The Daily Source of Urban Planning News

Rendering of aerial view of Memorial Park land bridge with Houston skyline in background

Op-Ed: Houston’s Memorial Park Centers Nature, Connectivity

The Houston Chronicle editorial board calls the newly redesigned park a “transformative” project, urging state transportation officials to take note.

February 12 - Houston Chronicle

People walking and biking on flat dirt trail next to San Francisco Bay with Golden Gate Bridge in background

City Dwellers Happiest in Parks, Angry at Transit Stops

An analysis of geotagged tweets reveals that city dwellers express positive emotions in green spaces and restaurants, while bus stops and transit elicited more frustrated reactions.

February 12 - Bloomberg CityLab

Outdoor parking lot full of cars

Cars Are Outgrowing Their Parking Spaces

As American vehicles grow taller, wider, and longer, more of them are having a hard time fitting in traditional parking spaces.

February 10 - Vice

Red brick buildings at Kalamazoo central train station

Michigan Cities to Improve Accessibility at Rail Stations

Four cities settled lawsuits citing a lack of ADA compliance at their intercity rail stations.

February 10 - M Live

Houston, Construction

Houston Mayor Halts Affordable Housing Deals

The mayor wants to examine the true benefits and impacts of a state law meant to boost affordable housing production that allows developers to exempt their projects from property taxes.

February 10 - Houston Chronicle


Close-up of black electric stove with red heated coil and person reaching out to press button

Study: Electric Stoves Improve Air Quality

Air pollutants in housing units that received electric stoves as part of a pilot program dropped sharply, signaling that switching to electric appliances has public health benefits as well as environmental ones.

February 10 - Next City

Self-driving white and red Cruise vehicle (Chevy Bolt body) in San Francisco with cyclist following behind

San Francisco Officials Detail Self-Driving Car ‘Mayhem’ in Letter to State

In the worst version of the autonomous future, San Francisco firefighters have to fight off a self-driving car that crashed into their equipment during a fire, prompting calls for stricter regulations.

February 9 - San Francisco Chronicle


Aerial view of large store with parking and houses with beach in background in Rancho Penasquitos, California

San Diego-Area EIR Ruling Could Slow Development

A court ruling that calls for environmental impact reviews to account for adjacent developments could significantly affect how government agencies and developers approach projects.

February 9 - The San Diego Union-Tribune

Outdoor dining patio in street in Echo Park neighborhood of Los Angeles, surrounded by white picket fence

Proposed Outdoor Dining Ordinance Could Decimate L.A.’s ‘Al Fresco’ Dining

Restaurant owners say the new regulations proposed by the city for installing and maintaining outdoor dining areas would put them out of reach for many businesses.

February 9 - Los Angeles Times

A map showing proposed zones for future development in the city of Rochester, New York.

APA Releases ‘Equity in Zoning’ Guide

The guide provides a framework for assessing and improving equity in housing policy.

February 9 - American Planning Association

"Bike Lane Closed" and "Utility Work Ahead" signs on Chicago bike lane

Chicago Bike Lane Enforcement Proposal Draws Criticism for not Addressing Structural Flaws

A new ordinance would use automated enforcement to ticket drivers who block bike lanes, but some bike advocates say the city is avoiding the harder work of improving its bike infrastructure.

February 9 - Block Club Chicago

Pittsburgh

Pittsburgh Adaptive Reuse Program Accepting Applications

The city has issued a request for proposals to support projects converting downtown office buildings to affordable housing.

February 9 - Smart Cities Dive

Passengers inside wood-paneled TECO streetcar in Tampa, Florida

Florida Supreme Court Voids County Tax That Included Transit Funding

A proposal from Gov. DeSantis would require Hillsborough County to return revenue collected from the tax to residents who paid it and bar the county from using any remaining funds on transit projects.

February 9 - Tampa Bay Times

View of New York City apartment buildings.

Appeals Court Decision Favors New York City Tenants

The court ruled against landlords challenging the city’s rent stabilization laws as unconstitutional. The landlords plan to take their case to the Supreme Court.

February 9 - Bloomberg Law

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

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