Urban Development

Seattle Plans Remodel of World’s First Freeway Cap Park
The Brutalist design by a famed landscape architect will be preserved, but not without better visibility and improved lighting.

California's 'Aggressive' Housing Bill Dies Quickly, Not Quietly, in Committee
SB 827, the controversial housing bill proposed by State Senator Scott Wiener, had a very brief run in the California State Legislature.

Where Big Money Gets Spent on Apartment Construction
Between 2000 and 2016, developers spent more than $10 billion on apartment construction in more than half of the country's largest cities.

Dallas Breaks Ground on Yet Another Downtown Park
Pacific Plaza will the fourth park built in the center of the city in the last decade, and there are still plans for three more.

No Two Property Taxes Are Alike
The annual "50-State Property Tax Comparison Study" is available examines the imbalances across jurisdictions, and even within jurisdictions, when it comes to property taxes.

New York City Council Wants More Funding to Go After Airbnb Scofflaws
New York rules have rules about short-term rentals are supposed to work. That doesn't mean everyone is following them.

Pushing Back on 'Suburban Triumphalism'
Interested observers have been predicting a crest of the American "back to the city" movement for years now—the idea that as Millennials come of age they will lose interest in urban lifestyles and seek the comfort of the suburbs.

The Amazon Opportunity to Revitalize Urban Communities
If corporations continue to be able to take public subsidy as the price of locating in an area, maybe the debate isn't whether to offer subsidies but simply how and for what to offer them. Here’s one incentive that might actually benefit communities.

Regional Planning for Growth on Display in the Pacific Northwest
The Puget Sound Regional Council (PSRC) released a new "Regional Centers Framework."

Growth and Change Take Hold in Boise
Rapid growth is now the trend in a region that faced some of the worst effects of the Great Recession.

Revisiting the 'Edge City'
Lessons from Edge City, after the world changed again.

How Much Parking Near Transit Is Too Much Parking Near Transit?
Faced with the expensive costs of adding park and ride facilities along its expanding transit system, transportation planners in the Seattle region wonder if it's money well spent.
New Report Examines the Bay Area's Broken Housing Market
The twin challenges of a housing shortage and low wage increases threaten the growth of the San Francisco Bay Area, according to a new report.

PlanIt Podcast: The Value of Neighborhood Groups in Planning
Neighborhood is a term loosely used when talking about any certain area of a community. In this episode, we explore the value of collaboration between neighborhood groups and cities in local planning processes and best practices.

Housing Prices Growing Fastest in Berlin
Housing prices soared in Germany in 2017, but one city outpaced the world.

How Surveillance in Cities is Evolving
Across the globe, smart cities are increasingly procuring and implementing information technology in order to improve the efficiency and sustainability of urban spaces. The former CTO of L.A. and the mayor of Beverly Hills weigh in on the subject.
Louisiana State Senate Votes to Preempt Locals on Inclusionary Zoning
Earlier this week, the Louisiana State Senate approved SB 462, which preempts local authorities from approving inclusionary zoning.

Philadelphia Leaders Announce Affordable Housing Package—Inclusionary Zoning Not Included
Philadelphia will create a one percent "construction impact tax" to help fund affordable housing projects around the city.

Speculation Continues on the Death of the Brooklyn-Queens Streetcar
The New York Times transit reporter looks into the lack of progress on the $2.5 billion project proposed by Mayor Bill de Blasio in his 2016 State of the City speech. The mayor responds angrily to a Daily News article casting doubt on the project.

Tax Increment Financing a Possibility for Big Pittsburgh Redevelopment Project
A $125 million adaptive reuse project is looking for help with infrastructure improvements. Pittsburgh's Urban Redevelopment Authority is considering tax increment financing to fund street improvements.
Pagination
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.
Municipality of Princeton
Roanoke Valley-Alleghany Regional Commission
City of Mt Shasta
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
Transportation Research & Education Center (TREC) at Portland State University
US High Speed Rail Association
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
Municipality of Princeton (NJ)