The Daily Source of Urban Planning News

View of Washington D.C. Capitol dome through high-rise buildings in various states of construction.

DC ‘Vacant to Vibrant’ Properties Remain Vacant

The city auctioned off 58 lots at low prices to stimulate housing development. Half are still vacant.

December 14 - The Washington Post

White house surrounded by several inches of tidal floodwaters.

A Different Approach to Managing Climate Displacement

As climate-driven flooding and storms put increasing pressure on coastal communities, some say the piecemeal nature of federal recovery and mitigation efforts aren’t cutting it.

December 14 - Bloomberg CityLab

View of city skyline with overlay of icons indicating smart city connectivity.

BLOG POST

How Smart Cities Influence Real Estate Investment

By integrating technology and infrastructure, smart cities are attracting investors with their potential for improved quality of life, efficient resource management, and innovative urban development projects.

December 14 - Devin Partida

Millbrae, California

Article 34 in Action: Bay Area Suburb Uses 1950 Initiative to Block Homeless Housing

Next year, California voters will determine whether to repeal a 1950 initiative that requires local voter buy-in for government-supported low income housing, but that hasn't deterred Millbrae from using it to sue San Mateo County.

December 13 - The Mercury News

View of residential neighborhood with large homes with tall mountains and cloudy sunset sky in background in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Will Salt Lake City’s Zoning Reforms Create More Affordable Housing?

The city’s new rules allow for more flexibility in housing development, but other market forces could limit production.

December 13 - KUER


Aerial view of Gillespie Bridge with metal framing and black rock mesa in background in Gillespie, Arizona.

Gila River Canal Project Pairs Water Conservation With Solar Energy

Local leaders view the first solar panel-covered water canal in the Western Hemisphere as a ‘major win’ for Indigenous water sovereignty.

December 13 - The Independent

Neighborhood of large houses in suburban Austin, Texas.

Austin Approves Upzoning

Combined with the recent decision to eliminate parking minimums, the move to end single-family zoning could help make housing more affordable.

December 13 - The Austin Chronicle


Phialdelphia skyline at sunset with close-up of bridge in foreground.

How Effective are Philadelphia’s Keystone Opportunity Zones?

The impacts of a tax break designed to create jobs, stimulate development, and reduce blight are proving hard to track.

December 13 - Next City

Aerial view of mobile home community in rural area with homes lined up diagonally next to small road.

Report Highlights Housing Issues in Rural America

Rising costs and an aging housing stock are squeezing rural households, with the impacts felt unevenly across ages and ethnicities.

December 13 - The Daily Yonder

Cars on a New York City street

NYC MTA Approves Congestion Pricing Details

The program, which calls for a $15 fee for most vehicles, requires a final MTA board vote in two months.

December 13 - Gothamist

Exterior view of a Microsoft data center. Black multistory industrial building with Microsoft logo.

Virginia Coalition Calls for Increased Data Center Industry Oversight

Environmental groups voice concern that the states large, and growing, number of data centers is putting unsustainable pressure on natural resources and utility infrastructure.

December 13 - Inside Climate News

Google street view of vacant fenced-in dirt lot in South Los Angeles with graffiti on wall in background.

A New Vision for a South LA Oil Drilling Site

A local land trust wants to transform the defunct drilling site with a park, community center, and housing.

December 12 - Los Angeles Times

Red San Diego trolley in front of 1915 Neo-Spanish building at Santa Fe Depot in downtown San Diego, California.

San Diego Region Developing Long-Range Transportation Plan

The new plan, set to take effect in 2025, accounts for changes in mobility patterns brought on by remote work.

December 12 - Axios

View of Tucson, Arizona at sunset with two saguaro cacti in foreground.

Zoning Driving Housing Costs, Water Consumption in Arizona

Regulations that prohibit multifamily housing and smaller lot sizes contribute to a growing gulf between housing supply and demand.

December 12 - Pew

Kansas City, Missouri skyline.

Kansas City Could Ban Source-of-Income Discrimination

The proposed law would eliminate a significant hurdle for many recipients of federal housing vouchers.

December 12 - Smart Cities Dive

Walkways and escalator at crowded transit station, with one person walking a bike in foreground.

10 Best, Worst States for Climate-Friendly, Equitable Transportation

California and Kentucky bookend a recent ranking of how well states are using federal infrastructure money to address climate change and racial inequities in their transportation networks.

December 12 - Route Fifty

Flags on tall flagpoles with RTP logo and North Carolina flag at Research Triangle Park.

North Carolina’s Research Triangle Park Could Upzone for Mixed-Use, Housing

A new proposal reimagines the primarily industrial and office-oriented area to a ‘15-minute city.’

December 12 - The News & Observer

Weather station against stormy sky.

BLOG POST

Commentary: How AI Can Build Safer Cities

From predictive policing to smart surveillance systems, AI-powered technologies are driving the creation of safer cities by enabling proactive crime prevention and efficient emergency response.

December 12 - Devin Partida

Close-up of multiple lines of blue natural gas flames inside a boiler.

Massachusetts Moves Toward Decarbonization

The state developed a framework for planning to phase out natural gas, denying industry calls to allow hydrogen and renewable natural gas.

December 12 - Inside Climate News

Bird's eye view of moderately busy large freeway interchange in California.

Opinion: California Must Walk the Walk on Transportation Emissions

While state leaders tout their climate goals at COP28, residents back home continue to fight highway expansion projects that induce traffic and increase emissions.

December 11 - Streetsblog California

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