Urban Development

Omaha Tiny Homes

Tiny House Movement Arrives in Omaha

A tiny house village has been approved for a location in Downtown Omaha. When complete, the new homes will provide stability and shelter for the formerly unhoused.

October 21, 2020 - Omaha World-Herald

Restaurant Business

Announcing an Antidote for Planning Uncertainty: A Pandemic Tool Kit for Local Governments

A new toolkit shares 22 actions governments should take to get the economy restarted, including the regulatory or policy tools needed to implement the actions.

October 20, 2020 - PlaceShakers

Outdoor Dining

The Metrics of Outdoor Dining

Outdoor dining programs are proving popular in cities all over the United States, as a lifeline for both restaurants and residents seeking some social normalcy. Data from San Francisco reveal the numbers behind the phenomenon.

October 20, 2020 - Eater San Francisco

Downtown Los Angeles

Op-Ed: It’s Long Past Time for Planning Reform in L.A.

Another corruption scandal involving a Los Angeles city councilmember highlights the urgent need for major planning changes in the city.

October 19, 2020 - Los Angeles Times

Las Vegas Golf

Las Vegas Golf Course With a History of Development Controversy Cleared for Houses

A golf course formerly owned by "legendary sports bettor-turned-convicted insider trader" Billy Walters finally has the residential zoning that created so much controversy in the past.

October 19, 2020 - Las Vegas Review-Journal

Ohio River

Form-Based Codes Explained as Covington's Neighborhood Development Code Takes Effect

The new form-based code for the Kentucky city of Covington went into effect on October 15. Officials are promoting the simplicity of the new code to the public.

October 19, 2020 - WCPO

Second Home

The State of the Market for Second Homes, Prior to the Pandemic

Half of the nation's second homes are found in nine states, according to recent data analysis by the National Association of Home Builders, and building is likely to increase in vacation areas soon, according to one expert.

October 19, 2020 - National Association of Home Builders Eye on Housing

Downtown Philadelphia

Pandemic's Economic Realities Bolster Case for a Land Value Tax

The example of Philadelphia shows how a land value tax could provide relief to residents and the city's finances.

October 18, 2020 - WHYY

Compton, California

What Is a Specific Plan?

Specific Plans are unique to the state of California, but come up frequently in media coverage of planning. Understanding the purpose of Specific Plans can also open a window to understanding of how planning works all over the country.

October 16, 2020 - James Brasuell

Zoning Code Rendering

First Look: Zoning Changes Proposed to Implement Minneapolis' Landmark Comp Plan

A plan is only as good as its implementation, and so the Minneapolis 2040 Comprehensive Plan needs the right zoning code to achieve its lofty goals.

October 16, 2020 - Streets MN

Society Hill Historic Buildings

Mayoral Veto Kills Controversial Philadelphia Downzoning

The mayor, planning staff, and the Philadelphia Planning Commission agree. The Philadelphia City Council and residents of the wealthy neighborhood of Society Hill, not so much.

October 15, 2020 - WHYY

Newport Bridge

Urban Plan Ready for Public Scrutiny in Newport, Rhode Island

Newport, Rhode Island is undertaking a major planning initiative during the pandemic.

October 15, 2020 - NewportRI.com

Wisconsin Economic Development

Wisconsin Canceling its Checks to Foxconn

The Republican Party once touted a deal to bring Foxconn to Wisconsin as evidence of their commitment to bringing manufacturing jobs back to the U.S., but the deal has soured, potentially beyond rescue.

October 14, 2020 - Ars Technica

Dayton, Ohio

The 3 Types of Developers and Why the Difference Matters

Developers are frequently cast as a kind of monolithic bad guy in the politics of development, but developers are cut from different cloths, each with distinct interests and motivations.

October 14, 2020 - Strong Towns

Google Corporate Headquarters

Google's Big Mixed-Use Plans for Downtown San Jose Come Into Focus

Google's plan for a mixed-use transit village at a mile-long site near the Diridon Station in San Jose has a newly released planning document available for public review.

October 13, 2020 - Smart Cities Dive

Chicago, Illinois

Multi-Modal Bridge Coming Soon to Lincoln Yards Mega-Project in Chicago

Residents of Chicago will soon see some of the fruits of the controversial tax increment financing for the Lincoln Yards project in Chicago's North Side.

October 13, 2020 - Chicago Tribune

Atlanta Ocean

Florida Real Estate Market Sounds Climate Alarms

New research suggests that real estate values were declining before prices started falling, but a climate-driven housing crisis could already be here in coastal Florida.

October 13, 2020 - The New York Times

Cambridge, Massachusetts

Rezoning Every Residential Neighborhood in Cambridge for Affordable Apartment Buildings

Cambridge, Massachusetts has opened all residential neighborhoods to the development of apartments buildings with 100 percent affordable units. It might be the most "sweeping attack on elitist and racist single family zoning" in the country.

October 13, 2020 - Wicked Local

Accessory Dwelling Units

'Permit Ready Plans' for ADUs Published in Stockton, California

Cities looking to provide incentive for the construction of accessory dwelling units are increasingly released "permit ready plans" to help the cause.

October 12, 2020 - City of Stockton

Chicago Construction

New Skyscraper Added to Chicago's Skyline in Uncertain Times for Downtown Commercial Uses

A riverfront revival was well underway in Chicago. Then the pandemic hit. How can a splashy new downtown commercial development expect to fare in Covid's world?

October 12, 2020 - Chicago Tribune

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.