The Daily Source of Urban Planning News

Alaska

Anchorage Eliminates Parking Requirements Citywide

Anchorage is the latest city to enact sweeping parking reforms, in another blow to the car-centric status quo of planning.

November 23 - Anchorage Daily News

View of vacant lot in Manhattan through chain link fence

How Low Land Taxes Contribute to the Housing Shortage

The relatively low cost of holding on to vacant lots leads to underdevelopment in what are often prime residential areas.

November 23 - The Wall Street Journal

Two bridges cross the Mississippi Rivera midst thick vegetation and few other signs of human intervention.

$323 Million Waterfront Project Cruising Along in St. Louis

Lighthouse Point, a $323 million marina and waterfront development proposed for the banks of the Mississippi River, has already been granted a special district, tax abatements, and sales tax exemptions.

November 23 - St. Louis Post-Dispatch

Under Armour Clothing Global Headquarters

Developers Rebrand Baltimore’s Port Covington Megaproject

The megaproject formerly known as Port Covington is now known as Baltimore Peninsula.

November 23 - The Baltimore Banner

Traffic light with green light on and green right turn arrow on

Tampa Pilots Solar Sidewalks

The city is testing solar panels embedded in sidewalks as a backup power supply for traffic lights.

November 23 - Smart Cities Dive


View of cars in traffic jam from behind

How to Beat the Turkey Day Traffic

The best and worst times to undertake your Thanksgiving drive.

November 23 - The Washington Post

Heritage Rail Trail County Park, York, Pennsylvania with railroad next to unpaved walking/biking trail and sun filtering through green trees

Rails-to-Trails Conservancy Issues 2022 Grants

The organization awarded 25 grants for projects that promote outdoor recreation and access to trail facilities for underserved communities.

November 22 - Rails-to-Trails Conservancy


Seattle

Seattle Considering Expedited Design Review for Affordable Housing

An emergency order in April 2020 exempted affordable housing projects from the city of Seattle’s design review process. A new ordinance would allow affordable housing proposals there own path to approval for another two-year test period.

November 22 - The Center Square

Wood-framed apartment building under construction with red crane in background

America’s Housing Shortage Is More Dire Than We Thought

How much housing does America need to reduce soaring prices? Potentially more than anyone has estimated.

November 22 - The Atlantic

Central Subway Construction

Long Delayed, $1.95 Billion Central Subway Opens in San Francisco

San Francisco’s first north-south subway opened last weekend, extending service on Muni’s T light rail line.

November 22 - San Francisco Chronicle

Texas Capitol Building

Texas Legislator Proposes ‘District of Austin’

A conservative lawmaker wants to dissolve the state’s capital city, saying officials there have ‘failed the city’ with too-liberal policies.

November 22 - Houston Chronicle

Light rail train passing under apartments in Pasadena, California

Feds Award $13 Million for Transit Oriented Development

The Federal Transit Administration selected 19 projects aimed at boosting development, affordable housing, and connectivity to transit.

November 22 - Mass Transit

People sitting at outdoor dining tables next to bike lane protected by delineators and three-story buildings in Dublin, Ireland

Where Car-Free Streets Won Out

While some open streets experiments have met with backlash from community members, others were so successful they led to permanent changes.

November 22 - Next City

Aerial view of Alexandria, Virginia from over Potomac River

Alexandria Could Undertake Major Zoning Reform

The city is developing a plan to address housing affordability and equity and encourage more housing production.

November 22 - Alexandria Now

Palm Springs

New Scoping Plan Sets Carbon Neutrality Goal for California

California has long led the nation in efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. A law approved in 2006 still provides direction for the state’s efforts.

November 21 - Los Angeles Times

Blueish tinged shot looking up at modern glass office buildings

Office Conversions More Popular Than Ever

The adaptive reuse of non-residential buildings has soared in recent years as demand for office space drops and the housing shortage deepens.

November 21 - Smart Cities Dive

The former parking of Woodies restaurant is filled with empty picnic tables for dining during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Outdoor Dining Parklets No Longer Cheap and Easy

Cities in Santa Cruz County, California are making outdoor dining laws permanent, and some businesses are getting sticker shock at the extra cost of maintaining the pandemic-era expansion of al fresco dining.

November 21 - Lookout Santa Cruz

Musician playing guitar in front of outdoor seating and sidewalk vendors in Houston, Texas

Houston Development Aims to Create Hyper-Walkable, Micro-Living Neighborhood

The 17-acre Second Ward project has spurred both optimism for a more walkable city and concerns about displacement and gentrification.

November 21 - Houston Chronicle

Black car parked in bike lane

Ann Arbor Considers Bike Lane Blocking ‘Bounty’

The proposal would award people who report blocked bike lanes a percentage of resulting tickets. Critics say the city must address the underlying reasons for blocked bike lanes first.

November 21 - M Live

MARTA Bus

MARTA Changes Strategy on Clayton County Expansion, Opts for Bus Rapid Transit

The agency says BRT will cost less, be completed faster, and provide more frequent service than the commuter rail option.

November 21 - Mass Transit

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