Urban Development
Historic Black Alabama Community Fights Displacement for Concrete Plant
Residents of Mobile’s Africatown neighborhood say building a concrete plant near homes and a historic site is “a step backwards.”
The Overlooked Spaces That Can Prevent the Spread of Fire
The space between homes can as much as double a chance’s home of survival during a fire.
Chicago Breaks Ground on Vacant Lots Sold for $1 to 'Rebuild Middle-class Housing.'
The city’s Missing Middle Infill Housing program supports development in distressed neighborhoods.
We are Perfectly Poised for Another Robert Moses
When “America is Building Again” while decentering equity, the ghost of Robert Moses haunts us.
Planetizen’s Top Posts of 2025
The most-read articles on Planetizen in 2025.
6 Streets Getting Pedestrian Makeovers in 2026
These U.S. cities are reducing or removing car traffic to make major streets more people-friendly.
December Must-Reads: Top 10 Articles From Last Month
As cities and states change zoning laws to accommodate more housing, federal funding cuts and immigration raids that are impacting the construction labor market could slow efforts to alleviate the housing crisis.
Public Sector Consulting Isn’t Evil, but We Have to Keep it Honest
At its best, public sector consulting builds knowledge and delivers value for taxpayers. At its worst, it entrenches dependence and wastes resources. A code of ethics for keeping consulting ethical.
Great Cities Don’t Just Acknowledge That We Age In Them — They Build For It. We Can Too.
We age in sidewalks, public spaces, transit stops, and community centers — not in hospitals. As populations age, the built environment will determine whether our cities thrive or struggle in the decades ahead.
New Jersey Buyout Program Turns Flood-Prone Properties Into Green Buffer Zones
For 30 years, The Blue Acres program has offered homeowners in high-risk flood zones the chance to relocate, preserving land as open space.
2025 Brought Seismic Changes to California Housing Laws
New state laws and policies created in reaction to devastating wildfires could spell massive changes for Southern California’s housing landscape.
What Actually Got Built Under Eric Adams’ ‘Pro-Housing’ Administration
The outgoing mayor claims credit for hundreds of thousands of new homes. The truth is more complicated.
Downtown St. Petersburg Poised for Pedestrian-Friendly Makeover
A new vision for Central Avenue includes wider sidewalks and more space for outdoor dining.
String Lights are Secular! The Holiday Case for Year-round Placemaking
The holidays make streets and spaces warm, cozy, and welcoming. Why don’t we do that year round?
Top 10 Island Press Built Environment Books
From “Life Between Buildings” to “Human Transit,” Island Press has played a critical role in building the catalogue of literature that is foundational to urban planning.
Staten Island Resists ‘City of Yes’ Zoning Reforms
One year after New York City approved major zoning changes, some residents continue to fight increased density.
From SoHo to SoDoSoPa
How zoning made great neighborhoods illegal to build, and preordained gentrification.
Seattle Adopts a New Growth Plan, but Major Zoning Battles are Just Beginning
Approving the comprehensive plan update is just the first step in rewriting the city’s zoning code to accommodate more density and affordable housing.
The Nation’s Best Small Cities Ranked by Livability, Affordability
A new list looks at a range of factors from housing costs to entertainment to commute times to rank the most attractive small cities in the U.S.
New Tool Uncovers Exact Costs of Downtown Highways
A new research tool can help cities calculate the economic potential that could be unlocked by replacing highways with other uses.
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.
Eagle County Government
Harvard University Graduate School of Design
Nashville Planning Department
The Architects Foundation
University of Cincinnati Online
The Pocatello Development Authority
The Urban Renewal Agency of the City of Pocatello
Journal of the American Planning Association
