The Daily Source of Urban Planning News

Geothermal heat pump installed on wall next to water boiler

Houston Co-Housing Project to Use Geothermal Heating and Cooling

The development will also include communal kitchens, community gardens, and other shared spaces aimed at bringing neighbors together.

February 28 - Houston Chronicle

Elderly woman with short gray hair wearing blue surgical mask looks out window with wooden frame, a potted purple orchid on the windowsill

Study: Many American Seniors Can’t Afford to ‘Age in Place’

A lack of affordable housing and access to services and amenities make it difficult for many seniors to remain in their long-term homes or communities.

February 28 - Harvard Magazine

View of empty concourse at Grand Central Madison train station in New York City

Grand Central Madison Trains Fully Operational

The station is the nation’s first new major rail terminal in over half a century.

February 28 - Mass Transit

Highway Construction

FHWA Rescinds Guidance Discouraging Road Expansions

A decision from the Government Accountability Office spurred by Republican pushback led the agency to issue a new memo abandoning its previous stance, which ‘gently’ promoted maintenance work over new road construction.

February 28 - Politico

Westminster Mall facade, Orange County

Orange County Developers Eye Dying Malls for Housing, Mixed-Use

As indoor malls lose their luster, their properties offer convenient amenities and infrastructure perfectly suited for redevelopment into housing, parks, and retail.

February 27 - Los Angeles Times


Bus stop in downtown Los Angeles with billboard and no bench or shelter

Study: One-Quarter of L.A. County Bus Stops Equipped With Shelters

Bus riders in Los Angeles frequently lack protection from sun and extreme heat, with bus stops in some of the county’s hottest areas having the worst amenities.

February 27 - Smart Cities Dive

Pacific Coast

Huntington Beach Mounts Legal Challenge to State-Mandated Density

The Orange County beachfront community has had enough of the California State Legislature’s preemption of local zoning laws.

February 27 - LAist


Resilience Matters: Collective Action For Healthier Communities

The Island Press Urban Resilience Project (URP) has published a new, free "Resilience Matters" e-book that contains fascinating articles, op-eds, and interviews that provide practical guidance for collective action to build a fairer, greener future.

February 27 - Resilience Matters: Collective Action for Healthier Communities

Rendering of California high-speed rail train viaduct with arches

How Consultants Drive Up Transit Construction Costs

A new report suggests that an overreliance on external consultants by U.S. transit agencies and other government entities is hollowing out the public sector and raising the costs of transit projects.

February 27 - Slate

Aerial overhead view of single-family neighborhood with some houses under construction

How Single-Family Zoning Became Unaffordable for Families

Zoning regulations designed to boost the housing supply for families have contributed to a housing crisis that makes housing costs a major burden for many American families.

February 27 - Discourse Magazine

Aerial view of downtown Milwaukee, Wisconsin at sunset

Milwaukee Sets Sights on a Million Residents

Zoning reform will be key to the Milwaukee Mayor Cavalier Johnson’s vision to almost double the city’s population.

February 27 - Wisconsin Public Radio

Connecticut

BLOG POST

Land Use Reform Picks Up Momentum in Connecticut Again

Multiple statewide land use reform proposals are up for debate in the Nutmeg State. Which, if any, will become law?

February 27 - Mark H. McNulty

Rural Traffic

BLOG POST

Should We Continue to Ignore Induced Vehicle Travel Costs?

A recent Planetizen blog claims that urban highway expansions reduce traffic congestion and benefit everyone. That must be a joke! Most planners now recognize that such projects tend to be economically wasteful and contradict community goals.

February 26 - Todd Litman

Rendering of Revitalized Collision Bend Courtesy of Bedrock

Dan Gilbert’s Foray Into Cleveland Could Transform the City’s Waterfront

The public has been getting a close look at a proposed mega-project at Tower City Center in Cleveland that could eventually yield 3.5 million square feet of construction.

February 26 - Cleveland.com

Greenwich Village street with red brick buildings with green awnings and businesses on first floor

FEATURE

Livable Streets, Revisited

The updated version of Donald Appleyard’s 1982 book Livable Streets, written by Appleyard's son, dives even deeper into the ‘ecology of the street,’ proposing actionable solutions for the conflicts and problems facing urban environments today.

February 26 - Bruce Appleyard

British Columbia

How Much Will That Infrastructure Really Cost?

A new tool developed in British Columbia calculates the cost of infrastructure over the entire life cycle of the project.

February 26 - Strong Towns

Aerial view of Tesla GigaFactory under construction in Austin, Texas

Mr. Musk’s Neighborhood

With all apologies to the late great Fred Rogers.

February 24 - Curbed

An image of Washington D.C. with highways and the streaks from car head and tail lights in the foreground, and the Washington Monument in the background.

Federal Union: Remote Work Is Climate-Friendly

Federal workers are pushing back on a return to the office, citing the environmental benefits of eliminating daily commuting.

February 24 - The Washington Post

A view from above of the Oakland neighborhood in Pittsburgh.

Pittsburgh Moves Ahead With Zoning Changes for University-Adjacent Neighborhood

The implementation of a new master plan for the neighborhood of Oakland, home to the University of Pittsburgh, is moving forward despite controversy and a contentious community engagement process.

February 24 - Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

View of empty multi-lane freeway next to historic brick buildingin Richmond, Virginia

Virginia Receives Nearly $3 Million Reconnecting Communities Grant

Two Virginia cities were awarded federal funding aimed at improving connections between neighborhoods cut apart by freeway construction.

February 24 - WRIC

Post News

Top Books

An annual review of books related to planning.

Top Schools

The definitive ranking of graduate planning programs.

100 Most Influential Urbanists

The who's who of urbanism, according to Planetizen readers.

Urban Planning Creators You Should Know

A short list of voices on social, video, and podcasting platforms.

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.