The Daily Source of Urban Planning News

Los Angeles, California

Judge's Ruling Will Force L.A. to Reckon With Skid Row

A federal judge has ruled that the city and county of Los Angeles, home to the nation's largest population of people experiencing homelessness, must overcome the development delays that have prevented the creation of new supportive housing.

April 21 - Los Angeles Times

COVID-19 Pandemic

Pandemic to End in California on June 15, Governor Decides

Gov. Gavin Newsom has foreseen the end of the pandemic that has killed over 61,000 Californians and has taken a page from his Republican counterpart in the second most populous state by setting a date when all restrictions will be lifted.

April 21 - San Francisco Chronicle

Rural Community

Change Would Expand the Definition of Rural to Cover More of the Country

Details on a proposed change of definition for Metropolitan Statistical Areas that would greatly expand the area of the country deemed rural.

April 21 - The Washington Post

Desert Rain

Drought Takes Hold of the American West

The megadrought continues, with contingency plans differing by location.

April 21 - CNN

Birmingham, Alabama

Federal Stimulus Offers a Chance for Local Reinvention

Cities around the country are making big plans for economic relief funding from the federal government.

April 21 - The Washington Post


Cambridge Massachusetts

The Thinking Behind Cambridge's Affordable Housing Overlay

A podcast discussion with Cambridge Mayor Sumbul Siddiqui details how and why the Massachusetts city become a planning trendsetter by adopting an Affordable Housing Overlay earlier this year.

April 21 - Land Matter Podcast

Lower Manhattan

FEATURE

Pre-Existing Conditions

Vital urbanism and a prescription for the post-pandemic city.

April 21 - Dan Kaplan


San Carlos, California

Outdoor Dining a Victim of its Own Success in One Wealthy Bay Area City

The California city has received complaints about overcrowding even as the program sought to create more outdoor public space during the pandemic.

April 20 - Climate Magazine

Boston SUburbs

Opinion: Regional Growth Requires Regional Planning

To avoid the pitfalls of disconnected, car-centric suburbs, local governments must proactively plan for sustainable development in growing areas.

April 20 - CommonWealth Magazine

Housing Development

Op-ed: How to Separate Truth from BS in Housing Policy

Suddenly everyone and their mother has a housing plan. But not all housing plans are created equal.

April 20 - Next City

Washington, D.C. Historic District

Balancing Aesthetics and Affordability

Policies too narrowly focused on design can drive up the cost of construction and prevent the development of affordable housing.

April 20 - Slate

Bus Lane New York City

Opinion: Federal Infrastructure Plan Must Prioritize Transit Investment

The Biden administration must combine increased funding with policies that mandate and encourage transit-oriented planning.

April 20 - Bloomberg CityLab

Robert Weaver Building

Choice Neighborhoods Grants Finalists Announced

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development's grant funding program that integrates public housing investments with the surrounding neighborhood is moving ahead.

April 20 - U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development

Southeaster Wisconsin

Foxconn, Wisconsin Strike a New Deal

A new chapter in the cautionary tale.

April 20 - Associated Press via Chicago Tribune

Vaccination

BLOG POST

Light at the End of the Tunnel Reveals the Work to Come

The latest edition of an ongoing compendia of articles trying to make sense of the deep uncertainties of the pandemic—and what it all means for the future of cities.

April 20 - James Brasuell

Idaho

2021 Most Endangered Rivers List Highlights Environmental Justice

The annual list of endangered rivers created by American Rivers has always documented pollution and other threats like dam construction, but this year, the confluence of water and systemic racism warrants extra attention.

April 19 - American Rivers

Nashville

Op-Ed: Don't Reverse the Progress Made by 'Pandemic Streets'

In many cities, the public realm saw a drastic shift towards pedestrian-oriented infrastructure. The L.A. Times editorial board argues we should keep it that way.

April 19 - Los Angeles Times

Downtown Los Angeles

Pre-Fab Tiny Home Village Takes Shape in L.A.

Along with communal showers and bathrooms, the village will also include laundry, storage facilities, and offices for social service providers.

April 19 - The Eastsider LA

Cincinnati Over-the-Rhine

Uneven Redevelopment on Cincinnati's Vine Street

While the southern end of the thoroughfare is seeing rapid redevelopment and gentrification, the northern end has yet to reap any benefits from the nearby projects.

April 19 - WCPO

Los Angeles, California

Making Park Plans a Reality

Los Angeles County implements equity-focused community parks and recreation plans.

April 19 - Parks & Recreation Magazine

Post News
Senior Planner

City of Thousand Oaks

Community Development Director

City of Wisconsin Rapids

Professor of Urban Planning

Harvard University Graduate School of Design

Top Books

An annual review of books related to planning.

Top Schools

The definitive ranking of graduate planning programs.

100 Most Influential Urbanists

The who's who of urbanism, according to Planetizen readers.

Urban Planning Creators You Should Know

A short list of voices on social, video, and podcasting platforms.

FREE Course: Walkable City 1: Why Walkability?

After describing his path towards focusing on walkability as the essence of good planning, Jeff Speck marches through his five principal reasons for making more walkable places.

Reinventing Malls: Planning Alchemy—Turning Gray Fields Into Gold

The course focuses on the opportunities and imperatives that shape reinvention of mall sites.