The Daily Source of Urban Planning News

California

How Public Spaces Can Better Support Houseless Communities

Project for Public Spaces urges seven tangible actions for public space managers to support unhoused people during the coronavirus pandemic right now, and moving forward.

April 30 - Project For Public Spaces

East Harlem

Urbanism Pays the Price for High COVID Death Toll in New York and New Jersey

Opponents of dense housing and public transit have seized on the disproportionate death toll originating from the epicenter of the nation's coronavirus outbreak. Is it time for the leaders of New York and New Jersey to admit they acted late?

April 30 - Slate

Boston houses

The COVID-19 Housing Crisis and the Housing Affordability Crisis Have the Same Solutions

The solutions for the U.S. housing crisis caused by the economic wreckage of COVID-19 will also provide relief in the future, according to this article.

April 30 - Sightline Institute

New York Subway

Closure Averted, New York's L Train Repairs Also Finish Under Budget, Ahead of Schedule

A perhaps surprising measure of success has been achieved by the New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority.

April 30 - Curbed New York

Utah

Criticism for Plans for Massive Inland Port Plan Near the Great Salt Lake

The Utah Inland Port Authority has moved forward quickly with a plan to build a massive inland port complex, despite the objections of local officials in Salt Lake City.

April 29 - High Country News


Seattle Light Rail Construction

30 Health and Safety Requirements Determine Which Construction Projects Can Restart in Washington

New construction projects are still on hold, but the state of Washington is allowing some projects to restart under strict health and safety guidelines.

April 29 - The Urbanist

Atlanta Scooter

Atlanta Lowers Speed Limits Citywide

Vision Zero arrives in one of the country's most car-centric big cities.

April 29 - Atlanta Intown


Communicative Arts Academy: Rebuilding Compton for Artists and Community Life

In the 1960s-70s, a group of artists called the Compton Communicative Arts Academy renovated buildings across Compton and transformed vernacular, underutilized structures into venues for and objects of art.

April 29 - KCET Artbound

Open Space Trails

A Love Letter to the Bicycle

Riding a bicycle is not only a coping mechanism; it's also a way to protect ourselves during the coronavirus pandemic.

April 29 - The Star

Lithuania

Public Spaces Converted to Open-Air Cafes to Make Space for Social Distance

The Lithuanian capital city of Vilnius has taken an incredible step in reopening for business while requiring strict social distancing practices.

April 29 - The Guardian

Washington D.C.

D.C. Comp Plan Update Includes 'Gentle Density' in Single-Family Residential Neighborhoods

A lot of long-term planning is underway in Washington, D.C.

April 29 - Urban Turf

Hidden New York City

Massive Affordable Housing Effort in New York Faces Coronavirus Reckoning

A controversial but sweeping housing initiative in New York City, one of Mayor Bill de Blasio's signature initiatives, had a full head of steam before the coronavirus. Now it's facing drastic cuts.

April 29 - Politico

Chicago River

BLOG POST

COVID-19 and Big, Dense Cities That Aren't New York

As in metropolitan New York, big, dense cities don't always suffer from coronavirus to a greater extent than their car-oriented suburbs.

April 28 - Michael Lewyn

great lakes

Report Faults the EPA for Lack of Environmental Enforcement in Great Lakes States

A report by the Environmental Law and Policy Center (ELPC) shows a decrease in environmental enforcement in six Midwest states. The ELPC calls for increased funding. The EPA states the claims errors in data reporting are responsible for the drop.

April 28 - Urban Milwaukee

Wilshire Grand

A High-Rise Condo and Hotel Proposed for Downtown Los Angeles

A trendy new Downtown Los Angels skyscraper would be home to a 160-room hotel and 319 condominium units if an Australian developer moves forward with plans.

April 28 - Los Angeles Times

Clear-Sky Flood

Where Cities Flout Flood Protection Rules, the Public Still Subsidizes Insurance

An investigation by the New York Times reveals the ongoing neglect of flood considerations in developing parts of the United States—practice that comes with large costs to the taxpaying public.

April 28 - The New York Times

Infrastructure Investment

BLOG POST

How Local Projects Could Spur COVID-19 Economic Recovery

While some cities and states have prohibited all construction during the first few months of the pandemic, other locations are leaning on construction projects as a source of employment and improvements during tough times.

April 28 - Kayla Matthews

Hurricane Harvey Flooding

First Climate Action Plan Released in Houston

The planning legacy of Hurricane Harvey is becoming more clear in Houston, after the city released its first-ever Houston Climate Action Plan, just months after releasing the Resilient Houston plan.

April 28 - Houston Chronicle

Group Walk

Jane's Walks Adjusts to Social Distancing

The Jane's Walks festival take place the first weekend of May in cities all over the world. In 2020, social distancing will require a different format for the citizen-led group walk event.

April 28 - The Star

2019 National Planning Conference

Racial Equity, Starting With Planning Departments

A recent journal article argues for planners to lead on racial equity.

April 28 - Journal Of The American Planning Association

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.