North Carolina

Raleigh

Missing Middle Housing, Parking Reform Under Consideration in Raleigh

Elections have consequences, and a new, younger City Council in Raleigh is ready to implement progressive planning and land use reforms.

January 16, 2020 - News & Observer

Charlotte, NC

Understanding North Carolina's Urban-Rural Divide

North Carolina cities are thriving, but rural counties are not experiencing the same level of growth. Still, residents in rural areas say the numbers do not necessarily capture the whole picture.

January 6, 2020 - The Courier-Tribune

Greensboro Station on Metro's Silver line near Tyson's Corner

5 Transit Projects to Watch in the D.C. Region in 2020

Light rail, bus rapid transit, subway cell service, and more.

December 26, 2019 - WAMU

North Carolina State Capital

New Mayor in Raleigh Calls for an Affordable Housing 'Moon Shot'

There's a necessity for Mayor Mary-Ann Baldwin's affordable housing ambition: average rents are rising faster than the national average in the North Carolina city.

December 15, 2019 - The Raleigh News & Observer

Charlotte Light Rail

A New 26-Mile Light Rail Line Considered for Charlotte

The Charlotte Area Transit System (CATS) would like to add an ambitious, expensive project to its capital investment plans, but funding the project is more daunting than the last time the system expanded.

October 28, 2019 - The Charlotte Observer

Mexico City, Florida

Awareness of Climate Change Threats Doesn't Motivate People to Act, Study Finds

Disaster preparedness efforts need to take into account that homeowners in vulnerable areas don’t take action even when the risks are clear.

October 25, 2019 - Grist

Atlanta to Charlotte Passenger Rail Corridor Investment Plan

High-Speed Rail Connecting Atlanta to Charlotte Studied

The Georgia Department of Transportation and the Federal Railroad Administration recently released a draft study of a plan to link Atlanta and Charlotte via high-speed rail.

October 25, 2019 - The Atlanta Journal Constitution

North Carolina Bus TRansit

Asheville to Begin Bus Improvement Project

A $6 million project in Asheville, North Carolina will include the purchase of new hybrid and diesel buses and an update of the city’s transit center.

September 13, 2019 - Asheville Citizen Times

Durham City Park

New Density Planned as Affordable Housing, Growth Management Tool in Durham, North Carolina

The City Council of Durham, North Carolina has approved changes to the city's master plan, first approved in 2005, to allow new forms of density in residential neighborhoods proximate to the city's downtown urban core.

September 6, 2019 - News & Observer

Queens Park

An Interview With New York Parks Commissioner Mitchell Silver, FAICP

Mitchell Silver, commissioner of the New York City Department of Parks and Recreation, former planning director of Raleigh, and former president of the APA, discusses the aspirations and realities of a long, successful career in planning.

September 4, 2019 - James Brasuell

Coal Ash Waste

Governor, Regulators Standing Up to Dirty Energy Interests in North Carolina

Can a Democratic governor in a state controlled by a Republic legislature achieve meaningful emissions reductions from the state's energy utilities? North Carolina Governor Gary Cooper is trying.

September 3, 2019 - Inside Climate News

Supreme Court

Cities Lost Political Power in that 'Other' Supreme Court Ruling Last Month

On June 27, the Supreme Court didn't just rule on the Census Bureau's citizenship question. It also decided that it wasn't their business to consider how congressional districts are drawn, which will likely reduce the influence of cities.

July 7, 2019 - The New York Times

North Carolina Outer Banks Cape Hatteras National Seashore

Living Shorelines for Storm and Flood Protection

More coastal cities and communities are turning to the "soft" solutions of living shorelines—relying on "a combination of oyster reefs, oyster shells, rocks, marsh plants, and other natural materials can be an effective alternative to seawalls."

June 4, 2019 - Vox

Raleigh North Carolina Skyline

Whites Moving Into Black Neighborhoods Tip the Scales in Problematic Ways

Black neighborhoods near city centers are diversifying as whites move in and buy up properties. But the influx of these higher-income residents is leading to more divisions than inclusivity.

May 6, 2019 - The New York Times

North Carolina Flooding

Looking Beyond FEMA Flood Maps, Cities Raise the Bar for Buildings in Floodplains

Cities across the country are developing floodplain construction standards that are more stringent than those required by FEMA.

April 2, 2019 - Inside Climate News

Lynx Blue Line

Scrutiny for Charlotte Silver Line Light Rail Plan

Cost and economic development considerations supersede mobility considerations in the planning for Charlotte's planned light rail line.

March 9, 2019 - WFAE

NCCU Station Rendering Durham

Duke Faculty Support N.C. Rail Project; University Opposes It

Duke University will not sign an agreement for a regional rail project that has widespread support from the campus community.

March 6, 2019 - Streetsblog USA

Manteo, North Carolina

The 'Decolonial Planning' Project

A potentially radical point of view that must be considered by planners: moving the field forward will require soul searching that confronts an overcomes the disposition and exploitation that defined the past and continues to influence the future.

March 5, 2019 - Progressive City

Downtown Charlotte

Affordable Housing Tipping Point in Charlotte

Charlotte saw the writing on the wall, and decided to act decisively in addressing its lack of affordable housing options.

February 20, 2019 - Governing

South Carolina Resilience

North Carolina Reconsidering its Stance on Climate Change

Two hurricanes later, residents of North Carolina aren't so willing to deny the need to do something about the effects of climate change. A Democratic governor and a changing State Legislature have already produced action.

December 29, 2018 - Inside Climate News

News from HUD User

HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research

Call for Speakers

Mpact Transit + Community

New Updates on PD&R Edge

HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research

Top Books

An annual review of books related to planning.

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The best of the Internet—since 2002.

Top Apps

Planning apps for a brave new world.

Top Schools

The definitive ranking of graduate planning programs.

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.