Land Use

Harlem Zoning Changes Will Allow for More Density
An additional 3,500 units means more money for land owners and more choices apartment seekers in east Harlem.

What Happened When Arlington Cut Out the 'Missing Middle'
In Arlington, restricting density to preserve neighborhood character isn't new. A rowhouse ban in 1938 may be one factor behind today's steep prices and gentrification.

Oslo's Car-Free Dreams Easier Said Than Done
Touted as a leader among the European cities moving toward car-free streets, Oslo's ambitions of removing all cars from the city center has hit some roadblocks.

L.A. Country Clubs Taking More Than Their Share and Paying Less
Malcom Gladwell takes on the racial and environmental problems related to the game of golf, particularly as it relates to L.A. property taxes and the Ship of Theseus.

Apple's New Headquarters: Sprawling and Sprawl-Inducing
Apple's new campus contains thousands of parking spaces, but neither transit options nor daycare.

Muscovites Revolt Against Relocation Plan
Plans to decommission existing public housing blocks and replace them with newer high-rises has angered middle-class residents in Moscow who fear the loss of their homes and investments.

Why the Controversy Over a Planned Disc Golf Course in New Jersey Is a Big Deal
America's freedoms allow Americans the right to complain, vociferously, about things like a planned disc golf course.

Arkansas Town Without a Downtown Decides to Make One
Leaders of Johnson, Arkansas have decided to upgrade their town by creating an 80-acre, new urbanist-style downtown

In the Silicon Valley, Eichler Is Synonymous With Single-Story Overlay
Residents of homes designed by Joseph Eichler are concerned that new two-story homes could invade their privacy and block sunlight and views. They have sought and won zoning protection.

Interior Secretary Wants to Reduce Bears Ears National Monument
Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke, in an early decision to come of a nationwide review of national monument designations, recommends that President Trump reduce the size of Bears Ears National Monument.

Huge Swath of Land Preserved in Pennsylvania's Fastest Growing County
Preservationists have bought one reprieve from the ongoing expansion of developed land in Chester County, Pennsylvania.

Des Moines Has a Plan to 'Connect Downtown'
Des Moines is considering an ambitious complete streets makeover of its downtown streets.

Seattle Releases Draft Rezonings for its 'Urban Villages'
Seattle is planning to add height and density in "urban villages" around the city—part of the growth and affordability goals targeted by previous planning efforts by the city.

Downzoning in the Hopes of Attracting Prestige Businesses
South Side Chicago Alderman Leslie Hairston says downzoning 71st will help 'take control of our corridor,' but some worry the move is a power grab that will ultimately stifle prospects for the neighborhood.

Defining Key Zoning Code Terms for the Masses
What it means when planners use their words.

Denver Suburb Rejects TOD at Light Rail Station in Special Election
Tuesday's mail-in vote by residents of Greenwood Village to overwhelmingly reject a city-council approved plan to allow mixed-use development at a light rail station is a major setback for smart growth proponents.

What's the Matter With the Upper East Side?
In a free market, the richest neighborhoods would ordinarily be the most popular. But some well-off urban neighborhoods are actually losing population. Why?

Urban Planning Agencies and the UN's Sustainable Development Guidelines
A new report from France shows how to deploy urban planning agencies in the pursuit of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals adopted by 193 countries in 193 nations in 2015.

New Jersey Mosque Beats 'Discriminatory' Zoning
A proposed mosque in Bernards Township will move forward, after the DOJ sued the town for using zoning ordinances to undermine Muslims' religious freedom.

Post-Recession, 'Super Commuters' Increasing in Number
The number of "super commuters"—people who commute for over 90 minutes—is still a relatively small percentage of the country, but it's a number that's growing quickly. What does that mean about the economy?
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