Urban Development
Consensus on Changes to Property Tax Abatement Too Challenging for Philadelphia
Despite over a year of proposals, counter proposals, and heated debate, the city of Philadelphia has yet to broker a breakthrough on proposed reforms to the city's ten-year property tax abatement program.
The Search for Natural Silence
With more cars on roads and planes in the sky than ever before, finding truly noise-free places with pure natural sounds has become ever more challenging.
Climate Crisis, Housing Crisis on a Collision Course
Sprawl might relieve the housing crisis, but it would also exacerbate the climate crisis. Tough choices will be necessary in regions like San Diego, where the question of where to accommodate growth is very much in question.
Seattle Sets a New Standard for Residential Zoning
Seattle is the latest in a series of cities, states, and counties to alter the landscape of land use regulation by approving what the Sightline Institute describes as the "most progressive" ADU policy in the United States.
Why Are These Prime Boston Properties Sitting Vacant?
Even though they often occupy valuable real estate, some Boston properties have sat vacant in various states of limbo for years.
More Detail on What Happened to 100 Resilient Cities
The Rockefeller Foundation has cited costs and a new strategic direction to explain why it abruptly cut off the program this year. While the work may live on in some form, the move underscores the risks of relying on private funding.
Kaiser Permanente to Construct Highrise Headquarters in Oakland
Following Salesforce's lead, the healthcare giant will relocate to a high-rise urban headquarters, transitioning out of seven locations it currently occupies in the East Bay.
How Some Cities Are Losing People and Staying Prosperous
Population loss doesn't always equate to economic decline. Richard Florida discusses a study examining American metros that are retaining their economic vitality as they shrink.
History Made: Oregon Legislature Ends Single-Family Zoning
A bill that seemed like it could be a casualty of a bitter partisan feud managed to squeak under the wire. With Governor Kate Brown's signature, single-family zoning will be prohibited throughout the state of Oregon.
An Affordable Housing Plan Takes Shape in Atlanta
The "One Atlanta Housing Affordability Action Plan" would protect or create 20,000 affordable homes in Atlanta.
Two Chicago Neighborhoods—Same City, But Starkly Different Worlds
A dataset on health measures in U.S. cities shows the difference in life expectancy between two Chicago neighborhoods is 30 years.
Another Mega-Project Coming to Downtown Toronto
Developers are betting on the continued shift of office work from the suburbs to downtown in Toronto, as the city experiences a building boom to support brisk business in the technology and financial-services industries.
New York City Agencies Gain Design-Build Authority
Agencies in the city of New York needed to state clearance to win design-build authority. Mayor Bill de Blasio hopes the change will allow more efficient development of capital projects.
Numerous Development Subsidies Approved, Despite Controversy, in Cincinnati
The lengths to which the city of Cincinnati should go to attract development investments was up for debate this week.
Voluntary Inclusionary Zoning Scores Early Wins in Philadelphia
A compromise was necessary to enact inclusionary zoning in Philadelphia, and so far it eems to be working out for program supporters.
Walkable Neighborhoods Benefit Property Values
Walkable areas are more prosperous in cities all around the country, a report from Foot Traffic Ahead concludes.
For Lack of Schools: Building Moratorium Set to Take Effect
The Montgomery County Council made a few last minute changes to a residential building moratorium that will take effect next week, halting construction in areas around the county's schools.
More Details on the Trump Administration's Sudden Pro-Development Moves
New efforts by the Trump administration to potentially curtail local land use regulations require closer examination.
Successful Metropolitan Areas Prioritize Proximity
Brookings buils on the findings of recent research about jobs densification in cities around the country to make a larger point about the benefits of proximity in urban design, as compared to sprawl.
Crowdfunding for Affordable Housing
A new experiment in funding affordable housing is underway in Seattle.
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.
Eagle County Government
Harvard University Graduate School of Design
Nashville Planning Department
The Architects Foundation
University of Cincinnati Online
The Pocatello Development Authority
The Urban Renewal Agency of the City of Pocatello
Journal of the American Planning Association
