The Daily Source of Urban Planning News

Los Angeles' Plan to Cool Down
Los Angeles has a heat problem, and it's getting worse. But the Mayor's Office is taking on the challenge.

Coming Soon: A Transformative Idea for Cleveland's Irishtown Bend
A new design process will take an initial step toward unleashing the unrealized potential of Irishtown Bend—located along the Cuyahoga River in the heart of Cleveland.

St. Louis Debating and Reforming its Development Incentives
The city of St. Louis is in the midst of an intense political debate—with mayoral consequences—on the subject of development incentives, which critics say just help the rich get richer.

The End of Federal Environmental Protection in the United States?
The end of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency may not come from the hands of President Trump or Scott Pruitt, the nominee to head the agency, but from a bill introduced Feb. 3 titled, "To terminate the Environmental Protection Agency."

Whole Foods to Undergo Unprecedented Downsizing
A symbol of urbanist affluence is getting its first reality check. 2017 has not been kind to brock and mortar retailers.

Unveiling Renters' Hidden NIMBYism
This research shows that renters in high-cost cities can be just as prone to NIMBYism as homeowners, even as they theoretically support more housing. This is housing supply's collective action problem.

The Association of Collegiate Schools of Planning Responds to Trump's Travel Ban
The Association of Collegiate Schools of Planning (ACSP) released a statement on the Trump Administration executive order that enacted a 90-day suspension of visas and other immigration benefits to all nationals of seven Middle Eastern countries.
Boston Neighborhoods Find Controversy Following Residential Zoning Changes
An in-depth look into the political controversies stirred up in the Boston neighborhood of Jamaica Plain as a result of a proposed, density-adding zoning plan.

Big Data Brings Bespoke Cities
This start-up uses an AI to comb through Google Street View images, matching users with cities that fit their "lifestyle preferences."

Sunday Fun: Behind Washington State's Monopoly on Sad Place Names
Yikes, Washington. What's the deal with all those sad place names?

Do Shorter Travel Times Really Justify Highway Expansions?
It all depends on one thing: How much are travelers willing to pay for a shorter trip?

NYC Housing Authority Announces Ambitious Climate Plan
New York plans to drastically cut greenhouse gas emissions from public housing.

San Francisco and San Jose Propose Joint Pilot Program for Speed Cameras
Legislation proposed by San Francisco Assemblyman David Chiu would authorize a red camera pilot program to last five years and apply only to the two cities. California lacks laws permitting automated speed enforcement.

It's Time to Prepare for Census 2020
An article for Planning magazine readies the planning profession for the largest peacetime activity of the federal government. All indications are that the 2020 Census will include unprecedented changes.
How Fair Use Brought Pac-Man to the Streets of Seattle
Maybe we are going to jinx the city of Seattle by bringing it up, but not everything has to be expensive and litigious.

Unlikely Public Engagement Tactics Get Results for Small Towns
Four small cities across the country are seeing positive results with non-traditional public engagement strategies like bouncy castles, beer coasters, and ball games.

Op-Ed: Houston Should Try to Kill Fewer Pedestrians
City officials in Houston have shown little regard for the safety of its people when they're walking outside, argues an op-ed in the Houston Chronicle.

Uber Files Lawsuit Against Seattle Over Unionization
Uber kicks off its 'Year of the Driver' by suing the city of Seattle for allowing its drivers to unionize.

Airbnb Still at Odds with Barcelona City, Calling New Rule for Hosts a 'Joke'
After Barcelona City Council conducted inspections and imposed sanctions on illegal tourist rentals in the city, Airbnb responded by announcing restrictions on multiple listings in the downtown area. The city council responded bluntly.

The (Place) Doctor Will See You Now
How a small town in Oregon used a data-driven, analytical approach towards putting policies in place to increase their economic and environmental resiliency.
Pagination
Yukon Government
Caltrans
New Jersey Institute of Technology
Mpact (founded as Rail~Volution)
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Norman, Oklahoma
City of Portland
City of Laramie
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.