The Daily Source of Urban Planning News

Close-up of people;s hands installing black and yellow road hump.

Report: 99% of Philadelphia Speed Bumps are Installed Improperly

A city study found that most of the city's speed humps fail to meet design specifications.

February 22 - WHYY

People holding up pro-immigrant signs at outdoor protest with Mexico flag in foreground.

HUD Plans to Bar Mixed-status Immigrant Households From Subsidized Housing

The proposed rule change would prevent people without legal status from living in households receiving federal housing assistance.

February 20 - The Hill

Boxy wood-frame two-story house under construction behind green construction fence in Los Angeles, California.

Report: LA Construction Permits Fell 40% After ‘Mansion Tax’

New housing permits fell sharply for both single-family homes and multifamily buildings after the city enacted a tax on property sales over $5 million.

February 20 - Anderson Review

Zoning map of Los Angeles neighborhood created by WPA.

100 Years ago, Zoning Changed how US Cities Grow. Today, it is Ripe for Reform.

Euclidean zoning was enshrined in U.S. town planning by a 1926 Supreme Court decision. Cities are recognizing it’s time for some drastic changes.

February 20 - Bloomberg CityLab

Vacant, boarded-up two-story urban homes in Baltimore, Maryland.

Baltimore Pushes ‘Whole Block’ Redevelopment Plan for Vacant Properties

The city will incentivize developers to take on projects that will renovate or redevelop unused city-owned properties.

February 20 - Baltimore Sun


Close-up of laptop screen with 404 error.

Decades of Curbed Archives are Gone

The urban-focused publication amplified important voices discussing urbanism and development. Many of those articles are now unavailable.

February 19 - The Architect's Newspaper

Bird's eye view of white cars in parking lot.

Study: LA Could Get Rid of Almost Half its Pavement

Researchers say nearly half of the county’s paved surfaces could be redesigned to cool neighborhoods, manage stormwater, and improve public health.

February 19 - Los Angeles Times


Desert landscape with cactus in foreground and mountains in background in Big Bend National Park, Texas.

DHS Waived 28 Environmental and Historic Protection Laws to Expedite Building of South Texas Border Wall

The barrier would run through Big Bend National Park, raising alarms among environmentalists who say it will harm wildlife in the region.

February 19 - Inside Climate News

Red cranes over Gordie Howe Bridge spanning Detroit River.

Trump’s Canada Bridge Threat Could Kill a Rare International Bikeway

The President says he won’t allow the new Gordie Howe International Bridge to open “until the United States is fully compensated for everything we have given” Canada.

February 19 - Streetsblog USA

Google street view of small pedestrian street in Somerville, New Jersey.

BLOG POST

In Defense of Car-light Planning

By framing car-free as the only way forward, we have made the perfect the enemy of the good. It’s time we emphasize — and promote — small progress.

February 19 - Marcelo Remond

Google street view of former bank building in Pittsfield, Massachusetts.

Historic Bank in Pittsfield, Massachusetts to Become Mixed-income Housing

The bank redevelopment project is part of a $140 million state affordable housing initiative.

February 19 - News 10

Protesters holding up anti-Trump climate protest signs in front of Capitol dome in Washington DC.

BLOG POST

Dear Trump: the Future Belongs to the Efficient

Trump abandoned climate protection goals claiming that cheap fossil fuel helps consumers and the economy. A mobility-focused analysis shows that he is wrong: resource efficiency is the key to health, economic success and happiness.

February 19 - Todd Litman

Protesters holding a blue "ICE out of LA" sign with LA Dodgers logo in Los Angeles.

LA Considers Reviving Zoning Rule That Would Prohibit ICE Facilities for Children

A 2019 proposal would bar private detention facilities from contracting with federal agencies to detain minors.

February 18 - LAist

Salt lake Ciy street in winter.

Utah State Bill Could Force Removal of SLC Bike Lanes

If state lawmakers have their way, the city could be forced to remove several bikeways.

February 18 - Streetsblog USA

Street scene of people on parade.

Memphis Plans to Build 10,000 New Homes by 2030

The city plans to liberalize zoning codes to create better incentives for housing production.

February 18 - Fox 13

pubic transit

Atlanta to Launch Autonomous Electric Shuttle

The half-mile system will be California-based Glydways’ first self-driving shuttle system.

February 18 - New Atlas

U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy speaking at a podium in front of American flag and White House logo on blue background.

USDOT Wants to Require 100% American-made Materials for EV Charging Stations

The proposal comes after a judge ruled against the agency’s attempt to rescind federal funds for electric car charging projects.

February 17 - Reuters

Man walks past homeless encampment behind concrete Jersey barriers on street in Oakland, California with RVs parked behind tents.

Oakland Mayor, City Council Offer ‘Radically Different’ Plans for Reducing Homelessness

Mayor Barbara Lee wants to reduce encampment sweeps and focus on improving sanitation while city council members want to increase enforcement, particularly against illegally parked RVs.

February 17 - The Mercury News

Close-up of person in denim jacket plugging in eledtric car to curbside charger.

DC Installing Public, Curbside EV Chargers in All Wards

DDOT hopes the pilot program will make EV charging easier and more accessible for residents in denser neighborhoods and apartment dwellers.

February 17 - WTOP News

Three-story homes along beach in Dunkirk, France.

FEATURE

The City Where Free Buses Changed Everything

New York’s new mayor Zohran Mamdani has said he’ll make every bus free to ride. This French city did just that — and is reaping the rewards.

February 17 - Peter Yeung

Post News
Senior Planner

City of Thousand Oaks

Community Development Director

City of Wisconsin Rapids

Professor of Urban Planning

Harvard University Graduate School of Design

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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.

FREE Course: Walkable City 1: Why Walkability?

After describing his path towards focusing on walkability as the essence of good planning, Jeff Speck marches through his five principal reasons for making more walkable places.

Reinventing Malls: Planning Alchemy—Turning Gray Fields Into Gold

The course focuses on the opportunities and imperatives that shape reinvention of mall sites.