The Daily Source of Urban Planning News
Seattle Remains Far From Its Vision Zero Goals
One Seattle councilmember is calling for more urgency in addressing the city’s rising traffic deaths.
Vacant Homes Wither Under Flawed Tax System
Inefficiencies in Baltimore's tax sale system and predatory investment practices are keeping homes vacant for years. But advocates could soon finally see meaningful change.
Proposed Chicago Ordinance Would Promote Affordable Housing Near Transit
The Equitable Transit-Oriented Development ordinance could advance equity and reduce car dependency, but the legislation faces resistance from some city council members.
New Loan Fund Will Help Mobile Home Residents Purchase Land
A Colorado law makes it easier for residents to buy the mobile home parks they live in to protect against sharp rent increases.
Indianapolis Revises Complete Streets Ordinance
After the death of a well-known Indianapolis cyclist and growing pedestrian death rates, the city expanded on its 2012 Complete Streets ordinance to highlight equity and renew efforts to make streets safer.
New York Law Eases Hotel Conversions
A state law signed by Governor Kathy Hochul loosens zoning restrictions to encourage the conversion of underutilized hotels into housing.
FEATURE
Twitter for Planners in 2022
Twitter is changing, not in the way Elon Musk wants it to, but it’s still perhaps the most useful social media platform for planners looking for education and engagement.
Seattle Prepares for Major Transit Disruptions
Sound Transit claims maintenance work is necessary to prepare for upcoming transit extensions, but critics question the need to make drastic service cuts.
Analysis: California’s Bumpy Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing Implementation
California took the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development's Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing (AFFH) rule and ran with it. Fully realizing the goals of the AFFH in California will require more work, according to a recent analysis.
Spokane To Implement Drought Response Ordinance
The city council voted to override a veto of the ordinance by the mayor, enacting new water conservation measures.
Californians Could Get a Tax Credit for Not Owning Cars
The bill’s sponsors say it’s only fair to extend tax relief to Californians who don’t own cars as the state aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and decrease driving.
Declining Water Levels Trigger ‘Stage 1’ Drought Response in Austin
The effects of the megadrought in the American Southwest are reaching into Texas.
Getting Medicaid to Pay for Pest Control
For children who have asthma, pests like cockroaches and mice can trigger allergic reactions and lead to recurring and expensive hospital visits. Could insurers save money by investing in housing-based improvements like pest management services?
Restorative Housing Policy: Can We Heal the Wounds of Redlining and Urban Renewal?
Our fair housing laws enshrine an approach that prohibits us from explicitly referring to race, even in programs intended to undo the harm caused by racism. Now restorative housing policy is attempting to directly confront this history.
Major U.S. Metro Areas in a Transition Period, According to Census Analysis
The nation's growth slowed from 2010 and 2020, according to 2020 Census data, and demographers are still trying to figure out what population trends mean for the future of country's major metropolitan areas.
Federal Program To Award $450 Million to University Transportation Centers
The program will fund research on mobility, congestion, safety, and other crucial transportation issues.
How Bike Racks Are Weaponized To Displace Unhoused People
In Portland, a set of mysteriously installed bike racks is prompting questions about their true purpose.
Short-Term Rental Regulations Up for Debate in Dallas
The Dallas city council is evaluating three proposals that would impose new regulations on short-term rentals in the city’s residential neighborhoods.
BLOG POST
Funding Urban Climate Justice
The Portland Clean Energy Community Benefits Fund stands out as an example of local grassroots climate action—in this case, the kind of action that makes other climate projects and programs possible.
The Housing Crisis in America’s Mobile Home Parks
With demand surging and rent costs rising sharply, mobile home parks are becoming unaffordable for their most vulnerable residents.
Smith Gee Studio
City of Charlotte
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
Transportation Research & Education Center (TREC) at Portland State University
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
Municipality of Princeton (NJ)
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.
