Urban Development

Apartment buildings surrounded by freeways in Laguna Niguel, California.

Balancing TOD and Public Health

Building housing near transportation networks can improve density and walkability, but can also have serious health consequences for residents.

November 26, 2024 - Next City

Busy plaza in Siena, Italy with prominent clock tower.

Commentary: A World Planning Congress That Was Out of This World

This year’s gathering was full of promise, hope — and tension.

November 26, 2024 - Emilie K. Adin

View looking up through large tree with blue sunny sky in background.

Improving South Los Angeles Through Strategic Tree Planting

The University of Southern California Urban Trees Initiative is planting 250 trees in South L.A. neighborhoods to improve shade, combat climate change, and enhance community well-being through collaboration and data-driven approaches.

November 25, 2024 - USC Today

Low close-up of busy city crosswalk in Vienna, Austria.

Planning for True Transportation Affordability: Beyond Common Misconceptions

Transportation affordability is important but often misunderstood, resulting in misguided solutions. New research helps identify ways to provide true affordability for economic freedom, opportunity and happiness.

November 21, 2024 - Todd Litman

MMC Bronx Norwood Montefiore Medical Center campus as viewed from North Central Bronx Hospital in 2018.

In the Bronx, Planning a More Vibrant Future for a Hospital Campus – and its Community

How an integrated approach to redevelopment is transforming a formerly isolated medical campus into a valuable community amenity.

November 21, 2024 - Mike Aziz

Blue sign with white sillhouettes indicating parent and child crossing street.

Lessons in Child-Friendly Cities From Europe

How parklets, open streets, and green spaces make cities safer and friendlier for children and families.

November 20, 2024 - Streetsblog USA

Playground and picnic benches in city park in San Francisco Bay Area.

Ensuring the Long-Term Care of Parks for Equity and Sustainability

Securing the care and maintenance of parks in the long-term requires sustained funding, equitable resource allocation, and political leadership and will.

November 17, 2024 - National Recreation and Park Association Open Space Blog

Elevated freeway being demolished in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

Bridging Divides: The Crucial Role of Collaboration in Highway Removal

Highway removal is most successful when agencies at all levels of government work closely with each other and the impacted community.

November 17, 2024 - Morgan Florsheim

Historic brick buildings along Spruce Street in Washington Square West, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Philly Residents Push Back on New Historic Preservation District

Some residents of Philadelphia’s newly designated Washington Square West Historic District say the community was left out of the decision-making process that could impact housing costs and building requirements.

November 15, 2024 - 34th Street

View of traffic on San Diego freeway.

Opinion: Why Linking Driving to GDP Misses the Point

The argument that car-centric development is good because it boosts national GDP ignores the massive costs of driving to everyday Americans.

November 13, 2024 - Streetsblog USA

Large roof with solar panels and Los Angeles hills in background.

How Los Angeles County is Advancing Sustainability

A recently released report by the Chief Sustainability Office (CSO) shows that L.A. County is making progress on meeting the goals of the OurCounty Sustainability Plan.

November 13, 2024 - Los Angeles County Chief Sustainability Office

Roman Forum ruins in Rome, Italy with dusk sky.

Megalopolis: An Urban Planner’s Review

The sprawling film offers a bleak vision of city-building that minimizes the impacts of top-down development on everyday citizens.

November 13, 2024 - Noah Harper

Downtown Denver as seen from behind Union Station roof sign.

Denver Voters Approve Downtown Revitalization Bonds

The city wants to bring new projects and residents to the downtown core, where 13 million feet of vacant office and retail space await new tenants.

November 11, 2024 - Smart Cities Dive

Commercial street in small rural U.S. town with storefronts and clocktower.

Progressive Planning in Ideologically Conservative Communities

Planners must work in diverse political environments including conservative jurisdictions that are skeptical of new issues and perspectives. Here are ways to reconcile conflicting goals.

November 7, 2024 - Todd Litman

View of downtown Houston with elevated freeways in foreground.

Interactive Map Highlights Freeway-Related Displacement in Houston

A new map illustrates the neighborhoods and buildings that were razed to make way for freeways and estimates the number of people displaced by roadways.

November 7, 2024 - Baker Institute for Public Policy

Aerial view of downtown Lexington, Kentucky.

Lexington, Kentucky Passes Urban Growth Plan

The city’s new master plan sets out requirements for mixed-use development.

November 6, 2024 - The Lexington Times

Skyline of Reno, Nevada against snowy mountains and bright red sunset sky.

‘Biggest Little City’ Makes Room for Growth

The mayor of Reno has pushed for reforming housing regulations to support more affordable development.

November 5, 2024 - Business Insider

Colorful paper banners strung across street in historic tourist neighborhood in San Antonio, Texas.

Placemaking in the Barrio: Conceptualizing Infill Development in Disenfranchised Communities

How one San Antonio neighborhood could approach sustainable revitalization while supporting the existing community and drawing on its rich and diverse history and cultural resources.

November 5, 2024 - Matthew Reyes

View of downtown Dallas, Texas skyline with skyscrapers against twilight sky.

How the Post-Covid Reality Is Reshaping Central Business Districts and Urban Centers

U.S. cities are working to redefine their downtowns in response to the “donut effect:” people and businesses abandoning city centers and flocking to suburban areas and beyond.

October 31, 2024 - Wes Guckert

Aerial view of steep cliffs and large homes in Rancho Palos Verdes, California on Pacific Ocean.

Southern California City Offers Buyout to Homeowners Facing Erosion Threat

Power and gas were shut off to dozens of homes in Rancho Palos Verdes as landslides threatened homes and infrastructure. Now, the city is offering to buy the homes to help residents relocate.

October 30, 2024 - ABC 7

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.