Urban Development

Philadelphia Waterfront

Iconic Remnants of Failed Tram on the Philly Waterfront to Be Demolished

It's the end of an era that never was.

September 20, 2019 - The Philadelphia Inquirer

Food Trucks

Diversifying Neighborhood Associations More Challenging Than Assumed

The schedule for the Neighborhoods 2020 initiative in Minneapolis has been pushed as neighborhood organizations have pushed back on the city's efforts to remake the system in a more representative form.

September 20, 2019 - MinnPost

British Columbia residential Neighborhoods

Property Tax Increase Proposed to Fund Affordable Housing in Vancouver

What $4 in increased property taxes in the Vancouver region could buy in terms of affordable housing development.

September 20, 2019 - Vancouver Sun

California Houses

California's Housing Crisis—No End in Sight

This past year looked promising in terms of opportunities to tackle the state’s housing woes. But most measures failed and the problem is just growing.

September 20, 2019 - Rolling Stone

Las Vegas and Environs

Las Vegas Faces a Challenging and Uncertain Environmental Future

Excessive heat will impact the desert city in the coming years, and major steps need to be taken now to change its course.

September 19, 2019 - The Guardian

Detroit Public Transit

Work Underway to Update Detroit's Zoning Code

The first deliverable in the process of updating the city of Detroit's zoning ordinance is publically available.

September 19, 2019 - Curbed Detroit

Biking

The Diversity of Biking in Art and Culture

Bikes are an important part of many people’s lives, and fostering a world where cycling has a place involves recognizing this diversity of experience.

September 19, 2019 - Streetsblog Chicago

Seattle STreetcar

Ride-Hailing Tax to Fund Affordable Housing on the Table in Seattle

Seattle would join cities like New York, Chicago, and Washington, D.C. in taxing rides with companies like Uber and Lyft. Seattle would use some of that revenue to fund affordable housing projects.

September 19, 2019 - Crosscut

Binoculars Building

Rethinking Supply-Side Approaches to L.A.'s Affordable Housing Crisis

Denny Zane reminds policymakers that local, community-focused decision making truly trumps the 'top-down, one-size-fits-all' legislative approach to housing.

September 18, 2019 - The Planning Report

SFO

As the Waters Rise Toward San Francisco International Airport, So Do the Costs of Staying Dry

San Francisco International Airport lies on 5,171-acres of land on eight miles of shoreline along the west side of the San Francisco Bay. Protecting the property from sea-level rise is becoming a more challenging, and expensive, task.

September 18, 2019 - San Francisco Chronicle

San Luis Valley, Colorado

Imported Water Needed to Fuel Colorado Sprawl

An old-fashioned story of wealthy developers coming for the water supply of low-income farming communities is being reprised in Colorado.

September 18, 2019 - The Denver Post

Gaslamp Quarter

Inclusionary Zoning Vetoed in San Diego

One of the more pro-development mayors in the country won't approve an ordinance that would expand the reach of affordable housing requirements for new development.

September 18, 2019 - The San Diego Union-Tribune

Walkable Street

Envisioning the 'Soft City'

Density and diversity—where boundaries between spaces and uses are lessened—create more vibrant, livable places and more functional cities.

September 18, 2019 - Fast Company

San Francisco Apartments

Research: Low-Cost Rental Housing Disappears While Rental Stock Grows

There are more rental units in the United States than ever, but fewer of them are available at low cost, so there are more cost-burdened renters than ever, according to new research.

September 18, 2019 - Joint Center for Housing Studies of Harvard University

Saenredamstraat, Parking Free Street

Watch What Happens When Parking Disappears From an Amsterdam Street

Eve Kessler shares news of a new film from Streetfilms that documents the efforts of a neighborhood in Amsterdam to activate a street liberated from parking.

September 17, 2019 - StreetsBlog NYC

Revel Scooter

Revel Mopeds, a New Addition to the Micromobility Landscape

The latest arrival on the shared mobility scene are Revel mopeds, part of the next generation of devices offering an alternative to car travel.

September 17, 2019 - Slate

Los Angeles City Hall

L.A.'s New Tool for More Efficient City Asset Management

Controller Ron Galperin on his latest announcement proposing the creation of the Los Angeles Municipal Development Corporation, a nonprofit entity that would be tasked with managing city assets in a more strategic way.

September 16, 2019 - The Planning Report

Vancouver Street Scene

Pedestrian Planning Changing the Public Realm in Vancouver

A renewed commitment to pedestrian friendly infrastructure is changing the face of Vancouver and making space for more density.

September 16, 2019 - The Globe and Mail

Waterfront

Lessons in Tax Increment Financing

Vermont enabled tax increment financing (TIF) for the city of Burlington in 1985, in keeping with a nationwide trend at the time. TIF is still a major player in the state's redevelopment efforts to this day.

September 15, 2019 - Lincoln Institute of Land Policy

Echo Park

L.A. Unveils Plans for Historic Water Infrastructure Tax

Katy Young Yaroslavsky discusses the the Measure W Implementation Ordinance and the committee appointees tasked with determining how this new funding will flow into community water projects.

September 15, 2019 - The Planning Report

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.