The Daily Source of Urban Planning News

New York City

Governor Cuomo Wants Broad Powers to Redevelop Around Penn Station

The idea is still extremely speculative, but reports are that Governor Cuomo is pushing for legislation that would enable broad powers for the state to redevelop around Penn Station in New York City.

March 29 - Politico

Jaguar Self-Driving Car

FEATURE

Waymo Wants to Provide a 'Self-Driving Vehicle Tailored to Every Trip' (So Why Not Buses?)

Automated vehicle tech frontrunner Waymo is teaming up with Jaguar to offer a luxury self-driving vehicle for "car lovers." Why not partner with bus manufacturers to offer self-driving buses for city lovers?

March 29 - Antonio Loro

Times Square New York

A Strong Voice of Support for Value Capture to Fund Subway Repair

In an opinion for City & State, Kathryn Wylde, president of the nonprofit Partnership for New York City, makes the case that the Metropolitan Transportation Authority should be allowed to tax properties where value is enhanced by subway proximity.

March 28 - City & State

Seattle Apartments

Pressing Pause on 'Rent Bidding' Apps

Several new apps allow landlords to place available units out to bid. The city of Seattle is concerned the apps might exacerbate prices in an already expensive rental market.

March 28 - Smart Cities Dive

Cupertino

'By-Right' Housing Law a Shot in the Arm for California Housing Developments

The effect of SB 35 on development projects in California might be more significant than YIMBYs have imagined, after a second project forges ahead confident in the support of state law for a large development.

March 28 - The Mercury News


Hyperloop

Elon Musk Company Closes in on Chicago's Airport Express

The announcement of the finalists to build the O'Hare Express has critics even more concerned about the project's viability.

March 28 - Streetsblog Chicago

Los Angeles Homeless

L.A. Metro’s Homeless Outreach Teams Report Back

The transit agency's year-long experiment with homeless services has placed 19 people in permanent housing and spurred hopes of expanding the program.

March 28 - KPCC


Hurricane Ike Damage

Calling for a New Approach to Flood Mitigation

The American Planning Association was one of 14 national organizations to sign a letter of support for S.1507, which would partner states and the federal government in providing low-interest loans for stormwater infrastructure projects.

March 28 - American Planning Association

Single-Family Neighborhood

Upzoning of Seattle's Single-Family Zoning Called a 'Disappointing Half-Measure'

A critical analysis of a proposal that would incrementally increase density in parts of Seattle.

March 28 - Sightline Institute

Houston

Houston Controller Finds Fault with Key Economic Development Program

A new report finds that Houston might not be holding private partners accountable for promised infrastructure improvements.

March 28 - Houston Chronicle

Detroit, Michigan

Ford Motor Company Considering Big Move to Historic Detroit

If Ford Motor Co. goes through with a plan to move into the old Michigan Central Depot, it would mark a new phase of the rebirth of Detroit's urban core.

March 28 - The Detroit News

Highway Living

Outcomes of the Federal Highway Program: Inequality and Polarization

It's a vicious cycle: highways enable white flight, establishing a power base for a political party opposed to urban transportation systems.

March 28 - Stanford News

Capitol

Omnibus Spending Bill Expands Low Income Housing Tax Credit

Missed among the coverage of the federal Omnibus Bill on Friday of last week: a long-awaited expansion of the Low Income Tax Credit.

March 27 - Globe St.

Main Street

National League of Cities to Study State Preemption of Local Laws

The mission of the National League of Cities is to advocate for cities—and the organization is now gathering evidence to push back on growing amount of state preemption of local control.

March 27 - CitiesSpeak

Planning Commission in World's Fair office, 1958

A Call to Broaden the Definition of 'Real Planning'

Deland Chan, a lecturer in the Urban Studies program at Stanford University and co-founder of the Stanford Human Cities Initiative, makes the case for a bigger tent for planners and planning.

March 27 - CityLab

Parking Lot SOlar

As Climate Shifts, Cincinnati Mayor Boosts Solar Investments

The Ohio city recently announced a plan to build the nation's largest municipally owned onsite solar array. The plan builds on a decade of increasingly ambitious climate action.

March 27 - Yale Climate Connections

TOKYO Night @45F

Energy Demand and Carbon Emissions Increased in 2017, Just Not Everywhere

The International Energy Agency found that China and India were responsible for 40 percent of the increased energy demand. The biggest decrease in carbon dioxide emissions came from the U.S., largely due to increased use of renewables.

March 27 - International Energy Agency

Los Angeles in 1939, as determined by the  Home Owners’ Loan Corporation (HOLC).

FEATURE

The Legacy of Housing Discrimination Still Haunts Minorities

The practice of redlining was outlawed in 1977, but its effects have been indelible.

March 27 - Jerrod A. Laber

The Mission

New Lyft Program Puts a 'Geofence' Around Busy Streets

The Lyft geofencing pilot in San Francisco will direct drivers to less busy side streets for pick ups and drop offs.

March 27 - Mission Local

Agricultural Land

Texas Designates 628 Opportunity Zones

The state of Texas gives an early indication of the potential scale of the new Opportunity Zones program—an emerging program that will be rolling out across the country in the coming days and weeks.

March 27 - Urban Edge

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

Top Books

An annual review of books related to planning.

Top Schools

The definitive ranking of graduate planning programs.

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.