Urban Development

State capital building

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.

July 1, 2019 - The Oregonian

Atlanta Street

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.

June 30, 2019 - SaportaReport

Chicago

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.

June 30, 2019 - The Guardian

Toronto

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.

June 29, 2019 - Bloomberg

Hudson Yards Towers

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.

June 29, 2019 - Crain's Business New York

PNC Tower

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.

June 28, 2019 - CityBeat

Philadelphia Construction

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.

June 28, 2019 - PlanPhilly

walkable street

Walkable Neighborhoods Benefit Property Values

Walkable areas are more prosperous in cities all around the country, a report from Foot Traffic Ahead concludes.

June 27, 2019 - Curbed

Maryland School

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.

June 27, 2019 - Bethesda Magazine

CPAC 2018

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.

June 26, 2019 - The New York Times

The Bronx

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.

June 26, 2019 - Brookings

Construction Worker

Crowdfunding for Affordable Housing

A new experiment in funding affordable housing is underway in Seattle.

June 25, 2019 - The Urbanist

Trump Campaign

Trump Creates Council to Study 'Eliminating Barriers to Affordable Housing Development'

President Trump is scheduled to sign an executive order today that will create a federal-level group to study the obstructionist practices of local governments and the potential for a federal response.

June 25, 2019 - The Wall Street Journal

Porch

State of the Nation's Housing: Housing Production, Supply Still Coming Up Short

The Joint Center for Housing Studies of Harvard University released its annual "The State of the Nation's Housing" report this morning. There are some signs of post-recession normalcy in the housing market for high-income earners.

June 25, 2019 - Joint Center for Housing Studies of Harvard University

Lake Michigan

'Yes in My Back Yard Act' Introduced in the U.S. Senate

U.S. Senator Todd Young (R-Indiana) has introduced a new law that picks sides in the housing debate, though the law is unlikely to produce structural change in the development process the near future.

June 25, 2019 - Senator Todd Young

Chicago, Illinois

Editorial Board Calls for Tax Increment Financing Reform in Chicago

The Chicago Tribune says the city of Chicago can't be trusted with tax increment financing (TIF), so it's time for a do-over.

June 25, 2019 - Chicago Tribune

Virginia

Sustainable Mobility Goals in Reach in Richmond

As Richmond, Virginia grows, the city’s network of fixed-route transit and shared ride service is evolving to meet travelers’ needs.

June 25, 2019 - Mobility Lab

U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development

HUD Secretary Carson Supports Minneapolis-Style Upzoning

U.S. Housing and Urban Development Ben Carson, in Minneapolis last week, expressed support for the planning reforms included in the Minneapolis 2040 Comprehensive Plan.

June 25, 2019 - Star Tribune

Madrid Street

Madrid’s Bold Car Ban May Become a Thing of the Past

A new conservative administration says it wants to do away with the ban on cars in the city center.

June 24, 2019 - CityLab

Toronto Waterfront

Master Plan for Quayside 'Smart City' Released by Sidewalk Labs and Waterfront Toronto

The long-awaited master plan for Quayside in Toronto was released to the public today.

June 24, 2019 - Toronto Star

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.