United States
Federal Housing Administration Expands Housing Rehab Support to Opportunity Zones
The Limited 203(k) Rehabilitation Mortgage Insurance Program will now be available in federally designated Opportunity Zones, and with more to loan than in the previous iteration of the program.
How One Startup Approaches Rent-To-Own
Founded two years ago, Divvy buys homes for cash and then leases them to tenants who apply part of their rent toward a down payment.
Seattle Companies Want to Drive Down Prohibitive ADU Costs
Legal barriers to accessory dwelling units may be disappearing in some places, but costs can still be prohibitive. Several companies are stepping forward with more affordable options.
Urban, Suburban, or Rural?
The Pew Research Center digs into a question of definitions, fraught with exceptions and subjectivity.
California's Priorities for Electrification and Resilience
CEC Chair David Hochschild shares the commission’s strategy for improving the current grid system and how California has been, and will continue to be, a global leader in clean energy innovation.
Saturday Satire: The Bad Intentions of a Trader Joe's Parking Lot
Anywhere a Trader Joe's parking lot can be found, there's also an overfull parking lot capable of crushing souls.
Study: Uber Might Have Curbed Drunk Driving, But Not Drunks
A news study raises questions about the public health effects of the widespread availability of a ride enabled by companies like Uber and Lyft—while it's easier to avoid drunk driving, it's also easier to drink.
Santa Monica Designs Greenest Municipal Building in the World
Amber Richane, Project Manager for the city of Santa Monica's new City Services Building, on the city's commitment to building the world's most sustainable public building.
Friday Funny: A Font Made From the Maps of Congressional Districts
Meet the Ugly Gerry font.
Human Waste as a Climate Solution
Using treated waste as an agricultural fertilizer is controversial, but the practice has several climate-related benefits.
Uber Could Record Rides in the U.S.
Uber wants to launch a program in the United States soon that would allow users to consent to an audio recording of their ride.
Recoupling Planning and Landscape Architecture
A closer marriage between planning and landscape architecture would mean strong connections between the processes of policy making and place making.
It's Organic! The End of Conjecture and the Science Ahead
The history of inquiry into the "organic" nature of cities has revealed findings that inform the practice of urban planning.
Silo-Breaking Sustainability or Real-Life Lorax: L.A.’s First City Forest Officer
The city of L.A.’s first city forest officer, Rachel Malarich, opines on her new role in facilitating cooperation between the city’s departments to achieve a more equitable urban canopy.
Street Vending Makes Public Spaces Better. Stop Criminalizing It.
While recent crackdowns on street vending suggest it is a problem to be fixed, the reality is that street vendors energize urban spaces and make them more accessible for everyone.
Are Traffic Apps More a Problem Than a Solution?
The companies behind navigation apps say they want to decrease congestion in cities. But a tool that is essentially designed to help individuals isn’t going to provide a collective benefit.
Nation's Top Safety Board Recommends Protected Bike Lanes
The NTSB chair issued a stark warning on Nov. 5: "If we do not improve roadway infrastructure for bicyclists, bicyclists will die who otherwise would not," stated Robert Sumwalt in introducing their first report in 47 years devoted to bike safety.
Study Finds a Way to Duplicate the Effect of Self-Driving Cars: Chauffeurs
A small group of test subjects, enabled with the use of a chauffeur, increased driving distances by a collective 83 percent.
Oregon Congressman Takes on Federal Housing Policy
U.S. Rep. Earl Blumenauer (D-Oregon) offers perspective on the U.S. housing crisis, the scale and complexity of which he argues demands affirmative federal action.
New 'Smart Cities Challenge' Focuses on Intersection Technology
A group of ten cities have been announced as semi-finalists in the Smart Cities Challenge sponsored by Parson Corporation.
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.
One Hundred Miles
County of Mendocino
planning NEXT
The Architects Foundation
University of Cincinnati Online
Montrose County
Northern Illinois Transit Authority (NITA)
The Pocatello Development Authority
