Urban Development

Los Angeles Skyline

Blade Runner's Dystopian World and the L.A. of Today

The original "Blade Runner" takes place in the Los Angeles of November 2019. How does the film’s vision of the city compare with the present-day reality?

November 23, 2019 - LAist

Dollar Store

In Tulsa, Pushing Back on the Dollar Store Incursion

Restrictions in North Tulsa are part of a backlash against the dollar stores flooding communities that are food deserts in need of real grocery stores.

November 23, 2019 - The New York Times

Wise County, Texas

$3.5 Billion Development With Room for 10,000 Homes Planned Near Forth Worth

When complete, the Rolling V Ranch will be one of the largest residential developments in the state of Texas.

November 23, 2019 - The Dallas Morning News

Parking

Saturday Satire: The Bad Intentions of a Trader Joe's Parking Lot

Anywhere a Trader Joe's parking lot can be found, there's also an overfull parking lot capable of crushing souls.

November 23, 2019 - McSweeney's

Smart City

Pulling Back the Curtain on the Smart City

Technology is infiltrating every aspect of our lives, but, according to this article, we shouldn't underestimate the nefarious role it plays in urban spaces.

November 22, 2019 - Real Life

Downtown Boston

A Bold Vision for a Car-Free Boston

As other cities take daring steps to reclaim their streets, a car ban in downtown Boston doesn’t seem so implausible.

November 22, 2019 - Curbed Boston

Downtown Boston Waterfront

600-Foot Tower Proposed for the Boston Waterfront

A proposed high-rise would transform the downtown Boston waterfront, and the city's skyline.

November 22, 2019 - The Boston Globe

Friday Eye Candy: New York City, Minus the Cars and People

Johnny Simon shares the work of artist Marc Yankus, who created a series of images that remove people, cars, and animals from images of New York City.

November 22, 2019 - Quartzy

Los Angeles 110 Freeway

L.A. Crafting Legislation for 'Anti-Displacement Zones'

The idea that new development results in rising costs for renters in the surrounding neighborhood drives a new effort in Los Angeles.

November 21, 2019 - Curbed Los Angeles

Related California

Seasoned Developer Opines on California’s Housing Crisis

Bill Witte, CEO and chairman of Related California, discusses how state and local governments ought to respond to the state’s challenges with housing affordability, growth in homelessness, and 'missing middle' housing supply.

November 21, 2019 - The Planning Report

Arizona Sprawl

No Cars Allowed: Arizona Multi-Family Development Tests the Market for Car-Free Living

Culdesac Tempe will offer will have apartments for 1,000 people and zero space for cars.

November 21, 2019 - Medium

King Neptune Statue

Saying 'No' to Development in Climate Risk Areas

Only a few places have managed to stem the tide of development in areas at risk to the effects (like wildfire and flooding) of climate change. Virginia Beach is an early test bed for what it takes to tell developers "no."

November 21, 2019 - The New York Times

Marrakech, Morocco

It's Organic! The End of Conjecture and the Science Ahead

The history of inquiry into the "organic" nature of cities has revealed findings that inform the practice of urban planning.

November 21, 2019 - Fanis Grammenos

Detroit Vacant

Proposed $250 Million Blight Removal Bond Fails in Detroit

The Detroit City Council dealt a blow to Mayor Mike Duggan by rejecting the mayor's signature blight reduction proposal.

November 20, 2019 - Detroit Free Press

Silo-Breaking Sustainability or Real-Life Lorax: L.A.’s First City Forest Officer

The city of L.A.’s first city forest officer, Rachel Malarich, opines on her new role in facilitating cooperation between the city’s departments to achieve a more equitable urban canopy.

November 20, 2019 - VerdeXchange News

Street Vendor

Street Vending Makes Public Spaces Better. Stop Criminalizing It.

While recent crackdowns on street vending suggest it is a problem to be fixed, the reality is that street vendors energize urban spaces and make them more accessible for everyone.

November 20, 2019 - Curbed

Long Island, New York

Reporters Go Undercover to Identify Housing Discrimination

A three-year investigation of the real estate industry on Long Island reveals rampant discriminatory practices and an industry complicit in the segregation of the communities that comprise the region.

November 20, 2019 - Newsday

Waze

Are Traffic Apps More a Problem Than a Solution?

The companies behind navigation apps say they want to decrease congestion in cities. But a tool that is essentially designed to help individuals isn’t going to provide a collective benefit.

November 19, 2019 - CityLab

Rep. Earl Blumanauer

Oregon Congressman Takes on Federal Housing Policy

U.S. Rep. Earl Blumenauer (D-Oregon) offers perspective on the U.S. housing crisis, the scale and complexity of which he argues demands affirmative federal action.

November 19, 2019 - The Planning Report

Seattle Tiny Homes Village

Tiny Home Village to Close Amid Controversy in Seattle

The situation at the tiny home village in the Seattle neighborhood of Northlake has been deteriorating since April.

November 19, 2019 - Seattle Times

FREE Course: Walkable City 1: Why Walkability?

After describing his path towards focusing on walkability as the essence of good planning, Jeff Speck marches through his five principal reasons for making more walkable places.

Reinventing Malls: Planning Alchemy—Turning Gray Fields Into Gold

The course focuses on the opportunities and imperatives that shape reinvention of mall sites.

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.