Urban Development

New York City

A Grid Balancing Act for Vibrant, Varied, and Sustainable Places

An analysis of three essential attributes of urban grids reveals a preferred layout for the desired effect of a vibrant, active community.

December 20, 2016 - Fanis Grammenos

California

Another Attempt at California's By-Right Affordable Housing Proposal

The new streamlining bill for affordable housing will not have the governor's name, but that of freshman Democratic Sen. Scott Wiener, who made a name for himself as a tenacious housing advocate while San Francisco County Supervisor.

December 20, 2016 - KQED: California Report

University of Pennsyvlania

Low Cost Housing Units Disappearing from Philadelphia's Gentrifying Neighborhoods

Researchers from the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia find evidence of displacement in Philadelphia's gentrifying neighborhoods.

December 20, 2016 - Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia

Detroit Skyline

A Culture Change Takes Hold at the Detroit Planning Department

For all its troubles, Detroit has undertaken some of the greatest urban success stories of recent years. New leadership at the city's Planning Department is hoping to expand those narratives to long-neglected parts of the city.

December 20, 2016 - The Detroit Free Press

Electoral College

The Most Popular Planetizen Posts of 2016

No Electoral College needed: these were the most popular Planetizen posts from the year 2016.

December 19, 2016 - James Brasuell

Chicago Riverwalk

Embracing Rivers as a Vehicle for Urban Revitalization

A new study includes urban rivers as a potential powerful amenity for economic development and revitalization. The city of Chicago has already taken note.

December 19, 2016 - Chicago Magazine

Tilikum Crossing

Portland Takes Another Step Toward Multi-Modalism

The city of Portland will take the momentous step of estimating person trips, rather than car trips, when estimating the impacts of new developments. The decision is another step toward ending the systems of car-centric planning.

December 19, 2016 - Bike Portland

Additional Study Necessary for Seattle to Pass Accessory Dwelling Units Legislation

A recent ruling by the City Hearing Examiner is a setback—but not necessarily a permanent one—for the city's efforts to loosen regulations on accessory dwelling units.

December 19, 2016 - Seattle Met

Construction Site in New York City

de Blasio Balancing Act Puts Manufacturing Jobs, Hotel Industry Interest in the Balance

The New York Times reports details about the de Blasio Administration's negotiations concerning land use regulations that will impact industrial and hotel business. With a re-election campaign looming in 2017, the story reveals a lot about the politi

December 18, 2016 - The New York Times

Philadelphia

Philadelphia Goes High-Tech to Monitor Vacant Properties

The city of Philadelphia has deployed high-tech sensors and a new statistical model in its ongoing fight against the blight and health problems that follow vacant and abandoned properties.

December 18, 2016 - The Philadelphia Inquirer

Gentrification the Killer in Oakland Fire

Already, the Ghost Ship tragedy is being used as a justification for code enforcement crackdowns that will likely further gentrification. But how can we combat gentrification and displacement and improve safety at the same time?

December 16, 2016 - Shelterforce/Rooflines

Northridge Earthquake, 1994

Five Lessons for Resilience

Resilience is commonly understood as the capacity to endure shocks and stresses. But for Lisa Dickson, Arup’s resilience leader for the Americas, this definition is too limiting. Jeff Byles talks with her about five key lessons on resilience.

December 15, 2016 - Doggerel

Co-Working Office

Co-Working Spaces Find a Place in Houston's Suburban Reaches

A Houston Chronicle journalist travels a surmising distance from downtown to survey the city's co-working spaces.

December 14, 2016 - Houston Chronicle

Englewood Southside Neighborhood

More $1 Vacant Lots for Sale in Chicago

With some 20,000 vacant lots located around the city, Chicago is expanding the Large Lots Program that allows property owners to buy nearby lots for $1.

December 14, 2016 - Chicago Tribune

The U.S. Treasury

It's Not Just HUD

Though the HUD choice seems an odd, unqualified one, we should be looking beyond HUD however: Here's why Mnuchin at Treasury is even more worrisome.

December 13, 2016 - Shelterforce/Rooflines

TOD Sign

Smart Growth America, FTA Offer Assistance in Making the Most of TOD

Technical assistance is coming to five U.S. cities thanks to the National Public Transportation/Transit-Oriented Development Technical Assistance Initiative.

December 13, 2016 - Smart Growth America

One World Trade Center

How Should Lower Manhattan Handle Its Crowd Problem?

In the period since 9/11, Lower Manhattan has undergone a residential boom. With daytime professionals and tourists also in the mix, the strain is showing.

December 12, 2016 - The New York Times

Atlanta

Atlanta Hopes to Help Some Neighborhoods Stay 'Displacement-Free'

A motion in City Council would open the door to new protections for gentrifying areas.

December 12, 2016 - Atlanta Daily World

Construction

A Pro-Development Argument in the Great Housing Debate

In the ongoing and contentious debate about whether market-rate development is a cure or a disease, another writer comes down on the side of more supply, no matter the cost.

December 11, 2016 - Bloomberg

Vancouver Skyline

As Goes Vancouver, So Goes Seattle?

What does Vancouver’s housing market implosion mean for the Seattle area?

December 10, 2016 - Crosscut

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.

Professor of Urban Planning

Harvard University Graduate School of Design

Transportation Planner I

KFH Group Inc.

Director, Strategy and Research

Greater Baltimore Committee

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.