Massachusetts
Zoning Slowing Production of New Homes in Massachusetts
A quarter of all Massachusetts renters spend more than half their income on rent. A report from the Smart Growth Alliance argues NIMBYism is partly to blame.
Boston’s Seaport District, Where Building Started Before Flood Preparation
The Boston waterfront has been booming, but the area is extremely vulnerable to climate change and rising sea levels. Measures to address those risks have come just recently.
Reviving an Old Regional Rail Route to Spur Tourism in Western Massachusetts
The Berkshire Mountains have long been a popular destination for sightseers, tourists, and weekend warriors. A pilot Amtrak route is designed to attract new waves of New Yorkers to the region.
Boston City Hall Plaza Ready for a Makeover
Bostonians love to hate City Hall Plaza. That could change, as the city finalizes a renovation project that aims to transform the way the public sees the city's government.
How, and Where, Land Use Regulations Block Multi-Family Housing in the Boston Region
New analysis explores every city and suburb in the Boston region to reveal the tools of multi-family housing obstruction—sometimes it takes more than zoning to block apartments from getting built.
Price for Repairing Boston's Transit System: $10 Billion
A new estimate of how much it will cost to repair all of the infrastructure in the MBTA system places the price tag $3 billion higher than an estimate made only four years ago.
Commute Frustrations Boil Over in Massachusetts Poll
A recent poll of Massachusetts voters was able to connect the realities of the housing market to the frustrations of the daily commute.
Ending Rent Control Changed Everything in Massachusetts. What Happens If It Becomes Legal Again?
Two proposed bills would roll back a statewide prohibition on rent control in Massachusetts. The city of Cambridge, how of the anti-rent control movement in the state, is now a poster child for the housing crisis.
Scenario Planning Can Help Prepare for a Hard-to-Predict Future
Questions about the variables that could significantly alter the future of transportation, and the configuration of the public realm to accommodate those futuristic forms of transportation, illustrate the potential power of scenario planning.
New Bike Infrastructure Standard Set in Cambridge
Cambridge, Massachusetts has made a thorough commitment to building robust bike infrastructure with every street repair project.
Zoning Code Rewrite Paused in Newton, Massachusetts
The mayor of Newton says the city's planning department is stretched too thin, with several ordinances and large development proposals in the works.
Boston Reconsidering its Inclusionary Zoning Formula
Boston has set the same inclusionary zoning requirements for 19 years, and after a busy 2018, the city could be set to require even more affordable housing with each new development.
Zoning Reform Gets Another Try as Massachusetts Wrestles With Housing Crunch
Strong support for local control has made statewide legislation to address the housing affordability crisis difficult to approve in the Bay State.
Mapping the Microcosms of Segregation
A new analysis of inequality looks at where people go and how they spend their time.
A Twitter Account for Your Transit Mood
A Twitter account is broadcasting its findings about the mood of transit riders in Boston, in real time.
MBTA Will Move to Proof-of-Payment System
A new plan will phase out cash fare payments on buses and trolleys, but many of the details are still up in the air.
Will Boston Follow New York City and Consider Cordon Tolling?
Tom Acitelli has been following the intersection of congestion pricing and transportation in Boston, particularly as at affects transit. Noting the landmark agreement on cordon pricing reached in New York on Tuesday, he asks if Boston is ready.
A Sprinkle of Stores: Wrestling With Jacobs's Uncertainty
Jane Jacobs used vague terms to describe the number of stores necessary for a safe and vibrant streetscape. Here, author Fanis Grammenos attempts to discover a more specific number to attach to this prescription.
Boston Plans to Put $26 Million Toward Affordable Housing Projects
A new initiative will fund 10 new developments as the city works to increase available affordable housing.
Cambridge Won’t Reach Goals to Curb Car Ownership
The city’s original plan to decrease car ownership isn’t quite panning out, even with more alternative transportation options for residents.
City of Costa Mesa
Licking County
Barrett Planning Group LLC
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
Mpact Transit + Community
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
City of Universal City TX
ULI Northwest Arkansas
Town of Zionsville
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.
