Land Use

Dallas Highways

Ambivalence Over Dallas 'Deck Park' Proposal

As the Southern Gateway project moves forward in the state approval process, a component proposal for a cap park over Interstate 35E hangs in the balance.

May 27, 2016 - The Dallas Morning News

Dolores Park

Some Things Aren't for Sale in San Francisco's Dolores Park (Like Dolores Park)

Controversy struck the famously laissez-faire expanses of Dolores Park in San Francisco this week, after the San Francisco Recreation and Parks Department launched, and then quickly rescinded, a program to rent park space.

May 27, 2016 - Sfist

Zion National Park

Months Before Turning 100, National Parks Are More Popular Than Ever

Turning 100 the same year as New York's first Zoning Code? The National Park Service, of course. The momentous occasion is likely to find the parks more popular than ever.

May 26, 2016 - FiveThirtyEight

The Good Old Days of Suburban Development (or Not)

Numerous popular and academic writers from the 1950s and 1960s critiqued suburban development patterns and found them wanting.

May 26, 2016 - Curbed

Columbus Pilot Project Gives a West Cherry Street to Pedestrians

This summer, a pilot project will close a block of West Cherry Street to cars in Columbus, Ohio. If the project proves popular, more of the street could be permanently given to pedestrians.

May 26, 2016 - Columbus Underground

Tampa

Tampa Approves Big Riverfront Park Renovation

The Tampa City Council approved a big, ambitious park proposal for 23 neglected acres along the Hillsborough River.

May 26, 2016 - Tampa Bay Times

Hospital Signs

A Missing Conversation: Medical Centers and the Built Environment

Hospitals, medical research centers, and the like are supposed to represent health, but are often an unappealing and monolithic presence in the urban landscape. How can the form of health centers fall in line with their function?

May 25, 2016 - The Brookings Institution

Portland

Reflecting on Regional Planning—50 Years Later

The planning world celebrated Jane Jacobs's 100th birthday earlier this month, and has already begun commemorating the centennial of New York's first zoning code. But did you know regional planning rose to prominence 50 years ago?

May 25, 2016 - MZ Strategies

Mehaffy Portland Image

Has Portland Lost its Way?

Oregon's poster child for livable planning is embroiled in new controversies over destructive growth, skyrocketing prices, and back-room cronyism.

May 25, 2016 - Michael Mehaffy

Maine North Woods

The Controversial National Parks Proposal Dividing Maine's North Woods

The Washington Post provides feature-length coverage of an ongoing, long-lasting controversy over a proposal by a wealthy landowner to donate 87,500 acres for the purposes of creating a new national park.

May 25, 2016 - The Washington Post

Las Vegas Strip At Night

Plans to Create a Community of Start-Ups in Las Vegas Hits Speed Bumps

The Downtown Project was envisioned as a five-year plan to develop a hub of start-ups, small businesses, and cultural attractions in Downtown Las Vegas, but things haven't gone according to schedule.

May 24, 2016 - Quartz

Trinity River Dallas Floodplain

Is This the Trinity Park Plan of Dallas' Dreams?

Architecture critic Mark Lamster finally sees a proposal worth cheering for in Dallas' plans for a new park along the Trinity River.

May 23, 2016 - The Dallas Morning News

Why Chicago Park Advocates Want to Preserve a Parking Lot

A Chicago nonprofit drew criticism for opposing the planned Lucas Museum in favor of a large parking lot. But the organization says it fits into their mission of promoting open space.

May 23, 2016 - Chi.Streetsblog

Washington D.C. Row Houses

Photos: Why So Many Former Stores Are Now Homes in Washington, D.C.

If some residences look a little out of place in Washington, D.C., it may be because they were originally retail shops. A Tumblr is devoted to these homes, and the zoning laws that created them.

May 23, 2016 - CityLab

Toronto Construction

Ontario, Canada Working on Sprawl-Killing Legislation

It's hard to imagine a policy that so comprehensively acts to create disincentives for sprawl gaining political traction anywhere in the United States.

May 22, 2016 - Toronto Star

Pershing Square

L.A.'s New Pershing Square Will Be 'Radically Flat'

After stakeholder engagement and an international design competition, Agence Ter's plan for "radical flatness" has been selected to replace downtown L.A.'s current Pershing Square. The preferred alternative is, above all, simple.

May 21, 2016 - Los Angeles Times

John Fry

The College President With the Sterling Redevelopment Résumé

John A. Fry lacks a terminal degree, but what he doesn't lack is land use and redevelopment know-how. Drexel University in Philadelphia is the latest to employ his talents.

May 21, 2016 - The Philadelphia Inquirer

Chinese Developer Building $300 Million Project South of Houston

The Ivy District is notable for its scale as well as for the funding mechanisms that made the project happen.

May 21, 2016 - Houston Chronicle

Empty Park

'First National Study of Neighborhood Parks' Finds Few Taking Advantage

Most neighborhood parks go relatively unused by adult populations and women, giving young children, mostly boys, the run of the place.

May 20, 2016 - Pacific Standard

Metro STation

Parking Concerns Raised Around L.A.'s New Expo Line

Good news: Metro Los Angeles will open the long-awaited Expo Line extension, connecting Santa Monica and the the beach to Downtown Los Angeles, this weekend. Bad news: the public waited until now to worry about the parking around new stations.

May 19, 2016 - Los Angeles Times

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.