The Daily Source of Urban Planning News

The Slow Streets Reckoning
Slow streets programs provided a quick short-term solution and paved the way for some permanent street closures and realignments. Now, these programs are getting a second look as community groups react to the changes.

New Urban Reforestation Program Launched to Address Shade Equity Disparities
Los Angeles County partners with The Tree Pledge and the Radical Resilience Lab to strategically plant trees where they are most needed.

How Widespread Is the Coronavirus in Your Metro Area?
Do you know the COVID risk level where you live, work and play? Many COVID data trackers provide county and state-level data, but metropolitan area data had been more difficult to find until now, thanks to Covid Act Now.

$1.4 Billion Housing Redevelopment Project Moves Forward in Boston
The 80-year-old Bunker Hill public housing complex will be replace according to a plan approved recently by the Boston Planning and Development Agency.

Massive, Expensive Redevelopment of Midtown Manhattan Proposed
New York Governor Cuomo's State of the State speeches last week included an ambitious proposal for a large-scale redevelopment project on Manhattan's west side, adjacent to Penn Station.

Pedestrian-Friendly Makeover of a Busy Toronto Street Stops Short of the Car-Free Ideal
The yongeTOmorrrow project is heading toward the finish line with widespread support from advocates, but a few want the plan to go one step further.

19 of 1,036 Majority-Black ZIP Codes Are 'Prosperous,' Report Says
The Economic Innovation Group has released its 2020 Distressed Communities Index.

Shifting the Fair Housing Narrative
The nation's fair housing policies are built on a foundation of assumptions that neglects the community and culture of low-income neighborhoods.

Chicago DOT Strategic Plan Update Centers Mobility Justice
The city, which has been slow to implement complete streets initiatives during the pandemic, promises closer collaboration with community groups to advance equity in transportation.

Lawsuit Challenges Zoom Hearings on Gowanus Rezoning Plan
Planning departments relying on online public hearing processes will want to keep monitor this lawsuit in New York City.

U.S. Car Prices Cross the $40,000 Threshold
Car prices have been going for a while, but even by recent standards a December jump in car prices is likely to be an outlier.

Students Help With Harbor Planning in Hawaii
University of Hawaii graduate students explored the potential for improvements to the Ala Wai Small Boat Harbor, an important coastal public space in Honolulu.

Resources for Safe, Convenient Pedestrian and Bike Infrastructure
Despite the stated goals of state and federal agencies to encourage active modes of transportation, there's still a long way to go to make sure that all cities and communities have safe, convenient sidewalks and bike lanes.

Public Gardens as Places of Hope and Healing
Descanso Gardens in Los Angeles County offered the "Wishing Tree" for visitors to share their wishes and hopes for 2021. The public response was overwhelming, with over 10,000 notes hung on the tree in a matter of weeks.

How Working From Home Is Changing Where We Live
Remote workers are flocking to small, amenity-rich towns in the West, changing their social and economic landscape.

Health Care Institutions Must Acknowledge Their Role in Neighborhood Change
If those in health care seek to develop new ways to help patients stay in their homes, they must also find ways to temper how they affect communities in which they reside.

More Cities Legalizing 'Granny Flats'
Accessory Dwelling Units continue to gain steam as one approach for increasing affordability, but experts caution that housing affordability requires broader solutions.

Report: Lackluster Bike Parking Reduces Cycling and Undermines Public Safety
Widely available, secure bike parking can go a long way toward encouraging cycling and keeping New Yorkers safe, a new report says.

PLANOPEDIA
What Is Gentrification?
Gentrification is a process of neighborhood change, usually resulting from an influx of relatively wealthy, white residents to a neighborhood. But that definition, and the controversies that follow, vary greatly by location, and there is no universally accepted definition of the term.

Draft Los Angeles River Master Plan Revealed
A new draft Los Angeles Master Plan, created by Frank Gehry's firm, lays out a more active, natural vision for the river, in addition to addressing concerns about displacement in communities along the river corridor.
Pagination
City of Moorpark
City of Tustin
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
Transportation Research & Education Center (TREC) at Portland State University
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.