Land Use

A view over the tops of the historic brick buildings of Cincinnati.

Cincinnati Ends Parking Requirements in the City’s West End

The West End neighborhood of Cincinnati is home to 6,000 residents but only one dine-in restaurant.

August 24, 2022 - Cincinnati Business Courier

MBTA Green Line

Massachusetts Releases Transit-Oriented Multifamily Housing Rules

Communities near transit stations will have to comply with a new set of regulations that support multifamily development and increased housing density.

August 24, 2022 - The Lowell Sun

Food truck customers holding food with food trucks in background

Denver Food Truck Ban Could be Unconstitutional

In a letter to city officials, a law firm called on the city to lift restrictions on food trucks, saying the ban “smacks of protectionism” and could violate equal protection guarantees.

August 22, 2022 - Denver Post

Denver Region

What Is the Transect?

In urbanism and planning, the term transect provides a conceptual framework for understanding how the scale of built environments can vary from place to place.

August 18, 2022 - James Brasuell

South San Jose houses

The Housing Crisis: No Longer Just a Coastal Concern

The pandemic accelerated existing trends and created unsustainable housing demand in a wider range of towns and cities, exacerbated by outdated zoning restrictions.

August 17, 2022 - The Atlantic

Cars are blurred as they pass the bright lights of the Michigan Theater at dusk in Ann Arbor.

Ann Arbor Votes to Eliminate Parking Minimums

Ann Arbor, Michigan approved changes to the city’s Unified Development Code (UDC) earlier this week that eliminate off-street parking requirements for a variety of development types throughout the city.

August 17, 2022 - The Handbuilt City

Row of manufactured homes on an asphalt street

Protecting America’s Manufactured Housing

Governments at all levels are finally waking up to the benefits of protecting and encouraging the production of factory-built homes, which offer an affordable, efficient form of housing that many Americans depend on.

August 17, 2022 - Governing

Virginia

Richmond Weighing How to End Parking Requirements

A series of town hall meetings will allow the public a chance to give feedback about zoning changes in Richmond, Virginia that would include the end of parking requirements.

August 17, 2022 - WTVR

Three blue Amazon delivery trucks at bays at a distribution center

Key Warehouse Centers Challenge Distribution Center Expansion

Communities near major e-commerce distribution centers are increasingly resisting new construction, citing air pollution and other public health impacts.

August 16, 2022 - Bloomberg CityLab

View of Saratoga Lake from shore

This Manufactured Home Park Will Soon Be Boat Storage, But One Resident Stays To Fight

Angela Kaufman purchased what she thought would be her longtime home in a mobile home community. Less than a year after she moved, the park was sold and residents were told they had to go.

August 16, 2022 - Shelterforce Magazine

Walkable, mixed-use neighborhood in Barcelona, Spain

Could Los Angeles Emulate Barcelona’s ‘Superblocks’?

A proposal in the city council could bring the ‘superblock’ model to Los Angeles, opening up neighborhood streets to more biking, walking, and public amenities.

August 15, 2022 - The Real Deal

Aerial view of downtown San Antonio with Tower Life Building in foreground

San Antonio Office Tower To Become Residential

With the building more than half vacant, the new owners of the Tower Life Building plan to convert the historic tower into residences that could include affordable housing.

August 15, 2022 - San Antonio Report

People gather on a street with no cars during the L.E.A.F. Festival of Flowers in the Meatpacking District of New York City.

The Tide Has Turned Against Open Streets

Once a promising development for advocates pushing for a less car-centric future in cities, the open streets movement has ceded significant ground to cars since the height of the pandemic.

August 14, 2022 - The New York Times

Rendering of downtown Milwaukee sports stadium with soccer field

Sports Stadiums Bring Few Economic Benefits

While their developers often tout jobs and local economic development as benefits of major stadium projects, research shows these venues often make little impact on local economies.

August 11, 2022 - Urban Milwaukee

Rendering of Commercial Row Commons redesign with trees, wide sidewalk

Midtown Atlanta Plaza Replaces Parking With Public Seating, Art

The formerly car-centric block was redesigned to include wider sidewalks, public seating, and enhanced landscaping in lieu of on-street parking.

August 9, 2022 - Urbanize Atlanta

Sunset view of downtown Gainesville, Florida

Gainesville Set To Approve Contentious Zoning Reforms

The city commission voted in favor of a controversial zoning reform package that critics from multiple sides say won’t create more affordable housing for those who need it most.

August 9, 2022 - WUFT

Copenhagen Street

The Century-Old Call for Open Streets

Historical reports from the Regional Plan Association show that car-free streets is an idea almost as old as automobiles themselves.

August 7, 2022 - Regional Plan Association

Accessory Dwelling Units

Denver Struggling to Unlock the Potential of Accessory Dwelling Units

Why doesn’t Denver build more ADUs? It’s complicated.

August 3, 2022 - The Denver Post

Woman holding phone with TikTok logo

Urbanist TikTok Takes Aim at the Suburbs

Planners are using the popular video platform to explain how car dependence and single-family zoning deepen suburban isolation and affect affordability and sustainability.

August 3, 2022 - Bloomberg CityLab

Brooklyn, New York City

Gowanus Rezoning Clears Post-Approval Legal Hurdle

The saga of the Gowanus Neighborhood Planning Study, approved by New York City at the end of 2021, continues into the summer of 2022. Opponents claimed the Gowanus rezoning ran afoul of the state’s environment law. A county judge dismissed the case.

August 3, 2022 - Brooklyn Paper

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.