Urban Development

People walking on paved path in green city park with trees and tall city skyscrapers in background.

Green Spaces Benefit Neighborhoods—When Residents can Reach Them

A study comparing green space and walkability scores found that, without effective access to local parks, residents of greener neighborhoods don’t reap the health benefits.

December 3, 2023 - American Heart Association News

WMATA train on elevated track passing by brick multistory buildings in Alexandria, Virginia.

Alexandria Passes Zoning Reform

The city is one of a growing list to eliminate single-family zoning.

December 3, 2023 - DCist

Blurred dense crowd of people with no recognizable faces walking in a busy city.

How Cities Can Avoid Perpetuating Segregation

Residents of big cities, known as the ‘melting pots’ of America, have fewer interactions with people outside their socioeconomic group than those in smaller communities, according to new research.

November 30, 2023 - Stanford News

Rows of solar panels on a large rooftop with office or industrial buildings in background.

US Building Emissions are Growing

Green building standards and efficiency retrofits are not keeping up with energy demand, resulting in a net increase in greenhouse gas emissions from buildings.

November 30, 2023 - Smart Cities Dive

Intersection on Manhattan street with yellow cabs and black cars waiting for stoplight.

Op-Ed: Why NYC Needs a Comprehensive Plan

The city’s congestion pricing program could change transportation and land use in radical ways. A comprehensive plan would make the most of those changes.

November 30, 2023 - Crain's New York Business

Red sign with white text opposing Minneapolist 2040 rezoning plan.

Magical Thinking and NIMBYism

Comparing different types of NIMBYism and where they go wrong.

November 28, 2023 - Michael Lewyn

Entrance sign for Big Bend National Park, West Texas.

West Texas Growth Prompts Water Supply Concerns

Small desert communities are looking for ways to conserve water as their tourist and resident populations grow.

November 28, 2023 - The Daily Yonder

Aerial view of Newwark, New Jersey at sunset with river in foreground.

Newark Announces Supplemental Zoning Board

The temporary board will help speed up the application review process during a development boom.

November 28, 2023 - Governing

Rendering of TOD with two glass towers abovw MARTA transit station in Kensington near Atlanta, Georgia.

New TOD Breaks Ground in Atlanta Area

The project will include over 500 housing units, commercial and retail space, and park spaces.

November 28, 2023 - Urbanize Atlanta

View of low-rise buildings in downtown Durham, North Carolina at sunset.

Durham Eliminates Parking Requirements

Another domino has fallen in the parking reform movement.

November 27, 2023 - The News & Observer

Ground-up view of man using wheelchair waiting to board a light blue bus.

Commentary: Avoiding Ableism in 15-Minute Cities

One author calls on planners to challenge assumptions that exclude people with mobility challenges and other disabilities.

November 21, 2023 - The Conversation

Aerial view of El Paso, Texas at dusk with mountains in background.

El Paso Zoning Changes Could Bring Opportunity—or Displacement

Some residents feared proposed zoning reforms aimed at redressing historic injustices could harm residents in the short term.

November 20, 2023 - Next City

Row of brick three-story townhomes in Britih Columbia.

More Affordable Housing for People, Less for Cars

Most jurisdictions have off-street parking requirements that increase motorists’ convenience but reduce housing affordability. It’s time to reform these policies for the sake of efficiency and fairness.

November 20, 2023 - Todd Litman

Silhouette of woman in long coat walking on darkened city street alone at night, passing brightly lit sotrefront.

Designing Safer Cities

For women and other vulnerable groups, navigating the urban space can be fraught with real and perceived dangers.

November 19, 2023 - The Conversation

People enjoying a sunny day on a green lawn with pink lawn chairs and colorful bird mural in background in Boston, Massachusetts.

Why Social Infrastructure Matters

The pandemic highlighted the importance of parks and public spaces for maintaining both the physical and mental health of urban residents.

November 19, 2023 - The Boston Globe

Group of children running outdoors toward camera.

Designing Cities With Youth in Mind

The car-centric design of many U.S. cities traps young people at home, preventing them from engaging in social activities and urban life.

November 16, 2023 - CNU Public Square

Green trees reflected in high-rise skyscrapers.

Urban Design for Sustainability

The way we build cities can have significant impacts on public health and equity.

November 16, 2023 - Colorado Newsline

College students walking on green lawn with neoclassical red brick domed building in background on University of Illinois campus.

Why College Campuses Make Ideal Models for Cities

College campuses serve as ideal models for cities, with their integrated infrastructure, vibrant communities, sustainability initiatives, and innovation hubs inspiring urban planning and development for a brighter future.

November 16, 2023 - Devin Partida

Aerial view of downtown Chandler, Arizona with desert hills in background.

Arizona Town Expands Infill Incentive District

The Chandler City Council voted to add the city’s downtown and other areas to an incentive program that supports infill development.

November 15, 2023 - Chandler News

View of Gateway Arch and skyline of St. Louis, Missouri.

How Public-Private Partnerships Shape Urban Development

Explore the significant role of public-private partnerships in shaping urban development and driving collaboration and innovation for sustainable city growth.

November 14, 2023 - Devin Partida

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.