Chicago

Chicago, Illinois

Chicago's Disappearing Multi-Unit Buildings

The city is seeing a rapid loss of its signature two-, three-, and four-flat residential buildings, which historically served as affordable housing for working-class families.

May 20, 2021 - Block Club Chicago

Chicago Bikers

Chicago to Install More Protected Bike Lanes

Chicago's transportation commissioner says the city's transportation department is exploring options for keeping cars out of bike lanes, such as raised curbs.

May 19, 2021 - Chicago Sun-Times

University of Chicago

The Miseducation of Cities

A review of the provocative new book by Davarian L. Baldwin, In the Shadow of the Ivory Tower.

March 22, 2021 - Josh Stephens

Six Corners

Chicago Planning Department Rejects 'Overparked' Six Corners Proposal

In a decision that is still impossible in most of the country, Chicago's Department of Planning and Development is requiring housing and reduced surface parking to approve a retail project.

February 24, 2021 - Streetsblog Chicago

Chicago Bike 2015 Plan

Chicago DOT Strategic Plan Update Centers Mobility Justice

The city, which has been slow to implement complete streets initiatives during the pandemic, promises closer collaboration with community groups to advance equity in transportation.

January 18, 2021 - Streetsblog Chicago

Chicago, Illinois

Chicago's Esteemed Architecture Critic, Blair Kamin, Moves On

One of two architecture critics working at major daily newspapers to receive the Pulitzer Prize for Criticism, Blair Kamin announced his retirement last week via Twitter.

January 11, 2021 - Blair Kamin via Twitter

CTA El Train

One Big Step Forward, One Small Step Back for Chicago Red Line Extension

A big approval and a significant delay—but otherwise 2020 has been a positive year for plans to extend the Chicago Transit Authority's Red Line by 5.6 miles to the south.

December 28, 2020 - Chicago Sun-Times

Garbage

Fighting No-Fault Evictions With a Just Cause Ordinance

Despite a statewide eviction moratorium, thousands of people have been evicted in Chicago since March. A coalition of housing advocates is proposing a just cause ordinance that would halt no-fault evictions.

December 20, 2020 - Shelterforce Magazine

Chicago, Illinois

'Anti-Conversion Ordinance' Considered in Chicago

New zoning controls would make it harder to convert multi-unit residential buildings into single-family homes to prevent displacement in single-family neighborhoods in Chicago.

December 4, 2020 - The Daily Line

Lake Michigan

Lessons From the Viral Video of Lake Michigan Taking Out a Bike Commuter

Climate change will only increase the frequency of incidents like the one captured by a television news station in Chicago earlier this week.

December 3, 2020 - Bicycling

CTA Red Line

Red Line Extension to Chicago's Far South Side Making Steady Progress

A transit extension envisioned since the 1950s is this year making steady, tangible progress in the Windy City.

November 15, 2020 - WTTW

CTA

New Approach to Capital Investment Expected in Chicago

Mayor Lori Lightfoot is readying a new capital investment plan that will spur the local economy and change the way the city apportions its infrastructure funding.

November 8, 2020 - Chicago Sun-Times

Moody Bible Institute

Massive Residential Development Revealed in Chicago's Near North Side

New details have emerged on a project the Chicago Tribune is calling this one of Chicago's most ambitious development proposals in decades.

November 1, 2020 - Chicago Tribune

Amtrak 2035

Two Railways Diverged: Amtrak Planning Expansion While Cutting Service

Amtrak is presented with the potential for two futures: In one is a $25 billion expansion to update national intercity rail with contemporary patterns of settlement. In the other is fiscal crisis and continued service cuts.

October 27, 2020 - My San Antonio

Chicago, Illinois

Multi-Modal Bridge Coming Soon to Lincoln Yards Mega-Project in Chicago

Residents of Chicago will soon see some of the fruits of the controversial tax increment financing for the Lincoln Yards project in Chicago's North Side.

October 13, 2020 - Chicago Tribune

Chicago Construction

New Skyscraper Added to Chicago's Skyline in Uncertain Times for Downtown Commercial Uses

A riverfront revival was well underway in Chicago. Then the pandemic hit. How can a splashy new downtown commercial development expect to fare in Covid's world?

October 12, 2020 - Chicago Tribune

Chicago, Illinois

Willis Tower, Largest LEED Platinum Building, to Switch to 100 Percent Renewable Energy

The Willis Tower in Chicago, once the tallest building in the world, is still making history in superlative terms.

October 7, 2020 - Commercial Property Executive

Rebuild Foundation

Creative Placemaking a Boon for Underserved Communities, Report Says

The work of Chicago urban planner and developer Theaster Gates provides a proof of concept in a new report from the Urban Land Institute.

October 5, 2020 - Chicago Tribune

El Tracks CTA

Priority on Equity Gives Hope for Chicago's Transit-Oriented Development Plans

The city of Chicago's Equitable Transit Oriented Development Policy Plan prioritizes three key strategies for bringing equity to transit-oriented development.

October 4, 2020 - Chi.Streetsblog

Brooklyn, New York City

Adaptive Reuse More Popular Than Ever, Study Says

The past decade saw more old commercial buildings transformed into residential buildings than any decade previous.

September 29, 2020 - RentCafé

News from HUD User

HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research

Call for Speakers

Mpact Transit + Community

New Updates on PD&R Edge

HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research

Top Books

An annual review of books related to planning.

Top Websites

The best of the Internet—since 2002.

Top Apps

Planning apps for a brave new world.

Top Schools

The definitive ranking of graduate planning programs.

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.