Urban Development

An image of a mural depicting Gloria Casarez on the outside of a gym on 12street in Philadelphia.

Controversy on Philadelphia's Historic Commission Over Mayoral Pressure

As one of the most historic cities in the country, Philadelphia faces uniquely intense pressures between historic preservation and development. A new controversy on the city's Historic Commission offers the latest example of the dynamic.

October 19, 2021 - WHYY

Soldier Field

Phase 1 Revealed for $20 Billion Chicago Megaproject

Plans for One Central, a proposed megadevelopment that would add 22.3 million square feet of buildings to the city of Chicago, are taking shape.

October 19, 2021 - Chicago Tribune

Image of Buford Highway, Georgia

Major Redevelopment Planned for Gwinnett County, Georgia

City leaders in Norcross, Georgia approved a plan that would bring new housing, retail, and parks to a 'long-neglected' stretch of highway.

October 18, 2021 - The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

A view from above of the Oakland neighborhood in Pittsburgh.

Controversial Zoning Changes Clear the Way for New Pittsburgh Subdistrict

The Pittsburgh City Council gave the green light to a zoning amendment that could eventually produce 1,000 apartment units planned for the neighborhood of Oakland.

October 17, 2021 - Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Suburban Pittsburgh

What Is White Flight?

'White flight' refers to the exodus of white Americans from central cities to suburbs in the early and mid-20 century, a phenomenon which led to declining tax revenue and business closures that created lasting damage to urban neighborhoods.

October 14, 2021 - Diana Ionescu

Grocery Store Public Health

Who Really Needs 15-Minute Grocery Delivery?

New start-ups are promising ultra-fast delivery, but at a high cost to workers, the environment, and the urban fabric.

October 14, 2021 - Vice News

Transit Oriented Development

Transit Agencies Leasing Real Estate to Raise Revenue

As ridership revenues drop, more agencies are looking to diversify their income sources by leasing agency-owned land to developers.

October 14, 2021 - Pew Trusts

An image of Downtown Nashville with the Cumberland River at dusk.

Development Synergy Pushing Buildings to Record Heights in Nashville

A development proposed for a site adjacent to the buzzy Nashville Yards will set a new record height for the city of Nashville.

October 14, 2021 - The Architect's Newspaper

Boston

Boston Introduces 'Maximum Parking Ratios' for Large Buildings

Large buildings with uses of all kinds will be subject to Boston's new "Maximum Parking Ratios."

October 14, 2021 - Streetsblog Mass

Ventura County

What Is an Urban Growth Boundary?

Some cities and regions limit the growth of sprawl by setting an urban growth boundary—a strict geographic limit on where real estate development can occur.

October 13, 2021 - James Brasuell

Fuel Break Wildfire

How California's Wildfires Affect Home Sales and Values

Redfin data show slower home price growth in areas recently affected by wildfires, while developers rush in to rebuild.

October 13, 2021 - Redfin

Houston

Texas, the Bellwether State

With its rapid economic growth, dynamic cities, and increasingly diverse population, Texas could offer a model for the future of the United States.

October 13, 2021 - The New York Times

Zoning map of Winnipeg, Canada, 1947

Opinion: Outdated Zoning Codes Stifle Growth and Development

Strict separation of uses may be an inefficient way to zone dynamic modern cities.

October 13, 2021 - The Market Urbanism Report

Houston Metro

Federal Dollars Could Pave the Way for Greener, More Equitable Infrastructure

Houston's director of Transportation and Drainage Operations wants to see more sustainable development in the city that has historically depended on freeways as its critical infrastructure.

October 11, 2021 - Houston Chronicle

Apartment for Rent

U.S. Rents Spiking As More Renters Enter the Market

All of the nation's largest metro areas are experiencing sharp growth in costs and demand for rental housing, posing even more challenges for low-income renters.

October 11, 2021 - Bloomberg CityLab

A satellite image of the location of Murio Farms in Boise, Idaho.

380-Acre Development Planned in Southwest Boise

One of the fastest-growing cities in the country could be making space for even more growth.

October 10, 2021 - Boise Dev

Atlanta Braves Country

New Apartments Rise at the Former Home of the Atlanta Braves

Where the boys of summer once played, hundreds of households now call home.

October 10, 2021 - Urbanize Atlanta

Hartford Connecticut

A 'Pro-Homes Playbook' for Planning and Land Use Commissioners

Desegregate Connecticut, the organization working for planning and zoning reforms in the Constitution State, recently published a series of "playbooks" intended to spur action at the local level.

October 10, 2021 - Desegregate Connecticut

Dokken is a western part of the Port of Bergen (Norway). At Dokken is the large, white Port Warehouse, in which a small brown/black building (in the center of this image) is the WWII German anti-aircraft artillery bunker (RK-ID 212746).

Norwegian City Plans for Zero-Emissions Neighborhood

As it winds down port operations in the area, Bergen plans to transform its Dokken district from a busy shipping hub to a car-free, 'regenerative' zone.

October 8, 2021 - Fast Company

Roanoke, Virginia

Northern Virginians Look to Community Land Trusts to Increase Affordable Housing

As the state's real estate costs rise, community land trusts struggle to access funding and land in order to build more affordable housing.

October 7, 2021 - Greater Greater Washington

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.