Urban Development
How Proptech Could Change Planning and Development in the U.S.
Proptech (a portmanteau of property and technology) promises to change the world of development and planning.
Milwaukee Updates Zoning Code to Encourage Walkability
The city of Milwaukee will require new commercial developments to include a 15-foot "street frontage zone" to encourage walking.
Height Limits, Roof Deck Ban Killed by Philly Planning Commission's Pocket Veto
The Philadelphia City Planning Commission made a "rare how of power" in using a variety of "pocket veto" to kill proposed height and roof deck restrictions in the Far Northeast section of Philadelphia.
New York Largest U.S. City to Require Bird-Friendly Building Materials
The New York City Council approved Proposed Initiative 1482B by an overwhelming margin, ensuring bird-friendly design and construction practices in the largest U.S. city.
Navigating California's Housing Insanity
One person’s return to the San Francisco Bay Area meant facing the dystopian realities of the rental market.
The Decade in Urban Planning
A look back at the biggest stories and themes from the world of urban planning in the decade that was the 2010s.
Bike Lanes Aren’t Just a White Thing
Neighborhoods of color are often more dangerous for pedestrians and cyclists, but they are also often left behind when local officials redesign streets to make them safer. How can we change this?
New Mayor in Raleigh Calls for an Affordable Housing 'Moon Shot'
There's a necessity for Mayor Mary-Ann Baldwin's affordable housing ambition: average rents are rising faster than the national average in the North Carolina city.
What Can Brain Science Tell Us About Cities?
Cities are not unlike brains in their capacity to evolve along complex, self-organizing patterns. Studying what some researchers call the "urban connectome" may give us insight into how best to organize the places where we live.
Op-Ed: What Can Be Done About Toronto's Drabness?
After decades of "just-good-enough when it comes to design," now may be the time for Toronto to take steps to upgrade its aesthetics.
Duluth to Provide Free Land for Creative Housing Proposals
To address its housing shortage, the city of Duluth is giving away free parcels of land to developers with viable proposals for low-cost housing.
Building Energy Efficiency Program Approved in Philadelphia
Philadelphia has renewed its efforts to improve energy efficiency in non-residential building to contribute to its Paris Climate Agreement commitment.
First Safe Parking Lot for the Homeless Opens in San Francisco
With more than 1,700 people living out of vehicles on the streets of San Francisco, the city is in the process of opening a new safe parking facility that woll allow 30 vehicles to park for up to 90 days.
How Peoria Is Putting Green Infrastructure to Work
Peoria's new stormwater farm takes the pressure off its outdated combined sewer system. It's part of a larger effort by the city to align green infrastructure with social equity goals.
L.A. Architects Demonstrate Livable, Affordable, Scalable Density
Architects Angela Brooks and Lawrence Scarpa discuss their new exhibit and the challenges to planning and building affordable, livable density in Southern California today.
Great Salt Lake, Shrinking From Water Diversions for New Development, Spreads Dust Around Utah
New research is quantifying the environmental consequences of land use patterns and water diversions in Northern Utah.
Low-Income Housing Tax Credits: 'Erecting Pockets of Poverty'
The state of Connecticut deploys almost all of its federal housing funding in impoverished communities, according to this bombshell investigatory report.
Planning for Infill Growth Doesn't Guarantee Development: a Case Study
The city of Santa Rosa has made a concerted effort to plan for new development, but projects have yet to materialize.
Development Backlash Follows Population and Job Growth in Western States
As housing prices rise all over the country, quickly growing states like Colorado, Idaho, and Utah are transforming in ways some residents didn't anticipate or desire. Such circumstances are a breeding ground for anti-development politics.
'HousingTO' Action Plan Calls for 40,000 Affordable Units in Ten Years
Questions about how Toronto will fund Mayor John Tory's ambitious affordable housing plan will be answered by the provincial and national governments.
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)
