The Daily Source of Urban Planning News

Spanish Revival building in Los Angeles, former mortuary turned apartments with two people walking and one biking by in front.

Developer Transforms Historic LA Mortuary Into 122 Senior Housing Units

The former Pierce Brothers Mortuary served as a church before being partially destroyed in a fire in 2018.

October 30 - The New York Times

Damaged white trailer from tornado.

Consumer Protection Advocates Raise Alarms About Climate Insurance Discrimination That “Mimics Redlining”

As homeowners’ insurance companies and lenders increasingly factor climate risk into their business strategies, communities may see a resurgence of racial and economic exclusion that mimics redlining. But our hands aren’t tied.

October 30 - Shelterforce Magazine

Wrigley Field, Chicago with two white police SUVs parked on street outside with people walking around.

Illinois Legislators Propose new Taxes on Billionaires and Entertainment Venues to Fund Transit

The plan to shore up Chicago-area transit agencies would raise $1.5 billion for the state’s transit networks.

October 30 - Chicago Tribune

Walkable red brick street with restaurant patios and small shops in Charlottesville, Virginia.

Charlottesville Settles the Legal Dispute That has Left it Without a Zoning Code Since June

The city plans to fund two impact studies to settle the suit and move forward with enacting its 2023 zoning plan update.

October 30 - Smart Cities Dive

Construction on Hudson River Gateway tunnel in New York City.

Trump's Threat to “Terminate” NYC Tunnel Project Could Kill the Penn Station Redevelopment's Purpose

The Hudson River tunnels are a key rail connection between the Northeast and the South.

October 30 - The American Prospect


Woman wearing red blindfold sitting at white table typing on silver laptop.

BLOG POST

When “Neutrality” Becomes Blindness: The Perils of Censoring Race, Class, and Gender Data in Urban Planning

Political pushback against DEI is igniting right at the moment that AI is rising in urban planning. If we don’t fight it, the results could be catastrophic.

October 30 - Tom Sanchez

Black 18-wheeler truck being stopped by inspectors in black jackets and yellow safety vests.

USDOT Threatens to Bar California From Issuing Trucking Licenses

In the wake of three fatal crashes involving immigrant truck drivers, Transportation Secretary Duffy says the department could pull $160 million in funding and bar the state from issuing new licenses.

October 29 - Insurance Journal


Rendering of four-story black and white modern apartment building in Los Angeles.

LA Housing Authority Buys 30-Unit Apartment Building for Supportive Housing

The Koreatown building will offer housing as well as healthcare services and case management.

October 29 - KTLA

Two people on loaded touring bicycles on gravel Albany Post Old Trail.

The Five Oldest Roads in America Still in Use

The history of the United States can be told through its roadways.

October 29 - Jalopnik

A helicopter taking off from a concrete helipad next to the East River in Manhattan.

Manhattan Waterfront Parking Lot to Become Public Park

A lot that has served as parking for decades will add a much-needed public amenity to the East River waterfront.

October 29 - StreetsBlog NYC

Close-up on gold vintage elevator indicator with 21 floors and 13th floor missing.

BLOG POST

The Missing 13th Floor: How Ancient Fears Influence Modern Architecture

If you’ve ever looked closely at the elevator panel of a high-rise hotel or residential building, you’ve likely noticed something missing: a button for the 13th floor.

October 29 - Diana Ionescu

Person texting while at the wheel of a Tesla vehicle implying self-driving features.

California Outlaws ‘Defeat Devices’ That Trick Cars into Self-driving

The law bars drivers from using steering wheel weights and other devices designed to bypass driver monitoring systems.

October 28 - Jalopnik

Silver Los Angeles Metro Silver Line bus.

California TOD Law Gives NIMBYs a new Weapon Against Bus Lanes

A new law that allows rezoning for higher density near transit lines is fueling opposition to a Burbank bus rapid transit line.

October 28 - CALmatters

Red and white "homes not hotels" signs in front yards in Dallas, Texas.

Dallas Pleads with Supreme Court to Allow Short-term Rental Ban During World Cup

The city wants the state’s Supreme Court to reverse a decision by a lower court that prevents the city from enforcing a 2023 ban on short-term rentals.

October 28 - WFAA

Dense historic neighbrohood with colorful multistory buildings in Richmond, Virginia at golden hour.

Data Centers are Crushing Communities. One Virginia County is Changing That.

Henrico County’s innovative approach uses tax revenue from data centers to fund affordable housing.

October 28 - Urban Institute

White Chicago transit buses at an intersection.

BLOG POST

More Buses, Fewer Riders? Thoughts on the Ridership vs Coverage Tradeoff

Transit has to be useful, to be useful.

October 28 - Joshua Woods

Silver Vancouver SkyTrain transit car installed on soundstage.

Retired Vancouver SkyTrain Car Hits Hollywood

As SkyTrain retires its first fleet of cars, the agency is seeking innovative ways to repurpose the roughly 130 first-generation cars.

October 27 - TransLink

Two transit police officers standing on outdoor train platform in Denver with white light rail train approaching.

Denver Launches Transit Detective Bureau

The new transit detective bureau will investigate crimes that occur on RTD property.

October 27 - Mass Transit

Google Street View of former hospital building in Buffalo, NY being demolished.

Buffalo Hospital to Become 80 Housing Units

The former Millard Fillmore Gates Circle hospital building is part of a larger development aimed at bringing affordable housing to western New York.

October 27 - WKBW.com

Brown windowless wall in Security Square Mall in Baltimore, Maryland.

Baltimore Grants Affordable Housing Developer 30-Year Tax Break

Some housing advocates say the $16.5 million deal’s 10% affordable housing requirement is insufficient and that incentives shouldn’t be given out on a case by case basis.

October 27 - CBS News

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.