The Daily Source of Urban Planning News

Making the Case for Wooden Buildings
Is mass timber the new frontier in low-carbon building? The National Building Museum's newest exhibition, Timber City, pays homage to the potential of tall timber structures which have strength comparable to steel.

What Will Los Angeles Will Do Next On Housing & Water? Look To Their Neighbors
The cities of Santa Monica, Culver CIty, West Hollywood, and Malibu are championing stormwater infrastructure, new public transit, affordable housing, and action on homelessness prevention.

Shifting Attitudes Toward Walkable Urbanism in Houston
According to this survey, many Houston residents increasingly prefer mixed-use areas over single-family suburbia. But there's only so much downtown available.

Palo Alto City Council Changes Zoning Language to Make Software Companies Legal in the City
Strange as it may sound, the city in the heart of U.S. software country had an ordinance that made such companies were illegal, even though such companies are common in the city.

Planned Skate Park Killed Near Chicago's 606
A planned Bucktown skate park will not be built and many neighbors are celebrating.

Could the Next Round of Transportation Innovations Finally End the Parking Status Quo?
If self-driving cars means more sharing and less car ownership, we may finally lose our appetite for parking, even in the motor city.

The Other Cyclists
In arguments about how to construct transit and infrastructure, the voice of the poverty-stricken cyclist is rarely heard.

Miami-Dade Considering Bus Service Cuts as Ridership Drops
Transit planners at the county of Miami-Dade in Florida are asking permission to reroute and discontinue bus routes from the county bus system.

U.S. Housing Prices Still Haven't Recovered from the Great Recession
While some cities become more and more expensive, most of the country's housing prices still haven't recovered from the great recession.

Do Good Fences Make Good Neighborhood Parks?
A Chicago city park, recently redesigned to be more welcoming, could become less so in its final form. Neighbors complaining about "really shady" park visitors are lobbying for a 6-foot fence to be included in the park's multi-million dollar revamp.

Inclusionary Zoning Bill to Increase Affordable Rentals Passes California Assembly
Due to a 2009 court decision, cities and counties in California are prohibited from requiring that a percentage of units in rental developments be affordable. A bill by Assemblyman Richard Bloom would restore inclusionary zoning for rentals.

Omnibus Spending Bill Will Save Transit Grant Programs—for Five Months*
Congress passed a $1.1 trillion omnibus spending bill to keep the government operating through September that also restores funding to transportation programs that the president had eliminated or greatly reduced. Trump signed the bill Friday.

The New California Coastal Commission
The commission spent a significant part of last year in the spotlight. Now, its new director is moving ahead on climate adaptation and resilience efforts as a federal policy change looms.

Middle Neighborhoods: On the Edge of Greatness or Distress
St. Louis provides the backdrop for a discussion about "middle neighborhoods"—the subject of a 2016 book by Paul C. Brophy.

Silicon Valley's Beleaguered Transit System Getting an Overhaul
Strapped for cash and faced with rapidly declining ridership, the Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) is reorganizing its service in the hopes of stopping the bleeding.

'Bikelife' Brings BMX Style to a New Generation
The Wall Street Journal introduces "Bikelife" to the masses, showcasing an another side to bike culture.

Atlantic City Showing All the Signs of Recovery
One of the East Coast's most conspicuous signs of the Great Recession is finally turning itself around.

Solar Power Turning Energy Consumers Into Energy Producers
As the energy grid evolves to accommodate more and more solar energy, conflicts emerge.

The Great Highway Should Be Better, Not Bigger
San Francisco's Great Highway is losing great chunks of asphalt to the ocean. A new plan intends to change that.

Federal Reserve Banks Look for Small Town Lessons in Growth
What do Rochester, Cedar Rapids, Grand Rapids, and Chattanooga have to do with each other? According to Federal Reserve Banks, they are all examples of cities doing growth right.
Pagination
Heyer Gruel & Associates PA
JM Goldson LLC
Custer County Colorado
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
Transportation Research & Education Center (TREC) at Portland State University
Jefferson Parish Government
Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Claremont
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.