Due in part to a parking shortage, Atlanta firms are doling out higher rents to get closer to MARTA stations.

Transit-oriented office development is booming in Atlanta. Jarred Schenke writes, "What has arguably been the strongest office submarket in the past few years has been Midtown, which has spawned a number of new office projects, all of which have been close to MARTA stations."
But transit proximity comes at a price. According to a recent study, "Office rents at spaces within a half-mile of a transit station are approaching $30/SF this year, nearly 25% higher than the average office rents throughout Metro Atlanta."
Like their residential counterparts, these offices trend on the newer side. "They are also predominantly new construction, including MARTA's seven transit-oriented development projects in various stages of either planning or development. Any new construction will have market-high rates to cover the costs to build in today's market."
Limited parking is another factor behind the rising rents. As one market expert weighed in, "MARTA has to be an option. Whether someone takes it, that’s a whole different story."
FULL STORY: MARTA Demand Driving Record-Breaking Rents

Redesigning Streets for Livability: A Global View
An excerpt from the introduction of the recent book, “Streets For All: 50 Strategies for Shaping Resilient Cities,” edited by Vinayak Bharne and Shyam Khandekar.

The Right to Mobility
As we consider how to decarbonize transportation, preserving mobility, especially for lower- and middle-income people, must be a priority.

Bend Eliminates Parking Minimums
The city is complying with an Oregon state mandate that some cities have challenged in court.

How To Prevent ‘Green Gentrification:’ Lessons from the BeltLine
For one author, the key is focusing on affordable housing from the start.

Push and Pull: The Link Between Walkability and Affordability
The increased demand for walkable urban spaces could make them more and more exclusionary if cities don’t pursue policies to limit displacement and boost affordability.

El Paso Freeway Cap Linked to Road Expansion
A deck reconnecting neighborhoods divided by the interstate is part of a controversial freeway expansion proposal.
Town of Reading
Meridian Consultants
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
Harvard GSD Executive Education
Harvard GSD Executive Education
City of Piedmont, CA
City of Morganton
St. Louis County, MO
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.