Urban Development

Idaho

2021 Most Endangered Rivers List Highlights Environmental Justice

The annual list of endangered rivers created by American Rivers has always documented pollution and other threats like dam construction, but this year, the confluence of water and systemic racism warrants extra attention.

April 19, 2021 - American Rivers

Nashville

Op-Ed: Don't Reverse the Progress Made by 'Pandemic Streets'

In many cities, the public realm saw a drastic shift towards pedestrian-oriented infrastructure. The L.A. Times editorial board argues we should keep it that way.

April 19, 2021 - Los Angeles Times

Downtown Los Angeles

Pre-Fab Tiny Home Village Takes Shape in L.A.

Along with communal showers and bathrooms, the village will also include laundry, storage facilities, and offices for social service providers.

April 19, 2021 - The Eastsider LA

Cincinnati Over-the-Rhine

Uneven Redevelopment on Cincinnati's Vine Street

While the southern end of the thoroughfare is seeing rapid redevelopment and gentrification, the northern end has yet to reap any benefits from the nearby projects.

April 19, 2021 - WCPO

eviljohnius

A Lost Ancient City Is Unearthed in Egypt

The newly unearthed "golden city" sheds light on everyday life at the height of ancient Egypt's power.

April 19, 2021 - The Washington Post

San Francisco, California

6 Principles to Manage Wildfire Risk With Effective Housing Policy

The connection between housing policy and climate change is made clear by the increasing damage of wildfires in California.

April 18, 2021 - SPUR

Underground Parking

California's Proposed Parking Reform Bill Analyzed

A Terner Center for Housing Innovation at U.C. Berkeley analysis predicts that statewide parking reform, as proposed in Assembly Bill 1401, would have a significant impact on the cost of developing residential and commercial buildings in California.

April 16, 2021 - Terner Center for Housing Innovation

Resilient Home

The Power of Community Land Trusts

A New York Times article explains and, potentially, introduces the community land trust concept, which has proven immensely capable of preventing displacement and foreclosures while advancing homeownership and racial equity.

April 16, 2021 - The New York Times

Urban Infill

Density Skepticism and Neighborhood Protection

Resistance mounts to the zoning reforms gaining traction in the United States.

April 16, 2021 - The Philadelphia Inquirer

Manhattan Penn Station

Despite Controversies, Cuomo Keeps Pushing for Massive Empire Station Complex Plan

Checking in with a plan to add a record amount of development space to New York City, championed by the beleaguered governor of New York.

April 16, 2021 - The City

Historic Train Depot

Montana Coalition Wants to Revive Passenger Rail

Supporters of the Big Sky Passenger Rail Authority argue that a new train could spur economic development and provide a valuable service for the state's non-driving residents.

April 15, 2021 - High Country News

Tokyo Expressway

Tokyo Expressway to Become a Linear Park

A major expressway in Ginza will be converted to a park similar to New York City's High Line.

April 15, 2021 - Japan Property Central

Rhode Island Interstate 95

The Foundational Myth of America's Interstate Highway System

The erroneous belief that the negative impacts of interstate highways are simply "unintended consequences" fails to demand accountability for the project's failures.

April 14, 2021 - The Metropole

Hennepin Avenue in Uptown Minneapolis, Minnesota during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak.

Minneapolis Business Owners Decry Loss of Parking

The city's plan to reduce street parking by 90% in favor of bus lanes and pedestrian infrastructure is receiving backlash from local businesses.

April 14, 2021 - Minneapolis Star Tribune

Pandemic Protests

Urban Planning in a Time of COVID

In Dallas, Dr. Eric Anthony Johnson is not letting last year's crises go to waste.

April 13, 2021 - Laurie Mazur

Fresno Portal

The Nation's Fastest-Rising Rents Are in California's Central Valley

Fresno's skyrocketing housing costs and inadequate supply are putting strain on the city's low-income households.

April 13, 2021 - Los Angeles Times

Baltimore Rowhouses

The Challenges of Being a Black Developer

In an overwhelmingly white industry, Black developers find it harder to access investment, equity, and opportunities.

April 12, 2021 - The Washington Post

Washington, D.C. Rowhouses

Transformers Vs. Historical Preservation

A row over two Transformers statues in a D.C. neighborhood lays bare the "absurdities" inherent in historical preservation, one writer argues.

April 12, 2021 - Georgetown Metropolitan

New York Bike Signage

NYC Bike Advocates Want Federal Funding to Connect the City's Greenways

Cycling advocates and environmental groups want to accelerate the expansion of bike infrastructure and fill crucial gaps in the city's bikeway network.

April 12, 2021 - The City

Tejon Ranch

Massive Tejon Ranch Development Paused; Judge Cites Wildfire, Greenhouse Gas Emissions

In the works since 1999, the Centennial Project by Tejon Ranch Co. seemed to have cleared its final hurdle in 2018, but a Los Angeles County court ruling has created another hurdle for the sprawling development.

April 11, 2021 - Los Angeles Times

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.