Urban Development

New Leadership at SPUR

Alicia John-Baptiste, a veteran of transportation and planning agencies in San Francisco will take the helm of the influential planning and urbanism think thank.

March 17, 2019 - San Francisco Chronicle

Los Angeles River

Concrete’s Contribution to the Rise and Decline of Civilization

As the world becomes more encased in concrete, the detrimental effects of its widespread use are increasing in scale and severity.

March 17, 2019 - The Guardian

San Francisco Sprawl

Amendments to Sen. Wiener's 'More HOMES Act' Address Jobs-Housing Balance

"Jobs-rich area," a new term that targets some suburban regions, is among amendments added March 11 to Senate Bill 50, the reincarnation of Wiener's controversial SB 827 housing bill that died last year.

March 16, 2019 - San Francisco Examiner

Madrid Pedestrian Street

Car Ban in Madrid Boosted Retail Sales, Study Shows

An analysis of retail data suggests that vehicle restrictions in the city center led to more sales and less emissions.

March 16, 2019 - Forbes

Chicago, Illinois

Proposed Mega-Development Would Expand Chicago's Skyline

The One Central development would transform 34 acres over Metro tracks near Soldier Field.

March 16, 2019 - Chicago Tribune

Manhattan

Review: The Hudson Yards Mega-Development, Open to the Public Today

Curbed Architecture Critic Alexandra Lange provides everything you need to know about the $25 billion, "city within the city" that opened to the public in Manhattan today. Also, the review isn't exactly positive.

March 15, 2019 - Curbed

Boston Street

Mapping the Microcosms of Segregation

A new analysis of inequality looks at where people go and how they spend their time.

March 15, 2019 - CityLab

Amarillo City Hall

A New Zoning Code for a More Effective Comprehensive Plan

Amarillo, a city of nearly 200,000 residents located in the Texas Panhandle, will rewrite its zoning ordinance for the first time in over 50 years.

March 15, 2019 - Statesman

First 3D-Printed Home

3D Printing Affordable Housing at Scale

A new 3D printer, coming soon to the market, promises serious construction cost savings in an era of seriously expensive construction costs.

March 15, 2019 - Curbed Austin

Affordable Rental Housing

Report: No City or State in the U.S. Has Enough Housing for Low-Income Residents

"The Gap: A Shortage of Affordable Rental Homes" illustrates the depth of the nation's rental housing affordability crisis.

March 14, 2019 - Curbed

San Francisco Coast

Housing Threats Dialed Down in California

California's new governor is giving local governments more time to comply with state-mandated housing targets.

March 14, 2019 - Los Angeles Times

Philadelphia

'Councilmanic Prerogative' Hindering Development in Philadelphia

The legislative quid pro quo is being used by members of the city council for the wrong reasons, leaving neighborhoods throughout the city in limbo.

March 14, 2019 - The Inquirer / Philly.com

Public Meeting

Study Examines the Benefits of Online Reviews to Planning Research

Online reviews aren't representative of overall neighborhood populations, but they can reveal data that otherwise might go unnoticed during research phases of planning processes.

March 13, 2019 - PhysOrg

San Jose, California

Editorial: Raise Height Limits to San Jose's Proper Stature

The city of San Jose has the "least distinctive" downtown skyline of the nation's major cities, according to editorial board of The Mercury News. The City Council has a chance to change that.

March 12, 2019 - The Mercury News

New York City’s Zoning & Land Use Map

Upgraded Zoning and Land Use Webtool Released for New York City

The New York Department of City Planning is keeping itself on the cutting edge of internet technology.

March 11, 2019 - New York Department of City Planning

California

Legislation Introduced to Enable the Bay Area to Tackle Housing Crisis as a Region

A new bill would grant the Housing Alliance for the Bay Area taxing authority to raise revenue in the nine-county region to find solutions to the housing crisis. Another bill would reduce the voter threshold below two-thirds for eligible taxes.

March 11, 2019 - KQED News

Skid Row Los Angeles

Concern Grows Over lack of Progress With L.A.'s $1.2 Billion Homeless Housing Bond

Measure HHH promised to build 10,000 new units of homeless housing units in the city of Los Angeles. Two years later, not a single unit has been added.

March 11, 2019 - Los Angeles Magazine

New York City Mega-Development

Union Deal Paves Way for Hudson Yards Phase 2

The developers of the Hudson Yards development in New York want to change its deal with union employees as it moves into the second phase of construction.

March 11, 2019 - Crain's New York Business

Portland Streetcar Bike

How, and Where, a Big Transit Oriented Density Bill Would Allow Change in Oregon

Analyzing the potential outcomes of Senate Bill 10, one of two statewide upzoning bills under consideration in the state of Oregon this year.

March 10, 2019 - Sightline Institute

Twin Cities

Neighborhoods 2020: Details on Minneapolis' Next Big Planning Effort

Minneapolis wants to diversify its neighborhood organizations, racially and economically. The Neighborhoods 2020 plan would require those organizations to meet diversity standards.

March 10, 2019 - MinnPost

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.