Urban Development

San Francisco Houses

Density Bonuses Proposed to Spur Affordable Housing in San Francisco

Mayor Ed Lee this week proposed a density bonus policy that would help the city build approximately 16,000 new units of housing, including 5,000 affordable units along select transit corridors.

September 30, 2015 - The San Francisco Chronicle

New York City Construction

Can Reduced Parking Requirements Generate Too Much Development Competition?

A new argument has appeared in the ongoing debate about parking requirements. A university in a college town objected to reduced parking requirements on the grounds that it would make the city too attractive to developers.

September 30, 2015 - CityLab

Closed Beach

The Dangers of Dumb Luck for Hurricane-Zone Transplants

The relative calm of the last decade may be luring hundreds of thousands of new coastal residents into a false sense of comfort.

September 29, 2015 - Five Thirty Eight

Coit Tower

Beyond the Big One: Real Recovery in San Francisco

What does it mean to be a Chief Resilience Officer for one America's largest cities? Doggerel spoke to Patrick Otellini, Chief Resilient Officer for San Francisco, to find out what it takes to make a truly resilient city.

September 29, 2015 - Doggerel

Montville, Connecticut

How Chinese Immigrants Are Urbanizing a Connecticut Suburb

Next City provides a case study in the urbanization of suburbs—in this case the result of a large influx of Chinese immigrants.

September 28, 2015 - Next City

The Shard London

Skyscrapers as the Enemy of Cities

An op-ed in The Globe and Mail expresses animosity for the wave of skyscraper construction in old world cities like London.

September 26, 2015 - The Globe and Mail

No Luxury Condos

Report: There's a Right Way to Do Inclusionary Zoning

A new study from the Lincoln Institute of Land Policy makes the case for well-timed, thoughtful use of inclusionary zoning as a tool to support diverse, affordable communities.

September 24, 2015 - At Lincoln House

Thoughts on the Dynamic Cities Sector

After spending more than a decade in government and real estate development, Brian Swett recently joined Arup in the role of Director of Cities and Sustainable Real Estate in the Americas. We asked for his thoughts on urban expansion and development.

September 24, 2015 - Doggerel

Baltimore Crabs

South Baltimore Gateway Master Plan to Pave Way for Sports and Entertainment District

The Baltimore Planning Commission will soon consider the South Baltimore Gateway Master Plan, which lays out a 20-year agenda to support a wave of entertainment development coming to the neighborhood.

September 24, 2015 - The Baltimore Sun

Brooklyn Bridge

Attention Media: Neighborhoods Existed Before Gentrification

On the media's responsibility for narratives that enable displacement, rather than inclusion.

September 24, 2015 - Grist

Seaside Entrance

Thoughts on Seaside at 35

Seaside, Florida: what’s possible when vision, tradition, creativity, adaptation, and, yes, time converge in ways that allow for careful study and consideration.

September 24, 2015 - PlaceShakers

The Outsized Benefits of Transforming Parking Lots to TOD

Chicago's sale of three city-owned parking lots demonstrates how selling underused land for the purposes of transit-oriented development can benefit people and government.

September 23, 2015 - Metropolitan Planning Council - The Connector

High School Football

Op-Ed: Stop Attacking My Suburb!

A proud suburban resident defends her neighborhood from the criticisms of city-dwellers. It's not walkable, it's not perfect, but it's home.

September 22, 2015 - Star Tribune

Editorial Calls for the Gentrification of East New York

Unsurprisingly, an editorial titled "Gentrify East New York" provoked a strong response from the public.

September 21, 2015 - Crain's New York Business

A Positive Fiscal and Land Use Analysis for St. Louis Riverfront Stadium Plans

A group of business students completed an analysis finding reasons to support a proposal to build an NFL stadium on the riverfront in St. Louis.

September 21, 2015 - St. Louis Post-Dispatch

Debate: When Should California Switch to VMT to Measure Development Impacts?

In an effort to shift from car-centric planning and incentivize eco-friendly transportation options, California is revising the way it measures traffic impacts of development projects under its Environmental Quality Act.

September 21, 2015 - The Planning Report

Suburban Dead End

Poverty Less Rural Than 50 Years Ago

It used to be that the nation's rural areas suffered from the highest poverty rates. Today, nearly half of the American poor live in mid-sized counties.

September 21, 2015 - Pew Research Center

Surveying the Academic Findings about Gentrification and Displacement

Gentrification is neither a quick nor an easy study—as many Planetizen readers know. But what has been discovered thus far, and what obstacles to more understanding need to be overcome?

September 20, 2015 - The Washington Post - Wonkblog

Cities Honored for Smart Growth

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's 13th annual Smart Growth Achievement Awards recognize communities that lead the way in compact, walkable growth.

September 19, 2015 - Better Cities & Towns

Atlanta Georgia Dome

When Publicly Funded Stadiums Gut Neighborhoods

In Atlanta—and throughout the country—city politicians have proven willing and eager to support stadium construction. But though these facilities are marketed as economic drivers, they often cause steep declines instead.

September 18, 2015 - AlterNet

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.