The city will issue a request for proposals to build subsidized housing on up to three downtown parking lots.

Three parking lots in downtown Menlo Park, California, will be developed into affordable housing, according to an article from the Palo Alto Daily Post.
The article notes that the plan is only a “vague outline” to develop between one and three of the lots, but details remain unclear. Officials in the Silicon Valley community plan to issue a Request for Qualifications to solicit proposals. “The council opted not to declare the parking lots as surplus land, which would have made it easier for the city to hand off one of the parking lots to a developer.”
Opponents of the plan say reducing parking will further harm the already struggling commercial area (though any existing decline points to causes other than a lack of parking). “The developers’ proposals are expected to come back to council to review in the spring, said city Principal Planner Tom Smith.”
FULL STORY: Menlo Park moves forward with plan to put housing on parking lots

Trump Administration Could Effectively End Housing Voucher Program
Federal officials are eyeing major cuts to the Section 8 program that helps millions of low-income households pay rent.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

Ken Jennings Launches Transit Web Series
The Jeopardy champ wants you to ride public transit.

Driving Equity and Clean Air: California Invests in Greener School Transportation
California has awarded $500 million to fund 1,000 zero-emission school buses and chargers for educational agencies as part of its effort to reduce pollution, improve student health, and accelerate the transition to clean transportation.

Congress Moves to End Reconnecting Communities and Related Grants
The House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee moved to rescind funding for the Neighborhood Equity and Access program, which funds highway removals, freeway caps, transit projects, pedestrian infrastructure, and more.

From Throughway to Public Space: Taking Back the American Street
How the Covid-19 pandemic taught us new ways to reclaim city streets from cars.
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.
Heyer Gruel & Associates PA
Ada County Highway District
Institute for Housing and Urban Development Studies (IHS)
City of Grandview
Harvard GSD Executive Education
Toledo-Lucas County Plan Commissions
Salt Lake City
NYU Wagner Graduate School of Public Service