The Daily Source of Urban Planning News
In Praise of Single-Staircase Construction
U.S. building codes mandate two staircases in multi-story buildings, but some argue this requirement reduces affordability and encourages wasteful, uninspired design.
Lower Manhattan Climate Resilience Plan Released
The Financial District and Seaport Climate Resilience Master Plan will extend the shoreline in Lower Manhattan by up to 200 feet.
FEATURE
The Most Popular Articles on Planetizen in 2021
The most-read news, features, blogs, and Planopedia posts on Planetizen in 2021.
Coalition Calls for Updated Federal Crash Test Standards
Revising federal crash test standards and updating test dummies to mimic a wider variety of bodies could save thousands of lives each year.
Omicron Helps to Shatter Infection Records
The rapidly spreading Omicron variant and its viral competitor, the Delta variant, are setting new case records globally and in the U.S.
Ten Urban Success Stories From 2021
Still battling a global pandemic and its widespread economic and social effects, cities nevertheless made progress in some unexpected ways.
Fighting Climate Change in the Kitchen
With more cities banning the use of natural gas in new buildings, cooks are discovering the benefits of electric appliances.
Mapping Injustice Project Receives Grant to Fight Housing Inequality
A 'transformative' grant will help a University of Minnesota think tank foster conversations to address structural housing inequality in Minneapolis.
Federal Government to Enforce Accessibility Guidelines
Local agencies will soon be tasked with adhering to federal right-of-way accessibility rules: comprehensive guidelines for accessible streets and sidewalks.
Seattle Neighborhood Calls for Highway Removal
South Park becomes the latest community to call for the removal of a highway segment that has cut off the neighborhood from local amenities for decades.
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Department Launched in San Antonio
San Antonio has set goals for diversity and inclusion in all services by establishing a new Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Department.
Georgia Offers Massive Incentive Package to EV Manufacturer
Critics question the wisdom of giving Georgia's largest-ever incentive package to electric car manufacturer Rivian to secure a new factory and job training center in East Atlanta.
Finalists Selected for Governors Island Climate Research Center
Four teams will submit detailed proposals for a new climate research and education center on New York's Governors Island.
FEATURE
Year in Review: The Stories That Defined Urban Planning in 2021
Part two (of two) of Planetizen's review of 2021 collects the biggest stories and storylines of the year from the wide world of planning.
Amazon Plans Further Expansion
On the heels of building its HQ2 facility in Arlington, Amazon continues to expand its hubs in cities spread out across the country.
Remote Workers: The New Supercommuters
Workers who moved away from their jobs during the pandemic are adjusting to longer commutes as employers start asking them to return to the office.
Your Date With Omicron
“All of us have a date with omicron,” Dr. Amesh Adalja, a senior scholar at the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security, told The Associated Press on Dec. 20, adding "...and the best way you can encounter this is to be fully vaccinated.”
Vision Zero Projects Reduce Carnage in Select Corners of Austin
Vision Zero safety improvements at High Injury Roadways and implementation and Leading Pedestrian Intervals are reducing crashes in Austin. The city has a long way to go to achieve Vision Zero.
Opinion: Keep Outdoor Dining Without Thwarting Creativity
While New York City's effort to make its outdoor dining program permanent is a welcome reimagining of public space, some worry that regulations will reduce design diversity and increase costs for small restauranteurs.
Pittsburgh Becomes First 'Dark Sky' City in Eastern U.S.
As evidence showing the benefits of dark skies builds, Pittsburgh becomes the first eastern American city to enact a dark sky policy.
New York City School Construction Authority
Village of Glen Ellyn
Central Transportation Planning Staff/Boston Region MPO
Chaddick Institute at DePaul University
Institute for Housing and Urban Development Studies (IHS)
City of Grandview
Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada
Toledo-Lucas County Plan Commissions
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.
