Urban Development

Brooklyn Brownstones

High-Rise Proposal Next to Brownstone Brooklyn Sparks Debate

80 Flatbush, a major high-rise development combining apartments, offices, and community amenities, lies at the center of ongoing debate between YIMBYs and neighborhood character advocates.

May 30, 2018 - Crain's New York Business

Center City

Philadelphia's Eviction Task Force Releases Action Plan

The housing crisis is the eviction crisis. Philadelphia is taking action.

May 30, 2018 - Next City

Washington

Seattle's Popular Capitol Hill Neighborhood Getting New Design Guidelines

The new guidelines will allow for new design decisions in a neighborhood undergoing rapid change.

May 30, 2018 - Capitol Hill Seattle Blog

View of Portland, Oregon from Pittock Mansion

Oregon's 86 Opportunity Zones Include 'High Rent' Districts in Portland

Oregon is the latest state to join the nascent federal program, which is designed to stimulate investment in distressed areas.

May 29, 2018 - KGW

Downtown St. Paul

St. Paul Seeks State Money for Parking Garage

The state of Minnesota is disinclined, so far, to pay for the project, but St. Paul officials are looking to invest big money to replace a large parking garage in the downtown entertainment district.

May 29, 2018 - Streets MN

Homeless Encampment

Analysis: Homeless Villages Don't Spur Crime

Homeless villages aren't hotbeds of crime, according to recent analysis. Rather, they can be part of a "crime prevention ecosystem."

May 29, 2018 - The Guardian

Central Park

Lago Approaches New York City as a 'City of Neighborhoods'

The latest installment of the "Planners Across America" series features New York City Planning Director and Planning Commission Chair Marisa Lago.

May 29, 2018 - Josh Stephens

Smart Growth—How it Came to Be and Where It's Going

An excellent primer (refresher for many) on Smart Growth and the history of planning generally, by former San Francisco Planning and Urban Research Assoc. Exec. Director Jim Chappell

May 28, 2018 - UrbDeZine

Mountain Lion

The Best Locations for L.A.’s Mountain Lion Freeway Bridges

A coalition of researchers have identified one area near the 101 and other near I-15 that would help keep the big cats alive and healthy.

May 28, 2018 - Los Angeles Times

Streetcar Extension Concept

Streetcar Essential to Neighborhood Revitalization Plans in Milwaukee

The city of Milwaukee has renderings to illustrate its ambitions for transit oriented development surrounding the streetcar extension into Bronzeville and Walker's Point.

May 27, 2018 - Urban Milwaukee

Pacific Ocean

Post-SB 827, California Addresses Infill and Local Planning

California State Sen. Ben Allen has authored SB 961 to finance optional neighborhood infill TOD districts, with support from fellow legislators. Redondo Beach Mayor Bill Brand is considering an initiative to protect local zoning.

May 27, 2018 - The Planning Report

Rockaway Beach Bus

Memorial Day Buzzkill: Popular Stretch of Rockaway Beach Closed Indefinitely

New York City hasn't been able to keep the beach from eroding.

May 26, 2018 - The New York Times

New York Vacant Storefront

Small Business, Co-Op Apartments Mixed Up in New York Bill

The debate about the Small Business Jobs Survival Act continues in New York City.

May 26, 2018 - Crain's New York Business

Atlanta to Use Transportation Sales Tax Money on Park Expansion

Transportation tax funding has suddenly been diverted to a park project in Atlanta, and a few voices want to know why. The project still gained approval, however.

May 25, 2018 - SaportaReport

Illinois Multi-Family

The Emerging 'Surban' Real Estate Market

A little less emphasis on the suburban, and a little more emphasis on the urban.

May 24, 2018 - Chicago Tribune

Accessory Dwelling Unit

Environmental Impact Study Builds the Case for Accessory Dwelling Units in Seattle

Proponents of a new Accessory Dwelling Unit rule in Seattle say the tactics of opponents backfired with this Environmental Impact Study.

May 24, 2018 - Sightline Institute

Sprawl

Mapping the Rapid Loss of America's Agricultural Land

Development continues to encroach on agricultural land around the United States. A new study shows exactly how much agricultural land has been developed.

May 24, 2018 - Modern Farmer

Lake Calhoun

Ranking the Best U.S. Cities for Parks

The 2018 ParkScore is now available.

May 24, 2018 - Trust for Public Land

Air Force One

Obama Presidential Center Wins Key City Council Approval

The Obama Presidential Center is still controversial, but it has also taken a key first step in the approvals process.

May 24, 2018 - Chicago Tribune

Michigan to Provide $618 Million in Tax Incentives to Four Dan Gilbert Projects

Dan Gilbert is investing over $2 billion in four projects in downtown Detroit. The state is matching that ambition with $618 million of its own.

May 23, 2018 - Detroit Free Press

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.

Transportation Planner I

KFH Group Inc.

Director, Strategy and Research

Greater Baltimore Committee

Senior Planner

Eagle County Government

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.