The Daily Source of Urban Planning News

Climate Change Law: A Primer for Cities
A report from the Sabin Center provides a legal framework for municipal-level action on climate change policy.

How Urban Design Affects Children's Cognitive Development
A European study suggests that good urban design can affect cognitive and motor function development in young children.

Dissecting the Eviction Crisis
Attention to the human and economic costs of evictions predate the pandemic, but the economic disruption of the past two years has increased the need for better tools to measure and respond to evictions.

Once San Francisco's 'Grandest Boulevard,' Van Ness Almost Done With Another Makeover
The Van Ness Improvement project took almost two decades to cross the finish line, but it's almost there.

Toronto Reconsidering its Parking Requirements
Parking reform is reaching new frontiers.

A Primer on Arlington County's Missing Middle Housing Study
The county is evaluating its options for spurring construction of 'missing middle' housing that would provide more housing types in the D.C. suburb.

Fast-Rising Rents: Cause or Effect of Institutional Real Estate Investors?
More media attention for the growing influence of large, institutional investors on the housing market.

Cincinnati Approves Funding for Affordable Housing
A downtown Cincinnati development will create 44 affordable housing units for low-income and very-low-income families.

Biden Orders Release from Strategic Petroleum Reserve: What's the Emergency?
The purpose of the Strategic Petroleum Reserve is to maintain oil flow to refineries during national emergencies when oil supplies are disrupted. What national emergency prompted President Biden to order the release of 50 million barrels?

Minneapolis, St. Paul Voters Say ‘Yes’ to Rent Stabilization
Despite an all-out effort by the housing industry to stop them, two rent stabilization initiatives were given the green light following this month’s election.

Assessing the Success of San Francisco's Safer Intersections Project
A campaign to improve pedestrian safety at dangerous intersections in San Francisco using traffic calming and driver education led to significant reductions in speed and unsafe left turns, according to a report from SFMTA.

What Is NIMBYism and How Do Affordable Housing Developers Respond to It?
NIMBYism is often expressed as concerns about crime, congestion, schools, property values, and “quality of life.” But when developments are built these fears rarely come to pass.

BLOG POST
The Roadway Expansion Paradox
Motorists want expensive roadway expansions provided that somebody else foots the bill, but when required to pay directly through tolls, the need for more capacity often disappears. What should planners do?

Update: Coronavirus Vaccination Litigation against Biden Administration
The U.S. Justice Department filed its appeal on Nov. 23 before the 6th Circuit Court to reinstate the large private employer vaccination status requirement that the 5th Circuit had stayed after Republican governors and state attorneys general sued.

Boston Mayor Proposes Fare-Free Transit
The pro-transit mayor of Boston is proposing fare-free transit on some of the city's most heavily used bus routes.

Opinion: It's Time To Put People Ahead of Cars in SoHo
A proposal from SoHo Broadway Initiative aims to prioritize pedestrian and bike infrastructure and discourage car traffic to make the neighborhood safer and more comfortable for the people who live and work there.

California Ballot Measure Could Streamline Permitting for Water Projects
A coalition of farmers and desalination supporters is collecting signatures for a California ballot measure that would fast-track construction processes for water storage projects.

FEATURE
The Top Urban Planning Books of 2021
Planetizen's annual list of the top urban planning books of the year is here—maintaining a tradition that dates back to 2002.

Bay Area Looks To Expand Reservoir As Drought Deepens
The expansion of the Los Vaqueros Reservoir in Brentwood would increase storage capacity and create a more reliable water supply for Northern California communities.

Fighting Climate Change With Green Building Standards
Localities in Canada's Durham Region are implementing green building regulations to promote sustainable development and reduce resource use.
Pagination
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
Transportation Research & Education Center (TREC) at Portland State University
Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada
Toledo-Lucas County Plan Commissions
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.