The Daily Source of Urban Planning News

Land Trusts Put Commercial Real Estate in Community Hands
A growing movement to create community-owned commercial spaces could shift power away from institutional landlords.

The Eviction Crisis Continues as Federal Aid Dries Up
Eviction rates are rising as rents and inflation grow around the country and households struggle to keep up with rent payments.

SpaceX Removes Hyperloop Test Tube
After blocking sidewalk access for years, a tube segment in front of SpaceX’s Hawthorne office was removed at the city’s request, signaling a broader retreat from the project.

Crash Analysis Studio Brings ‘Standard of Care’ to Traffic Fatalities
A new tool from Strong Towns provides a model for comprehensively evaluating the causes behind deadly crashes and how to prevent them.

No Bragging Rights for Passing the Infrastructure Act?
You'd think the passage of the $1.2 trillion bipartisan infrastructure act would convey bragging rights for Democratic congress members facing competitive midterm elections today. Ironically, Republicans who opposed the bill are taking credit.

The Elections and Transportation
The Eno Center provides a list of transportation ballot measures to keep an eye on today.

California Governor to Cities: Homelessness is a Crisis. “Act Like it.”
Days before facing reelection, Governor Newsom rejected every California locality’s plan for addressing homelessness, calling the proposals inadequate in fighting the massive crisis in a state where over 100,000 people are unhoused.

Detroit Opens Segment of Joe Lewis Greenway
The newly opened segment, which features playground equipment and public lawns, is part of a 27.5 mile greenway that will loop through four cities.

Envisioning a Sustainable Future for Rikers Island
With the prison complex slated to close by 2027, the city has an opportunity to transform the island into a renewable energy and research hub.

Seattle Planning Commission Urges Reimagining of the City’s Streets
In a set of recommendations submitted to the city, the commission calls for revised land use and transportation policies that reclaim public space from cars and shift focus away from vehicle throughput to more pedestrian-oriented uses.

IndyGo Revisits the Bus System Redesign it Paused for the Pandemic
The IndyGo board of directors scrapped a bus system redesign planned for launch in June 2020 as part of its Covid-19 emergency response. The transit agency is now seeking public feedback on a new map with similar changes.

New Building Heights Approved for Austin
A zoning change has increase height limits from 308 feet to 420 feet for new buildings near the city’s MLS stadium.

Traffic Safety Declining in U.S., Bucking Global Trend
While other countries are seeing fewer road deaths, traffic violence in the United States is back on the rise.

New Online Data and Resource Library for Parks and Recreation
The National Recreation and Park Association has created a new virtual library offering a collection of publicly available databases and visualizations for park and recreation professionals and advocates.

Homelessness Among Veterans Drops Sharply
The number of unhoused vets fell by more than 50 percent since 2016, with significant gains made in the last two years.

BLOG POST
How to Include Community Ideas in Urban Development
Urban planners are obligated to sensible and efficient development, but can also take community ideas into account. By prioritizing concerns and thoughts and keeping the future in mind, planners can develop optimal urban communities.

Housing Out of Reach as Costs and Mortgage Rates Rise
The monthly costs—mortgage payments, property taxes, and insurance—of a typical low-end home in the Boston region has reached $3,600 a month. A typical home costs $5,000 a month.

Using Technology to Advance Park Planning
A variety of new tools can help with community engagement and data collection and analysis for park planning projects.

‘Reconnecting Communities’ Could Fund Highway Expansions
Applications to the program reveal a pattern of state agencies requesting funds for projects that perpetuate car-centric development with only nominal equity components.

Court Ruling a Setback for California’s ‘Builder’s Remedy’
A state court has ruled in favor of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors’ efforts to block a development project despite the state’s efforts to intervene.
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