Land Use

Satellite Imagery

The Civic in the Suburbs

How to put the "park" back in the business park.

April 2, 2018 - Kathryn Firth

Bicyclists White House

Trump's 2020 Budget Includes a New 'Planning and Vision Implementation' Agency

The centerpiece of the Trump Administration's draft budget outline for 2020 is the creation of a new Cabinet-level department tasked with solving the nation's planning and infrastructure challenges.

April 1, 2018 - Planetizen April 1st Edition

Dilworth park

Big Philadelphia Parks Bond on Hold While Funding Debated in Court

The Rebuild initiative in Philadelphia depends on funding generated by a 1.5 cents-an-ounce tax on sugary beverages. The tax is in effect, but $300 million in bonds have to wait for a court decision about the tax.

March 31, 2018 - PlanPhilly

Manhattan Construction

What if New York City Implemented SB 827-Style Upzoning?

SB 827 is a controversial land use regulation under consideration in California that would relax building height and density standards along transit corridors. New York has a reputation as the most transit oriented city in the country.

March 30, 2018 - RPA Lab

Downtown North Little Rock

Resurrecting the Classic American Main Street

In an interview, urbanism scholar Emily Talen discusses what it would take to restore "main street principles" to American towns and cities. Understandably, small retailers play a big role.

March 30, 2018 - Sidewalk Talk

Car Graveyard

Friday Eye Candy: Volkswagens, as Far as the Eye Can See

China has dockless bikeshare graveyards; the United States has Volkswagen graveyards.

March 30, 2018 - Sky News

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

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.