Urban Development
In Planning, Reality Can Be Worse Than Fiction
The Showtime Series Penny Dreadful portrays a bleak vision of 1940s Los Angeles. But, unencumbered by regulations and zoning laws, it also displays what great urban neighborhoods can look like.

Visualizing the Coronavirus Pandemic
Mapping of the crisis is producing a fascinating and important trove of cartographic records.

Berkeley Could Redefine the Al Fresco Streets Movement
The city of Berkeley is pursuing an aggressive plan to open the streets for outdoor dining as an economic development tool for local commercial businesses.

Pandemic a Call to Arms for Planners
The pandemic has raised alarms about density. Post-pandemic, urban planners should fight more passionately than ever for progressive principles that make cities more equitable, pleasant, and, yes, healthy.

Fostering a 'Green Economic Recovery' in Post-Coronavirus Cities
Cities around the world are putting sustainability and climate change at the forefront of economic recovery plans.

How Zoning Reform Can Help Businesses Transition to Outdoor Operations
A trend toward allowing restaurants and retailers to expand operations to the public realm outside their brick and mortar confines is quickly gaining steam.

Predicting the Future of Cities After the Pandemic
Two more stories to enter into the archive for the great debate of the coronavirus pandemic: How will the public health crisis change the future of cities?

Reforms Would Ease Approvals Process for Downtown Developments in Santa Monica
The city of Santa Monica will consider approvals process changes that will make it easier to entitle the largest projects allowed under zoning for the city's downtown.

Scenario Planning for Pandemic Recovery
The planner who wrote the book on the emerging practice of scenario planning offers advice on how the tool can be helpful in planning for the pandemic.

Minimum Parking Requirements Lifted to Support Outdoor Dining in Connecticut
Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont included an historic measure in a May 10 executive order: statewide suspension of parking minimums to facilitate outdoor activities.

Housing Costs More Than a Matter of Supply and Demand
Does new market rate housing increase the average cost of housing, by inducing demand, or does it help stabilize the housing market by offering new supply? The debate continues in San Francisco.

Opinion: Less Restrictive Zoning Necessary for Urban Areas to Lead Recovery
An opinion piece makes the case for pro-development urban planning as a tool of economic recovery.

Lessons from the Pandemic: Housing, Retail, Broadband
Second in a series of conversations about what comes next in local government policies and processes, this time between Geoff Koski and Ben Brown on housing, retail, and broadband

Carbon Emissions Down, but Not Drastically
Transportation activity is down considerably, but other sources of carbon dioxide are still going strong.

Centering Equity in Climate Adaptation
Avoiding the effects of climate change should not be a privilege for the wealthy.

Adapting Processes and Policies to Lessen Housing Delays
After a 22% drop in housing starts in March, municipalities and state governments continue to assess whether or not housing construction is essential, weighing factors like workforce safety and availability of construction materials.

Court Decision Clears the Way for East River Greenway Bike Bridge
A community group had sued to prevent the construction of a bridge in Clara Coffey Park in New York City. The court ruled in the favor of the city's plans.

Editorial: Save the City by Investing in Equity
A New York Times editorial presents a resoundingly pro-urban call to action regarding the future of planning and investment.

Urban Planning in a Post-Pandemic World
The coronavirus crisis is highlighting the contributions of cities as well as their vulnerabilities and the planning issues that need to be priorities in the future.

YIMBYs Prevail on Big Bay Area Mixed-Use Development Proposal
A court ruling in Santa Clara County cleared the way for a large mixed-use development proposal to be built at the location of the Vallco Shopping Mall in Cupertino.
Pagination
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.
Smith Gee Studio
City of Charlotte
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
Transportation Research & Education Center (TREC) at Portland State University
US High Speed Rail Association
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
Municipality of Princeton (NJ)