The Daily Source of Urban Planning News

Walkable, mixed-use neighborhood in Barcelona, Spain

Conspiracy Theorists Discover the 15-Minute City

USA Today debunks the false claim that the United Nations’ call for enabling 15-minute cities is a coded plan to institute ‘climate change lockdowns.’

February 8 - USA Today

Arizona Canal

HUD Grants Total $315 Million for Continuum of Care for the Unhoused

An unprecedented federal grant program, announced earlier this month, will support continuum of care for the unhoused in unsheltered and rural settings.

February 8 - U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development

Covered pergolas for outdoor dining line the curb on Ballard Avenue, Seattle

Seattle Historic District Could Remove Street Dining

Despite the popularity of Ballard Avenue’s outdoor dining pergolas, some district board members argue the patios don’t match the district’s historic character.

February 7 - The Urbanist

Rendering of landscaped street with street trees and pedestrian sidewalk

South L.A. Complete Streets Project Back on Track

First proposed in 2015, the Broadway-Manchester redesign would add bike infrastructure, pedestrian improvements, trees, and other amenities.

February 7 - Urbanize LA

Spanish-style State Street commercial buildings in downtown Santa Barbara, California

Santa Barbara Expands ADU Program to Boost Housing

The city hopes that permitting larger ADUs and making adaptive reuse easier will help it meet its state-mandated goal of building over 8,000 new housing units by 2031.

February 7 - Noozhawk


Power lines against sunset sky and snowy landscape in rural Minnesota

Minnesota Utilities to Go Carbon-Free by 2040

If signed by the governor, a new state law would require all utilities in the state to switch to renewable energy within two decades.

February 7 - Route Fifty

Aerial view of Milwaukee, Wisconsin skyline with large old homes in the foreground

‘Predatory’ Buyers Targeting Milwaukee’s Black Neighborhoods

Out-of-state investors now own almost a quarter of rental housing in majority Black wards, new research finds.

February 7 - Urban Milwaukee


People biking and rollerblading on Atlanta BeltLine trail

What Should Transit on the BeltLine Look Like?

Supporters of a proposed streetcar extension argue that Atlanta’s popular BeltLine corridor was always meant to include transit, making it more than just a recreational area.

February 7 - Urbanize Atlanta

Aerial view of large suburban homes in Rochester, New York

New York Affordable Housing Tax Incentive Targets Suburbs

If Gov. Hochul’s proposed budget passes, the new tax abatement would incentivize affordable housing development in the state’s smaller municipalities.

February 7 - Crain's Business New York

Colorful waterfront homes in Maine finshing village

Maine Housing Market Tightens as New, Younger Residents Move In

State leaders see the influx of younger residents as a boon to Maine’s economy, but this could come at the expense of affordable housing.

February 7 - Chicago News Cooperative/The New York Times

An oil line extends into Resurrection Bay in Seward, Alaska.

Alaska to Consider Carbon Offset and Sequestration Program

Alaska could follow in the footsteps of California and Europe by leveraging the state’s natural resources to create a carbon offset and sequestration program, mitigating the environmental effects of its industries and raising revenue for the state.

February 6 - Anchorage Daily News

A high-rise building is seen fromt he ground, framed by an assortment of tall and shorter buildings.

Exxon’s Former Houston Headquarters Could Become a Residential High Rise

The former headquarters of Humble Oil, a predecessor to Exxon, will be converted to apartments in Houston, after New York-based developers CMI Developers purchased the building with a plan for adaptive reuse.

February 6 - Realty News Report

Aerial view of irrigation canal winding through Scottsdale, Arizona suburb with mountains in background

The Water Crisis Comes Home to Roost in Arizona

Due in part to the state’s history of ‘wildcat’ real estate developments, some communities are losing access to water sources as cities and water agencies look for ways to conserve shrinking water supplies.

February 6 - High Country News

Father riding cargo bike with one child in cargo basket and one child riding bike alongside on sunny tree-lined path

California Launches E-Bike Incentive Program

The state is directing $13 million to a program to help low-income Californians purchase electric and cargo bikes, but limited bike infrastructure keeps many California streets unsafe for cyclists.

February 6 - Los Angeles Times

Trees

How the Urban Tree Canopy Can Save Lives in a Heat Wave

New research reveals the direct link between planting more trees and a reduction in heat-related deaths.

February 6 - Phys.org

Aerial view of downtown Denver, Colorado with freeway in foreground

Colorado Emissions Reduction Plan Ties Sustainable Transportation to State Funding

The state’s Greenhouse Gas Planning Standard uses tangible financial penalties to prioritize transportation projects that reduce emissions.

February 6 - TransitCenter

Bike rider on multi-tiered Philadelphia bridge

The Bicycle as Economic Lifeline

For many low-income households, bikes offer an affordable way to access more destinations and economic opportunities.

February 6 - The Philadelphia Inquirer

Low close-up shot of black and pink Lyft e-scooters lined up on downtown Los Angeles sidewalk

Lyft Shifting to Docked E-Scooters

After failing to deliver on promises of frictionless, free shared mobility, the operator will begin docking its scooters at stations to reduce sidewalk obstructions and eliminate the need to collect scooters for recharging.

February 6 - Bloomberg CityLab

Twitter office building in downtown San Francisco

City Requiring Permits for Twitter’s Dystopian Office Bedrooms

After a Forbes article revealed dozens of makeshift sleeping areas in Twitter’s downtown San Francisco offices, the city is asking the company to file for permits if they want to keep them.

February 5 - The Architect's Newspaper

Aerial view of coastline with homes in Encinitas, California

State Estimates Show Third Year of Population Loss for California

Demographic data from the California Department of Finance released last month shows a third consecutive year of population loss, mirroring Census data. Los Angeles and Santa Clara counties saw the highest numeric losses.

February 5 - San Francisco Chronicle

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Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools

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Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.