Urban Development

Connecticut Capitol Building

Connecticut Approves Statewide Zoning Reforms—Bill Awaits Governor's Signature

Advocates and political supporters are calling HB 1607 an incremental, first step, after the process of building a winning political coalition cut back some of the original ambition of the statewide zoning reform effort.

June 2, 2021 - Hartford Courant

Governors Island - South Island Rezoning

Rezoning for Governors Island Approved

A mix of new development focused on future needs and new tools for preservation are included in the rezoning package for the south end of Governors Island approved by the New York City Council in May.

June 2, 2021 - Urbanize New York

Back Bay Boston

What Is Multi-Family Housing?

Often discussed in contrast with single-family zoning, multi-family housing includes buildings and complexes that house more than one household in the same property.

June 1, 2021 - Diana Ionescu

I.M. Pei

12 Asian American and Pacific Islander Urbanists Planners Should Know

Learn more about twelve AAPI leaders who have designed buildings and skylines, influenced the built environment, shaped U.S. history, and advocated for communities and residents.

June 1, 2021 - Planning Magazine

Black Wall Street

Black Wall Street's Second Destruction

After the Tulsa Race Massacre, Greenwood rebuilt strong. Then came "urban renewal."

June 1, 2021 - Next City

San Diego Trolley

San Diego High-Speed Rail Plan Counts on Future Density

Despite slowing population growth statewide, officials believe the region will "grow into" the new rail system if cities promote dense development around transit stations.

June 1, 2021 - San Diego Union-Tribune

Bonaventure Expressway

How Highway Removal Can Benefit Cities

Cities across the country are reevaluating the impacts of major highway on neighborhoods and looking for ways to revitalize and reconnect communities.

June 1, 2021 - The New York Times

Downtown Houston and Buffalo Bayou

New Park Opens as Part of Houston's Ambitious Bayou Greenways 2020 Plan

Bayou Greenways Park is part of a decade-long project building 172 miles of connected greenways around the city of Houston.

May 30, 2021 - Houston Chronicle

walkable street

Cities Seeking '20-Minute Living'

Reducing car dependency can improve air quality, increase access to jobs and opportunities, and help cities meet emissions reduction goals.

May 30, 2021 - The Washington Post

Tacoma Washington

Sweeping Residential Zoning Reform Advances in Tacoma

Zoning and land use changes proposed in the Home in Tacoma plan, an element of the One Tacoma Comprehensive Plan, was approved this month by the Tacoma Planning Commission.

May 28, 2021 - The Urbanist

Maryland Transit Administration

New Tool Demystifies Regulations Around Maryland's Purple Line

The tool aims to help stakeholders "cut through regulatory complexity" and ensure equitable access to the light rail line's economic benefits.

May 27, 2021 - Greater Greater Washington

Bromo Seltzer Tower Baltimore

Proposed Bill Could Fund Redevelopment of Baltimore's 'Highway to Nowhere'

The Reconnecting Communities Act would provide funding for retrofitting highway infrastructure and reconnecting neighborhoods cut off by road projects.

May 27, 2021 - Baltimore Magazine

The Vessel

Suicides Prompt New Public Access Rules for the Vessel at Manhattan's Hudson Yards

The Vessel is reopening after closing for four months due to a rash of suicides.

May 27, 2021 - New York Post

Downtown Portland

The Perils of Central Planning for Parking

Donald Shoup, the author of the seminal planning book "The High Cost of Free Parking," explains how parking requirements have poisoned cities and why poor planning is to blame.

May 26, 2021 - Donald Shoup

City Hall Philadelphia

Philadelphia Accelerator Fund Will Finance Black and Brown-Led Affordable Housing

The fund seeks to level the playing field by making it easier for Black and brown developers to gain access to capital.

May 26, 2021 - WHYY

Domino Park

Most Questions About the Long-Term Impact of the Pandemic Still Unanswered

Planetizen started gathering articles attempting to predict the post-pandemic future in March 2020. The work goes on, with many questions left still to be answered.

May 25, 2021 - James Brasuell

Plan Voisin

What Are Le Corbusier's Towers in the Park?

Part of a movement that sought to modernize cities through a rational reorganization of the urban form, "Towers in the Park" is a style of housing development that emphasizes a separation of uses and access to communal green space and amenities.

May 24, 2021 - Diana Ionescu

Single-Family Homes

On the Essential Role of Land Use in the Fight Against Climate Change

The country cannot hope to achieve its goals for the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions without fundamentally rethinking its land use and development patterns, according to this article.

May 24, 2021 - Brookings

Detached backyard cottage in Oregon

San Diego Residents Challenge the City's ADU Regulations

Residents in some of the city's single-family neighborhoods worry about the potential impacts of ADU construction on local character and parking.

May 24, 2021 - San Diego Union-Tribune

Treasure Valley

Treasure Valley Transformation: Downtown Meridian Development Plans Gain Civic Clout

It isn't just Boise that's changing quickly as in-migration picks up its pace in southwestern Idaho.

May 24, 2021 - Boise Dev

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.