Urban Development

A map of transit-rich areas and urban centers in the Vancouver, British Columbia region.

Vancouver Approves New Metro 2050 Regional Plan

The region around Vancouver in British Columbia has a new 30-year regional plan.

March 2, 2023 - Daily Hive

Crosswalk with pedestrians in front of four-story red brick buildings in New Haven, Connecticut

There is Nothing Illiberal About Walkability

Despite recent claims to the contrary, the concept of the 15-minute city promotes freedom of mobility and universal access to a city’s resources and amenities.

March 2, 2023 - The Washington Post

View of Seattle skyline with houses in foreground

Thousands of Seattle Housing Units Blocked by Lawsuits

Legal challenges filed by condo associations are holding up multiple high-rise housing developments that could bring much-needed housing and jobs to downtown Seattle.

March 2, 2023 - The Urbanist

Highway Construction

FHWA Rescinds Guidance Discouraging Road Expansions

A decision from the Government Accountability Office spurred by Republican pushback led the agency to issue a new memo abandoning its previous stance, which ‘gently’ promoted maintenance work over new road construction.

February 28, 2023 - Politico

Westminster Mall facade, Orange County

Orange County Developers Eye Dying Malls for Housing, Mixed-Use

As indoor malls lose their luster, their properties offer convenient amenities and infrastructure perfectly suited for redevelopment into housing, parks, and retail.

February 27, 2023 - Los Angeles Times

Pacific Coast

Huntington Beach Mounts Legal Challenge to State-Mandated Density

The Orange County beachfront community has had enough of the California State Legislature’s preemption of local zoning laws.

February 27, 2023 - LAist

Resilience Matters: Collective Action For Healthier Communities

The Island Press Urban Resilience Project (URP) has published a new, free "Resilience Matters" e-book that contains fascinating articles, op-eds, and interviews that provide practical guidance for collective action to build a fairer, greener future.

February 27, 2023 - Resilience Matters: Collective Action for Healthier Communities

Aerial view of downtown Milwaukee, Wisconsin at sunset

Milwaukee Sets Sights on a Million Residents

Zoning reform will be key to the Milwaukee Mayor Cavalier Johnson’s vision to almost double the city’s population.

February 27, 2023 - Wisconsin Public Radio

Rendering of Revitalized Collision Bend Courtesy of Bedrock

Dan Gilbert’s Foray Into Cleveland Could Transform the City’s Waterfront

The public has been getting a close look at a proposed mega-project at Tower City Center in Cleveland that could eventually yield 3.5 million square feet of construction.

February 26, 2023 - Cleveland.com

A view from above of the Oakland neighborhood in Pittsburgh.

Pittsburgh Moves Ahead With Zoning Changes for University-Adjacent Neighborhood

The implementation of a new master plan for the neighborhood of Oakland, home to the University of Pittsburgh, is moving forward despite controversy and a contentious community engagement process.

February 24, 2023 - Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

San Diego skyline and apartment buildings

San Diego Expands Transit Oriented Zoning From a Half-Mile to a Mile

A recent package of code changes by the city of San Diego will make it possible to build high-rise residential buildings and accessory dwelling units in larger areas around public transit.

February 23, 2023 - The San Diego Union-Tribune

Washington Square Park, New York City

Reshaping Cities for Present-Day Populations

The demographic changes of the last few years give city planners and urban designers an opportunity to reimagine how public spaces can most effectively promote public health, wellbeing, and equity.

February 23, 2023 - Douglas C. Smith

Several office towers are under construction next to a freeway in Burlingame, California.

Lawsuits Follow Housing Plan Failures in the San Francisco Bay Area

The Regional Housing Needs Assessment drama continues in California.

February 22, 2023 - San Francisco Chronicle

South of Market

Op-Ed: San Francisco’s Downtown Plan Nothing Revelatory

Mayor London Breed’s newest proposal for revitalizing downtown San Francisco faces some sharp criticism for offering no new solutions after the city failed to deliver on goals and recommendations made in 2020.

February 21, 2023 - Mission Local

Denver Union STation TOD

New Federal Grant Program Supports Transit-Oriented Housing

Local governments can apply for part of a $5 million program aimed at helping them identify appropriate sites, preserve affordable housing, and build more housing near transit.

February 21, 2023 - Route Fifty

MacDougal Street

Jane Jacobs and Zoning

Does the work of Jane Jacobs support restrictive zoning?

February 21, 2023 - Michael Lewyn

Trees

Planting More Trees to Protect and Save Lives

A new study estimates that more than a third of premature deaths from excessive heat can be prevented by planting more trees in cities.

February 20, 2023 - World Economic Forum

Waterfront walkway with benches and Detroit skyline in the background

Shaping a 15-Minute City Vision for Detroit and Cleveland Using Data-Assisted Modeling

How master plans in the two cities hope to transform their historic, and historically underutilized, waterfronts.

February 19, 2023 - Trevor McIntyre

Los Angeles

New All-Affordable Zone Proposed for L.A.’s Skid Row

A Los Angeles Times editorial argues that Skid Row’s future should learn from the mistakes of the past.

February 16, 2023 - Los Angeles Times

Boise, Idaho

900 Rental Units Approved for 44-Acre Development in Boise

One of the fastest growing regions in the country is making room for more residents.

February 16, 2023 - BoiseDev

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.