Kaid Benfield takes a moment to reflect on the changing nature of the American household and how it will shape our cities in the coming years.

Ah, the holiday season – a time to gather around the table with loved ones, to keep old traditions alive, to make new ones as our families change and grow. Traditionally, the nuclear family has been painted as an anchor for these traditions, but Benfield poses some challenging questions for that particular, conventional view of American society.
"Does our storytale version of family life resemble real family life? Does it exclude people who are not part of or close to their families? Is the concept of 'family' changing, with implications for the planning profession? The answers are, of course, seldom; usually; and definitely."
According to recent reports from the U.S. Census Bureau, the American household is becoming an increasingly heterogeneous thing. Households composed of individuals, unmarried couples, and never-married single mothers are all on the rise, as two-parent families (especially those with working fathers and stay-at-home mothers) have followed a steady decline since the 1960s.
That's not to say, of course, that two-parent families have fallen into obscurity; they still represent a solid majority of all family households.
"Rather, we have a diverse and changing array of household types and circumstances that smart planners and businesses will seek to accommodate. The census data show that the growing parts of the housing market are nonfamily households, smaller households including people living alone, unmarried couples, single-parent households with kids, and older households."
FULL STORY: Meet the modern American family

The Slow Death of Ride Sharing
From the beginning, TNCs like Lyft and Uber touted shared rides as their key product. Now, Lyft is ending the practice.

In Most U.S. Cities, Archaic Laws Limit Roommate Living
Critics argue laws preventing unrelated adults from living in the same home fail to understand the modern American household.

Ten Signs of a Resurgent Downtown
In GeekWire, Chuck Wolfe continues his exploration of a holistic and practical approach to post-pandemic urban center recovery, anchored in local context and community-driven initiatives that promote livability, safety, and sustainability.

California Moves to Limit Autonomous Trucks
A bill passed by the State Assembly and moving on to the Senate would require autonomous semi trucks to have a trained human operator in the vehicle.

Minnesota Budget Includes Significant Transit Investments
After a contentious debate, the state legislature passed a budget that changes how transportation projects are funded and supports increased transit service in the state.

Proposed Land Value Tax Plan in Detroit
Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan proposes hiking property taxes for vacant land and buildings while lowering the rate for occupied homes and businesses in a split tax plan he contends will resolve many of Detroit's blight and high property tax woes.
San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency
City of Orange
City of Charlotte - Charlotte Area Transit
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
Montrose County
Wichita-Sedgwick County Metropolitan Area Planning Department
City of Lomita
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.