The Daily Source of Urban Planning News

Washington

Washington Could Legalize Single-Staircase Buildings

Supporters of ‘point access blocks,’ which are common in Europe and other parts of the world, say the design maximizes living space and lowers the cost of construction.

February 8 - The Urbanist

View of downtown San Francisco from top of windy street at sunset with Coit Tower in distance

San Francisco Housing Plan Gets State Approval

The city cleared a major hurdle as its housing plan, which paves the way for 82,000 new homes by 2030, is certified by the state.

February 8 - KALW

Green Line, Los Angeles

Rail Transit Plans Would Connect L.A.’s South Bay to the Regional Rail System

Two new transit extensions promise several new routes for South Bay residents to access the Los Angeles region’s transit system.

February 8 - The Source

Texas Capitol Building

Property Appraisal Caps Unlikely to Pass in Texas

Critics of a proposal to limit property value increases to reduce homeowners’ property tax burden say the measure would destabilize the housing market and cause cities to raise other taxes to compensate.

February 8 - Houston Chronicle

Aerial view of residential development near beach in Oahu, Hawaii

Hawaii State Bills Could Limit or Expand Affordable Housing Law

Some legislators see a law that provides a zoning exemption to affordable housing builders as a necessary way to alleviate the housing crisis, while others worry about the impact of fast-tracked development on land zoned for conservation.

February 8 - Honolulu Civil Beat


Cleveland

Cleveland: The Nation’s Most Equitably Walkable City

A new study assesses which cities have the broadest access to walkable neighborhoods.

February 8 - Streetsblog USA

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

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Senior Manager Operations, Urban Planning

New York City School Construction Authority

Building Inspector

Village of Glen Ellyn

Manager of Model Development

Central Transportation Planning Staff/Boston Region MPO

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