Land Use

A mere day after the Interior Department announced it would permanently block drilling in much of the Arctic Refuge by designating it as wilderness, it proposed allowing drilling in the Gulf, along Atlantic coast, and surprisingly, offshore Alaska.

January 28, 2015 - McClatchy Washington Bureau

Two proposals for library makeovers in Brooklyn tie into a larger narrative about development, and architecture, in New York City.

January 27, 2015 - New York Times

And an update from Codes Study about the 600 places that really are upping their game with form-based codes.

January 27, 2015 - PlaceShakers

Setting off a political firestorm in the words of one journalist, President Obama proposed to designate most of the pristine Arctic National Wildlife Refuge as wilderness, angering congressional Republicans.

January 27, 2015 - The Wall Street Journal

New apps have the potential to influence a fundamental shift in the political and physical realities of parking according to a recent Next City article.

January 26, 2015 - Next City

Vancouver created its MX zone as a solution to a persistent challenge for planners—how to retain industrial jobs and affordable housing in downtowns.

January 26, 2015 - The Globe and Mail

Maine trails only three states in total acreage of land protected by conservation. A new plan to end the property tax exemptions for nonprofits, however, could make that work much more difficult.

January 25, 2015 - Portland Press Herald

Here's a head scratcher: in its ambition to meet the affordable housing goals of Mayor Bill de Blasio, the Department of Housing Preservation and Development has proposed the redevelopment of 15 community gardens on city-owned property.

January 24, 2015 - Brownstoner

A drastic overhaul of the planning and development processes in Philadelphia is, at least for now, on hold so stakeholders can have more time to analyze the proposal.

January 23, 2015 - philly.com

Bill Lindeke writes of the daunting urban design and planning challenge presented by America's post-war fascination with the strip mall.

January 23, 2015 - MinnPost

The common claim that "high-rises kill streetlife" is often incorrect.

January 23, 2015 - Michael Lewyn

The Washington D.C. Zoning Commission is considering a proposal to limit the ability to convert or expand rowhouses. The proposed ordinance has provoked controversy about the effect of the law for the city's supply of housing.

January 22, 2015 - Washington City Paper

By all accounts, the Philadelphia Land Bank has completed a high quality strategic plan to guide its actions over the coming years.

January 22, 2015 - PlanPhilly

Chicago is putting the pieces in place to land the Obama Library. One proposal hinges on the availability of parkland on the South Side near the University of Chicago.

January 22, 2015 - Chicago Tribune

California's 23-year-old "parking cash-out" program has been less than effective

January 21, 2015 - Los Angeles Times

A huge new pot of money is now available in Florida, created by the Amendment 1 tax on real estate transactions. Many in the state would like to see some of the revenue dedicated to preserving the state's eroding beaches.

January 21, 2015 - Tampa Bay Times

The urban landscape has become increasingly important for cities striving to be taken seriously on the world stage. And while creating big parks is an obvious trend, getting the small moves right can be just as important.

January 20, 2015 - Mark Hough

A massive bike park in Louisville, Kentucky takes the fast-growing trend of urban bike parks to new (subterranean) levels.

January 20, 2015 - Outside

Dwell small; live large. It's something many passionate urbanists have been working on for a decade. Could 2015 finally be the year small goes big?

January 19, 2015 - PlaceShakers

Stakeholders in Michigan have bought in to the innovation district concept.

January 19, 2015 - Crain's Detroit Business