Urban Development

Toronto Waterfront

Sidewalk Labs' Quayside Plans Get First Public Hearing in Toronto

The public got its first chance to weigh in on a controversial proposal to makeover a sliver of Toronto waterfront as an ambitious experiment in "smart city" technology.

July 18, 2019 - The Star

Warringah Freeway

Wave of New Apartment Building in Sydney Means Relief for Renters

Sydney built more than 30,000 multi-unit homes last year. That new supply has meant falling rents in most of the city.

July 18, 2019 - The Sydney Morning Herald

Georgetown Canal

Does the Plan to Revitalize a D.C. Canal Too Much Resemble the High Line?

Controversy over a plan to revitalize the Chesapeake & Ohio (C&O) Canal in Washington, D.C. has some questioning whether the High Line in New York City is the best model for the adaptive reuse of public space.

July 18, 2019 - Greater Greater Washington

Construction

Low-Income Housing Tax Credits Lose Luster in the Post-GOP Tax Reform World

Fewer people investing in low-income housing tax credits means fewer affordable housing units being built—at a time when affordable units are in extremely short supply.

July 18, 2019 - The Sacramento Bee

New York City Hotel

Small Hotels a Non-Starter After Zoning Change in New York City

A local labor organization wanted larger hotels to help workers create unions, so they sought a zoning change to make it harder to develop smaller hotels in light manufacturing zones.

July 17, 2019 - The Real Deal

Homeless Cars

A 'Safe' Parking Lot for the Homeless Proposed in San Francisco

If approved, a new facility in San Francisco will allow homeless people living in RVs and vans a safe place to park. Access to support services will also be available at the site.

July 17, 2019 - San Francisco Chronicle

Philadelphia, Pennsyvlania

Study: Not All Gentrification Effects Are Equal

A comprehensive national study finds that for many original residents of gentrifying neighborhoods, the effects of gentrification can have positive effects.

July 17, 2019 - The Philadelphia Inquirer

Dolores Park

Infographic: Space Allocation by Population in 15 U.S. Cities

A new infographic breaks down how much space is devoted to buildings, green space, and roads in 15 major U.S. cities.

July 17, 2019 - Geotab

New York

Lawsuit Challenges New York's Brand New Rent Regulations

The landlord lobby isn't accepting defeat.

July 17, 2019 - The New York Times

Supermarket Japan

Experiencing the City in the Supermarket

Grocery stores are more than just places to buy food. They’re the universal gateway to city life and culture.

July 16, 2019 - New York Magazine

Hilton Hotel Harbor Island San Diego

Airbnb Limitations Fall Short in California Legislature

A state bill that would have limited the number of short-term rentals in the coastal areas of San Diego County has been delayed until next year's legislative session.

July 16, 2019 - San Diego Union-Tribune

Denver Union Station

Uber Says Denver Transit Riders Are Buying Tickets Through Its App

Denver travelers can now access transit schedules and purchase tickets through the Uber app. Uber says increased ticket sales show that integrating rideshare and transit makes sense.

July 16, 2019 - The Denver Post

Master-Planned Cittes

Master-Planned Cities in the Spotlight

The Guardian last week published a series of articles and interactive features on the subject of the master-planned communities of the world.

July 15, 2019 - The Guardian

Sprawl

Op-Ed: Lakewood's Growth Cap Is 'Climate Arson'

In a scathing response to arguments in favor of a "slow growth" ordinance in Lakewood, Colorado, Mike Eliason rebukes the idea that capping growth is a green policy.

July 15, 2019 - Medium

Sunnyside Yard

Tricky Planning Politics for New York's Sunnyside Yard Mega-Project

An 18-month planning process is unfolding in a part of New York City that has not taken kindly to large, corporate visions of the future.

July 15, 2019 - City Limits

Texas

Plano, Texas Could Scrap its Growth Plan After Years of Litigation

A lawsuit has been successful in derailing the Plano Tomorrow plan, approved in 2015. The city could default to its 1986 plan.

July 14, 2019 - The Dallas Morning News

Wisconsin

With 2020 Democratic National Congress on the Way, Downtown Milwaukee Revitalizes

Downtown Milwaukee is getting makeover, from high-profile new buildings on the skyline to ambitious adaptive reuse projects and an emerging entertainment district.

July 14, 2019 - Curbed

Orenco Station

What Made It Possible for Oregon to End Single-Family Zoning?

Factors beyond political chance played into Oregon's recent decision to legalize missing middle housing. One key point: the state was already halfway there.

July 14, 2019 - City Observatory

San Francisco Downtown

Private Branding of the Public City

Oracle Park, the Blue Shield of California Theater, Ford GoBike—branding abounds in San Francisco.

July 14, 2019 - San Francisco Chronicle

Wine Country Fires

In California, Struggles Over Insurance Regulation in the Era of Climate Change

Setting insurance rates by looking to the past to predict the future doesn’t make sense with increasing environmental uncertainties, argues the California insurance industry.

July 13, 2019 - Voice of San Diego

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.