Urban Development
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.
Nashville Allows More Detached ADUs, Courtyard Apartments
The city has been considering a series of zoning reform bills designed to diversify housing options.
NYC's New Atlantic Yards Plan Would Bring Taller Towers and Raise Income Limits
The area around Barclays Center could get 10,000 new housing units, with those deemed affordable available to households making as much as $200,000.
Land Use: Chasing Utopia, 2025?
History has taught us the risks of undervaluing the power of planning decisions. Overvaluing them might be just as dangerous.
Pittsburgh Median Home Price is Lowest in the US at $250K
After the collapse of the U.S. steel industry, the city was left with a glut of affordable homes.
Miami Lets Developers Buy Double Density with Climate Fund Contributions
City officials are close to passing a law that would give major density bonuses to developers in exchange for funding for seawalls, pump stations, and other climate resilience projects.
San Francisco is out of Land. Amidst Rising Seas, is it Time to Create More?
Creating new land from the sea gets a bad rap. Done responsibly, it can be a climate adaptation strategy, not a real estate play.
November Must-Reads: Top 10 Articles From Last Month
November’s headlines address the housing crisis, highlighting zoning reform, affordable housing, and a first-in-the-nation law tying minimum wage to rent and housing costs.
Mixed-Use: More Than a Building Type, it's the DNA of Human Settlement
Scott Doyon unpacks why blending uses in urban design is less about urban/suburban typologies and more about walkable, flexible environments that evolve with community needs. Think neighborhood, not just project.
Texas Voters Approve $1 Billion per Year for 'Critical' Water Infrastructure
A new $20 billion fund will shore up the state’s water infrastructure.
Planetizen’s Top Urban Planning Books of 2025
How thoughtful deregulation could unlock a housing and infrastructure boom, the social histories that lie behind a globalizing economy, and the growing role of artificial intelligence in planning.
Atlanta’s ‘Walking Dead’ Bridge Gets People-Friendly Makeover
A bridge known for its skyline views is getting a new cycleway, pedestrian walkways, and ADA upgrades.
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.
City of Rosemead
Rutgers University, Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy
One Hundred Miles
Hunter College, City University of New York (CUNY)
The Architects Foundation
University of Cincinnati Online
City of Cambridge
Montrose County
The Pocatello Development Authority
