Racial Equity

A children's play area is busy with kids and their parents in Downtown Dallas.

Urban Highway Removal: 4 Considerations for Reknitting a City’s Fabric

Making the right decisions to create a positive urban legacy.

March 20, 2022 - Margaret Newman

A busy urban street is seen from the vantage point offered by looking straight down from the top of a high-rise.

Considering Geographic Equity

What do we owe poor cities?

February 6, 2022 - Angie Schmitt

Syracuse Highway

How to Prioritize Equity in the Infrastructure Bill

Experts recommend a more rigorous focus on equity considerations as the federal government begins to select projects to fund through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.

January 3, 2022 - The Brookings Institution

Sweet Auburn neighborhood of Atlanta, a historic district once home to wealthy African American families, stand in a row in the King Historic District

Changing the Rules to Bring More Capital to Developers of Color

LISC and Enterprise, two large community development intermediaries, have announced major racial equity initiatives that emphasize how affordable housing gets built—and who builds it. We take a closer look at what they’re planning.

July 4, 2021 - Shelterforce Magazine

Basement Apartment

Improving Racial Equity via Emergency Rental Assistance

Five ways to ensure that rental assistance reaches communities of color with high levels of need.

May 30, 2021 - Shelterforce Magazine

D.C. Streetcar

D.C. Comprehensive Plan Amendments Approved

New amendments to the D.C. Comprehensive Plan set goals for new housing development and fewer cars on the road.

May 20, 2021 - Greater Greater Washington

Twitter Headquarters

Big Tech Flirts With Community Development

Facing calls to invest in racial equity, companies like Netflix, Twitter, and others have recently pledged millions in new financing for affordable housing, small businesses, and other community development projects. Will they stick around?

May 14, 2021 - Shelterforce Magazine

Resilient Home

The Power of Community Land Trusts

A New York Times article explains and, potentially, introduces the community land trust concept, which has proven immensely capable of preventing displacement and foreclosures while advancing homeownership and racial equity.

April 16, 2021 - The New York Times

Oregon

Inclusionary Housing: Secrets to Success

A new survey of unprecedented scale offers insight into the diverse range of inclusionary housing programs and the keys to the success of inclusionary zoning programs.

March 24, 2021 - Shelterforce Magazine

Biden administration

Racial Equity and Regulatory Review

On his first day in office, President Joe Biden took several steps to advance racial equity.

March 22, 2021 - Urban Institute

Traffic Safety Advocates

Zero Traffic Deaths Isn't as Far Fetched as It Sounds

Even supporters of Vision Zero—a goal to eliminate traffic fatalities from roadways adopted by cities and states all over the United States—doubt that such lofty ambitions are possible. But there are plenty of reasons to believe in the cause.

March 15, 2021 - Angie Schmitt

2020 Presidential Campaign

Notes on the Buttigieg Confirmation Hearing

Takeaways from last week's Senate confirmation hearing for the nominee to be secretary of the U.S. Department of Transportation, Pete Buttigieg.

February 2, 2021 - Transportation for America

2010s

Pandemic, Equity Dominate 2020 Planning News

Even with the world shut down, many California planning issues continued to be debated online, fought over in court, enacted in city halls, and realized on the ground. And yet, racial equity and the pandemic are the defining stories of 2020.

December 16, 2020 - California Planning & Development Report

Crosswalk no daylight

Environmental Neuroscience Reveals the Diversity of City Experiences

You know what racial equity means, but have you heard of 'experiential equity'? Environmental neuroscientist Robin Mazumder explains the term and how it can inform our understanding of equity in the built environment.

December 7, 2020 - City Monitor

Black Lives Matter

A New Guide to Black Voices on the City

Introducing a new interactive resource that presents the contributions of the Black community to a growing understanding of cities and the built environment.

September 24, 2020 - Black Voices on the City

East Rutherford, New Jersey

Has the Lack of Access to Parks Driven Up COVID-19 Infection Rates in Black and Latino Communities?

Experts indicate that it is too soon to conclude that the lack of access to parks has contributed to higher coronavirus infection rates in Black and Latino communities, but say there is likely a relationship between the two.

September 4, 2020 - USA Today

Asphalt

The Undeniable Link Between Redlining and Extreme Heat in American Cities

The country’s history of racist and segregationist housing policies is affecting vulnerable low-income communities of color that are bearing the brunt of climate change impacts.

August 26, 2020 - The New York Times

Urban Sky

How to Adopt Long-Term Anti-Racism Solutions as an Urbanist

Nic Esposito calls for an "anti-racist reframe" of urbanism to address the attitudes and policies that have perpetuated racist systems and upheld capitalism at all costs.

August 26, 2020 - WHYY

Michigan Central Deport

Economic Recovery in Legacy Cities

Americans living in legacy cities face a unique set of challenges and opportunities in recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic. Several local, state, and federal support strategies could aid these cities in recouping losses.

August 19, 2020 - Brookings

A Black woman stands in front of a home holding an umbrella and smiling.

This Moment Calls for Finally Making Homeownership Access Fair

The worsening housing crisis shows that we must develop comprehensive tools and programs to keep families housed and their assets preserved.

July 29, 2020 - Shelterforce Magazine

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

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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.