Chicago

Chicago Lake Michigan Trees

After the Scourge: Regions Struggle to Sustain Plantlife

The Chicago Region Trees Initiative provides a regional model for planting and protecting a sustainable natural environment in and around cities and communities.

April 29, 2016 - Chicago Tribune

Intersection

Bruce Rauner's Highway to a Shrinking Chicago

How a proposed expansion of Chicago's I-55 could further disperse Chicago's population.

April 13, 2016 - Casey Brazeal

$8 Billion 'Chicago Bypass' Freight Line Proposed

A private developer is pursuing a proposal that would invest $8 billion in a freight line in the Midwest.

April 11, 2016 - Associated Press

Welcome to Brooklyn

Urban Demographics: The New Elite

Economist Jed Kolko's recent study on how the lack in affordability of cities determines who's moving there, whose moving out, and how these changes are shaping cities and suburbs. His paper is the basis for several articles by leading urban writers.

April 6, 2016 - The Atlantic

How High is Too High for Transportation Sales Taxes?

Sales taxes are regressive, but unlike the gas tax, they bear no relationship to transportation. Should a November transportation ballot measure pass, sales taxes in three cities in the county of Los Angeles would exceed 10 percent.

April 4, 2016 - KPCC

Chicago's 'Current' Initiative: A Public-Private Partnership to Solve Water Challenges

Chicago has set lofty goals to become a leader in the next-generation technology and infrastructure of the global future.

March 31, 2016 - World Business Chicago

Study: There's Too Much Parking in Chicago

With underground parking spaces costing $37,000 and more to build in Chicago, it might come as a shock that a recent study found much more parking supply than demand around the city's apartment buildings.

March 31, 2016 - Chicago Tribune

Chicago El

Open Data Tool Boosts TOD in Chicago

A "TOD Calculator" developed by a Chicago non-profit promises to deliver quantifiable, digestible data on the community impacts of transit-oriented development.

March 30, 2016 - Data-Smart City Solutions

Chicago Mayor Emanuel Announces Park Plans to a Skeptical Audience

In a much-hyped address earlier this week. Mayor Rahm Emanuel chose the title "Building on Burnham" to describe his survey of the Chicago's ongoing and future plans to develop parks and open space.

March 25, 2016 - Chicago Tribune

Chicago Spire

Chicago's Never Built Skyscraper—Now a Hole in the Ground and a Pile of Dirt

The high-water marks showing where the last boom broke under the pressure of the Great Recession are still visible in cities all over the country. The Chicago Tribune recently checked on a particularly poignant example in Chicago.

March 24, 2016 - Chicago Tribune

Chicago Sign

A Black Exodus from Chicago

Black residents of Chicago are leaving for cities like Atlanta in massive numbers—away from the waves of crime tearing apart their hometown.

March 19, 2016 - Chicago Tribune

Accounting for Seasonal Variations in Transportation Mode

People use different transportation systems depending on the time of year, yet transportation planning rarely accounts for this seasonal variation.

March 12, 2016 - Metropolitan Planning Council

Chicago Blue Line

Chicago Moves Forward on O'Hare Express

This month, the city of Chicago will choose a team of engineers to brainstorm an express rail line to O'Hare Airport. The plan has come under criticism for diverting future resources away from transit in low-income areas.

March 10, 2016 - Chi.Streetsblog

Chicago Buys $1.3 Billion in New Rail Cars

The Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) will replace half its rail cars by the year 2020.

March 10, 2016 - Chicago Tribune

Chicago El

In Chicago: Faster Trains, Faster Trips

The Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) has eliminated 20 miles of slow zones since 2011.

February 28, 2016 - Chicago Now

Downtown, now

New Tool Accesses Chicago Open Data

OpenGrid gathers together Chicago's open data, letting users specify areas of focus on a map of the city. Users can also overlay different datasets on the same map.

February 27, 2016 - Chicago Magazine

Details of Chicago's Vista Tower—Soon to Be the Tallest Building Designed by a Woman

The Vista Tower is expected for completion in 2020, when it will become the world's tallest tower designed by a woman.

February 26, 2016 - The Wall Street Journal

Viaduct Removal Coming to Chicago's Western Avenue

Demolition of the Western Avenue viaduct will begin on March 1. An at-grade intersection will replace the old structure.

February 25, 2016 - City of Chicago

Loan Program Provides Gentrification Defense Near Chicago's 606 Bike Trail

That beautiful new bike lane, known as the 606, in Chicago has brought along with it local concerns about gentrification. The city and a local non-profit have teamed up to create a loan program to help current residents stay ahead of the curve.

February 23, 2016 - DNAinfo Chicago

Mayor Emanuel Pitches Expanded Density Bonuses in Downtown Chicago

Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel proposed an expansion of the city's Downtown Zoning District this week. The changes would allow taller buildings in a larger swath of the city.

February 19, 2016 - Chicago Tribune

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.

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.