Urban Development

Michigan

Form-Based Code Ended Single-Family Zoning a Decade Ago in Grand Rapids

The story of the Grand Rapids zoning code update of a decade ago offers perspective on the possibilities of code reform.

January 1, 2019 - Next City

Philadelphia Italian market

Philadelphia Inquirer's New App Sends 'On This Block' Alerts

The HERE app provides new ways to access information about the local arts and architecture scene.

January 1, 2019 - The Philadelphia Inquirer

Blight Demolition

Record Year for Demolitions in Philadelphia

City records reveal the growing trend of demolitions across the city of Philadelphia.

December 31, 2018 - PlanPhilly

California Wildfire

Wildfires Threaten Over a Million California Structures in High-Risk Areas

With limited action at the state level, communities in vulnerable areas have launched their own local preparedness programs and plans.

December 31, 2018 - The Los Angeles Times

Christmas Shopping

6 Charts to Summarize the 'Retail Apocalypse' in 2018

2018 was more of the same for the demise of retail businesses in the United States.

December 31, 2018 - CityLab

Downtown Philadelphia

Link Kiosks Up and Running in Philadelphia

The kiosks in downtown Philadelphia are part of an effort to deploy smart-cities technology.

December 30, 2018 - Smart Cities Dive

Long Island City

Amazon Delivered a Booming Real Estate Market in Queens

The real estate market in most of New York City is sluggish to close out 2018, but for now, Long Island City is going gangbusters.

December 29, 2018 - The New York Times

South Bay Area

California Prepares for a Prop. 13 Showdown

Expect property tax reform to be in the news in 2019.

December 29, 2018 - San Francisco Chronicle

Burundi

African Country Moving its Capital City

The nation of Burundi is moving Gitega.

December 29, 2018 - Quartz

San Francisco Muni Buses

In Cities, Transit Isn’t Just for Commuting

A closer look at commuting and ridership shows the differences between urban and suburban transit patterns.

December 28, 2018 - Pedestrian Observations

The Mission

Critiquing the Notion of Neighborhood Character

Zócalo Public Square Editor Joe Mathews takes aim at the phrase, “We want to protect the character of the community," calling it a lousy argument in normal times and verging on "treasonous" due to climate change and California's housing crisis.

December 27, 2018 - San Francisco Chronicle

Construction Site in New York City

Rising Labor Costs and Higher Construction Costs for Homes

Labor costs vary greatly throughout the country, but wages are rising in the construction industry, especially in cities like San Francisco, New York, and Los Angeles.

December 27, 2018 - Curbed

Minneapolis, Minnesota

Most Popular Planning Articles of 2018

We crunched the numbers on all the features, blog posts, and news articles we published in 2018 to figure out which made the biggest splash with readers.

December 27, 2018 - James Brasuell

Monorail. Las Vegas

Mobility Plans and Dynamic Planning

A new survey by Governing and living Cities examines what it takes for cities to innovate.

December 26, 2018 - Governing

U.S. Capital

Year in Review: The APA's Advocacy Work in Washington, D.C.

The APA noted that the 115th Congress was "marked by divisive rhetoric, partisan stalemates, and threats to programs on which local communities rely." At the end of the year, however, it could still celebrate substantial victories.

December 26, 2018 - American Planning Association

Sunnyside Yard

Previewing NYC's Next Big Megadevelopment

Sunnyside Yard, a 180-acre railroad yard in Queens, is in the initial stages of a planning process that may eventually bring development surpassing the scale of Hudson Yards. This time, it is hoped, there will be greater focus on affordability.

December 26, 2018 - Intelligencer - New York Magazine

Pennsylvania Borough's Rezoning Snags on Last-Minute Public Opposition

The borough of Homestead, Pennsylvania, just outside of Pittsburgh, is in the middle of its first comprehensive planning process since 2001.

December 24, 2018 - Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Venezuela

Lamenting the Decline of Caracas, Once the 'Jewel of Latin America'

"A generation ago, Venezuela’s capital was one of Latin America’s most thriving, glamorous cities; an oil-fuelled, tree-lined cauldron of culture that guidebooks hailed as a mecca for foodies, night owls and art fans."

December 24, 2018 - The Guardian

Japan Shared Space

Japan Offers Up Free Abandoned Houses

Due to an aging populace, lackluster construction quality, and other factors, Japan is facing a glut of abandoned homes. For those with the ability to live there, these homes can be had for next to nothing.

December 24, 2018 - Fast Company

Atlanta Aerial

Atlanta’s Planning Commissioner Won’t Tolerate Bad Design Any Longer

Tim Keane says quality design isn’t negotiable and developers need to aim higher.

December 23, 2018 - SaportaReport

Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools

This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.

Planning for Universal Design

Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.

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.