018 - The Jersey Journal

Portland Park Planning

Master Plan Aims to Reduce Car Trips in Portland's Washington Park

Washington Park is described as the jewel in the crown of Portland's park system. The city recently updated its master plan for the first time since 1981.

April 4, 2018 - Bike Portland

Brazos River

APA-Texas Acknowledges the Great Places of the Lone Star State

There are a lot of great places to celebrate in Texas, and the state chapter of the American Planning Association is in the second year of a program that calls attention to the role of planners in making them happen.

April 3, 2018 - Great Places in Texas Announcement

On-Street Parking

Citywide Parking Requirement Reform Passes in Seattle

The U.S. city with the best recent history of convincing commuters to ditch the auto commute is taking further steps to make the city a little less car-centric.

April 3, 2018 - SeattleMet

Detroit

Community-Driven Designs Proposed for Detroit's West Riverfront Park

Following a plan to line the city's waterfront with redeveloped parkland, Detroit's 22-acre West Riverfront Park will incorporate concepts from a community-led design process.

April 3, 2018 - ArchDaily

BART Train

Researchers Find a Model of Redevelopment Without Displacement

It's the "holy grail" of urban planning, say researchers.

April 2, 2018 - The Mercury News

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.