Atlanta

Worker painting metal roof white.

New Atlanta Law Requires ‘Cool Roofs’

Painting roofs with reflective coatings can significantly reduce indoor temperatures and improve energy efficiency, sometimes at a lower cost than traditional roof treatments.

July 15, 2025 - Next City

Colorful sunset view over Chattahoochee River in Georgia.

Comment: EPA Cuts will Send Atlanta Back to Eye-burning Ozone, Lung-damaging Smog, and Raw Sewage in the Chattahoochee River

A veteran political journalist takes stock of the hard-earned ground Georgia stands to lose with slashed environmental protection.

April 14, 2025 - Georgia Recorder

Bird's eye view of large apartment complex under construction next to four-lane road near Atlanta, Georgia.

How Atlanta Built 7,000 Housing Units in 3 Years

The city’s comprehensive, neighborhood-focused housing strategy focuses on identifying properties and land that can be repurposed for housing and encouraging development in underserved neighborhoods.

April 9, 2025 - Governing

Blue Atlanta streetcar on street in downtown Atlanta, Georgia.

Atlanta Changes Beltline Rail Plan

City officials say they are committed to building rail connections, but are nixing a prior plan to extend the streetcar network.

March 14, 2025 - Saporta Report

Aerial view of the Atlanta Beltline walking and biking trail with mid-rise buildings on either side.

Beltline Surpasses Annual Affordable Housing Goal

The Atlanta Beltline agency is actively working to prevent the displacement of longtime residents along the trail system, where property values are rising rapidly.

February 26, 2025 - Axios

MARTA train tracks run in the middle of a six lane highway with an overpass and the Buckhead city skyline of skyscrapers in the background.

MARTA Adds Train Service for NYE Events

The Atlanta transit agency will run additional trains to accommodate traffic to sporting and cultural events downtown over the New Year’s holiday.

December 27, 2024 - 11 Alive

Close-up of MARTA logo on side of white city bus in Atlanta, Georgia.

Atlanta Transit Officials Call for Traffic Cameras to Enforce Bus-Only Lanes

MARTA says bus-mounted cameras would be a more effective way to keep bus lanes clear and make upcoming bus rapid transit lines run smoothly and reliably.

December 16, 2024 - The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

MARTA subway train at platform in Atlanta, Georgia.

Atlanta City Leaders Call on MARTA to Expand Weekend Service

The city is set to host multiple major sporting events in the next several years, prompting calls for expanded transit service on weekends and to popular areas.

November 28, 2024 - Next City

Red Light

Banning Right Turns on Red: Lessons From Atlanta

How road safety activists passed a law that could make roads much safer.

October 24, 2024 - Streetsblog USA

Paved Atlanta Beltline trail segment next to street with bike and pedestrian crossing sign and 30 mph speed limit sign.

Atlanta Beltline Expands Westside Trail and Redevelops Rail Corridor

The Beltline is expanding the Westside Trail with new sections, including the Kudzu Trail, while also redeveloping abandoned rail corridors, with completion expected between 2025 and 2027.

October 21, 2024 - WSBTV

Birds-eye view of Atlanta skyline and highway running through the middle of it.

Atlanta: An Urban Planner's Guide to the City

The nation’s first majority-Black city, Atlanta, has a rich identity steeped in African American culture and a sprawling footprint shaped by a complex history of the enterprising ‘Atlanta spirit,’ race relations, and segregation.

September 19, 2024 - Mary Hammon

Google Maps street view of new office tower in Atlanta, Georgia.

Fourth Ward Project Aims for Sustainability on Atlanta's Beltline

A new megaproject hopes to bring new life to a former industrial site.

September 5, 2024 - Metropolis

For rent sign with blurry house in background

DOJ Investigating Corporate Landlords for Criminal Conspiracy

Lawsuits allege corporate landlords used property management software RealPage to cooperatively raise rents. The impact on the Atlanta rental market appears to be broad enough that the Feds are investigating for potential criminal conspiracy.

June 9, 2024 - Popular Information

Aerial view of downtown Seattle, Washington.

Top 5 US Cities for Office-to-Residential Conversions

As more and more cities look to adapt vacant office buildings into homes, a new analysis from Urban Institute says some cities will benefit more than others.

June 7, 2024 - Urban Wire

Green freeway signs for Atlanta and Atlanta airport on Interstate 85.

MARTA To Add BRT Connection to Airport

A new rapid bus line in Atlanta will link residents to one of the nation’s busiest airports.

May 16, 2024 - Urbanize Atlanta

Aerial view of Atlanta BeltlLine greenway with yellow umbrellas

Atlanta Could Ban Data Centers Along Beltline

City officials say the warehouse-style centers don’t support the Beltline overlay district’s goal to foster pedestrian-oriented development.

May 12, 2024 - Governing

Vacant corner lot in Atlanta, Georgia surrounded with low orange plastic construction fencing.

Atlanta Infill Project Takes Inspiration From Dutch Design

A residential development includes a central courtyard designed to be shared by pedestrians and cars.

April 17, 2024 - Urbanize Atlanta

MARTA public transit train station in downtown Atlanta, Georgia.

Atlanta Announces Four New MARTA Stations

The city’s Beltline will gain a new connection to heavy rail.

March 27, 2024 - The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Blue Atlanta streetcar on street on sunny day in Atlanta, Georgia.

Atlanta’s Transit Past, Present, and Future

The city once had an extensive streetcar system. Can it revive public transit once again?

March 10, 2024 - Atlanta Magazine

Aerial view of Atlanta BeltLine trail with colorful outdoor patio umbrellas and buildings.

Atlanta Eliminates Parking Mandates Near BeltLine

Developments near the city’s popular greenway will no longer be subject to minimum parking requirements to make way for more effective development.

February 8, 2024 - Urbanize Atlanta

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.

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.