Urban Development

For Rent

Rent Control Rejected in California, But the Debate Is Far From Over

An opinion piece in CityLab reiterates the body of research showing evidence that rent control is not an effective tool in reducing housing costs.

November 9, 2018 - CityLab

South Carolina

Seeking Mixed-Income Housing Developers in Columbia, South Carolina

Columbia, South Carolina is concerned about the lack of affordable housing in its city, potentially making it difficult for fire fighters, teachers, and more to afford to live in the community.

November 9, 2018 - WIS News

New Orleans

Inclusionary Zoning Under Consideration in New Orleans

The New Orleans City Planning Commission recently released a report recommending three "potentially mandatory" inclusionary zoning initiatives. The city is working against a deadline from the governor.

November 9, 2018 - Gambit

Atlanta

Transit Oriented Development Spreads to the Suburbs

The Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA) is working on mixed-use development plans for a location near Kensington Station, in DeKalb County.

November 9, 2018 - SaportaReport

Seattle, Washington

When Amazon Happens to Good Cities

After the news broke that Amazon was reportedly going to split its HQ2 plans between New York City and Washington, D.C., some cities are left console themselves. A Planetizen opinion piece picks up the pieces.

November 8, 2018 - James Brasuell

Los Angeles

CDBG Funds Not Useful Focus for Zoning Reform

Linking zoning reform mandates to CDBG funding is not an effective way to change exclusionary zoning.

November 8, 2018 - Brookings

Atlanta

Skyline Redefining Mega-Project Approved in Atlanta

The city of Atlanta has approved its largest development project since the 1960s.

November 8, 2018 - Atlanta Journal-Constitution

New York

Google Planning Massive Expansion in New York City

Google's plan to add 12,000 new workers in the city of New York is the second tech company bonanza for the city this week.

November 8, 2018 - The Wall Street Journal

Vote

Election 2018 Results: Local and State Land Use, Transportation, Housing, and Infrastructure

Election results from every corner of the country.

November 7, 2018 - James Brasuell

Texas

San Antonio Branching Out its Tree Planting Efforts

The city of San Antonio has a lot of money to spend on trees but not a lot of places to plant them.

November 7, 2018 - San Antonio Express-News

Vancouver Skyline Bikes

New Vancouver Council Plotting to Rescind Recently Approved Zoning Changes

Local elections have consequences.

November 7, 2018 - Vancouver Courier

SIlver lake, Los Angeles

Preservation of Gas Station Won't Stand in the Way of New Housing

Preservationists had mobilized behind the cause of protecting a dilapidated gas station in the Silver Lake neighborhood of Los Angeles.

November 7, 2018 - Los Angeles Times

Bikeshare and murals

Columbus Shares its Smart City Playbook

The city of Columbus, Ohio is sharing some of what it has learned about becoming a smart city.

November 7, 2018 - Smart Cities Dive

Illinois

Post-Amazon Chicago: Mayor Seeks $1.7 Billion in Subsidies for Downtown Developments

Making the case that proposed developments won't come to fruition with support from tax increment financing, Mayor Rahm Emanuel is moving quickly to shore up development plans now that Amazon has moved on.

November 7, 2018 - Chicago Tribune

Chicago El Tracks

Are Chicago's Transit Oriented Developments Generating Enough Affordable Housing?

Chicago's Logan Square neighborhood is the scene for a very contemporary land use policy debate: how much affordable housing can cultivated from the development opportunities in proximity to transit lines?

November 6, 2018 - Chicago Tribune

Seattle, Washington

Updated: Two Cities Emerge as Front Runners for Amazon's HQ2

According to leaked information, Northern Virginia, Dallas, and New York City were in the lead in the competition to land the location of the second Amazon headquarters. Now sources report the company will split the HQ2 footprint between two cities.

November 5, 2018 - New York Times

Automated Vehicles

Peter Calthorpe's Self-Driving Car Dissent

The founder of New Urbanism takes his autonomous vehicle skepticism, and ideas for other solutions to congestion, to the pages of the New York Times.

November 5, 2018 - The New York Times

A History of State-Mandated Upzonings in the Pacific Northwest

Past examples of state and provincial governments preempting the land use authority of local governments present several lessons on how to do state-mandated upzoning effectively.

November 5, 2018 - Sightline Institute

Arizona

A Phoenix Suburb Wrestles With How Urban to Become

The city of Avondale approved a walkable, urban vision for its City Center Plan in 2008, but those grand ambitions haven't yet recovered from the Great Recession.

November 5, 2018 - Arizona Republic

Austin

Anti-Displacement Policies Recommended for Austin

Faced growing housing costs and limited funding and resources for struggling homeowners and renters, the city of Austin has ramped up efforts to identify and lobby for housing policy changes.

November 5, 2018 - Next City

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.