The Daily Source of Urban Planning News

‘Quiet Parks’ Highlight Importance of Silence for Public Health
The initiative recognizes parks and other areas that preserve natural quiet in a world full of noise pollution.

Jersey City Latest to Ban Rent-Setting Algorithm
Officials say the software offered by RealPage ‘magnifies’ the potential for price gouging.

Parks: Essential Community Infrastructure — and a Smart Investment
Even during times of budget constraint, continued investment in parks is critical, as they provide proven benefits to public health, safety, climate resilience, and community well-being — particularly for under-resourced communities.

Porches, Pets, and the People We Grow Old With
Neighborhood connections and animal companions matter to aging with dignity, and how we build can support them. Here’s a human-scale proposal for aging in place.

Single-Stair Design Contest Envisions Human-Scale Buildings
Single-stair building construction is having a resurgence in the United States, where, for the last several decades, zoning codes have required more than one staircase in multi-story housing developments.

Tesla Protests Release of Documents About Austin Robotaxi Launch
The company seeks to block the release of emails with city officials on the grounds they could contain confidential information and trade secrets.

Fungi to the Rescue: How Mushrooms Are Helping Clean Up Toxic Lands
Fungi are emerging as powerful tools in environmental cleanup, with scientists and community leaders using mushrooms to break down pollutants and restore contaminated soil.

DC, Columbus Bike Share Fleets Introduce Cargo Bikes
Shared mobility is ‘growing up,’ with rental options increasingly expanding to include e-bikes, scooters, and cargo bikes.

Five Key Transportation Funding Proposals in Trump’s Budget
The President’s proposed 2026 budget would keep spending roughly the same for transit and rail and eliminate over $5 billion in funding for EV charging infrastructure.

FEATURE
Can We Please Give Communities the Design They Deserve?
Often an afterthought, graphic design impacts everything from how we navigate a city to how we feel about it. One designer argues: the people deserve better.

LA County Creating Action Plan to Tackle Extreme Heat
Los Angeles County is creating a Heat Action Plan to help communities stay safe during extreme heat, with steps like adding more shade, improving buildings, and supporting the neighborhoods most at risk.

Maryland Plans Quick-Build Complete Streets Projects
The state will use low-cost interventions to improve road safety in five Maryland counties.

Downtown Los Angeles Gears Up for Growth
A new report highlights Downtown L.A.’s ongoing revival through major housing projects, adaptive reuse, hospitality growth, and preparations for global events in the years ahead.

Supreme Court Landlord Appeal Case Could Overturn Tenant Protections
A legal case claiming that COVID-era eviction moratoriums were unconstitutional could spell trouble for tenant protections.

Texas Moves to Curb Orphan Wells, But Critics Say Loopholes Remain
A proposed state law would shift financial responsibility for sealing unused drilling sites from the public to energy operators, though some advocates question its effectiveness due to industry-backed exemptions.

Affordable Housing Finance 101
The financial intricacies involved in building affordable housing can be difficult to understand. This explainer breaks down the foundational concepts.

San Francisco's School District Spent $105M To Build Affordable Housing for Teachers — And That's Just the Beginning
SFUSD joins a growing list of school districts using their land holdings to address housing affordability challenges faced by their own employees.

Car-Centric LA Suburb Looks to a Train-Oriented Future
City leaders in Rancho Cucamonga, the future western terminus of the Brightline West rail line to Las Vegas, want to reimagine the city as a transit-oriented, pedestrian-friendly community.

New Alaska Bitcoin Mine Would Burn as Much Energy as the State’s Largest Coal Plant
Fueled by “stranded” natural gas, the startup hopes to become the largest in the US, and to make Alaska an industry center.

New Jersey Duplexes Elicit Mixed Reactions
Modern, two-unit residences are proliferating in northern New Jersey communities, signaling for some a boon to the housing supply and to others a loss of historic architecture.
Pagination
Smith Gee Studio
City of Charlotte
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
Transportation Research & Education Center (TREC) at Portland State University
US High Speed Rail Association
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
Municipality of Princeton (NJ)
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.