Canada

Proposed Toronto Highways Raise Environmental Concerns
Opponents of two new planned highways in greater Toronto argue the construction of new roads is 'short-sighted at best' and would threaten the region's greenbelt areas.

The Four Design Teams Shortlisted for Quayside Redevelopment
After Alphabet-owned Sidewalk Labs dropped the project, Toronto is evaluating other proposals for redeveloping their waterfront.

Opinion: Renters Shouldn't Be a 'Buffer' for Single-Family Homes
Despite the well-documented impacts of traffic noise and pollution, Vancouver's housing policy effectively relegates multi-family apartment buildings to busy arterial roads.

The Post-Bikelash Era?
Building protected bike lanes in Canada isn't as controversial as it once was. Maybe there's hope for the United States?

The Dutch to Crack Down on Large Investors in the Housing Market
Several Dutch cities are planning to limit the reach of large investors in the housing market by limiting the resale of cheap or mid-priced homes.

Canada's Minister of Infrastructure Underscores Importance of Transit-Oriented Development
On the heels of a billion-dollar federal contribution to Vancouver's SkyTrain, the minister emphasized the need for policies that encourage affordable housing near transit.

How Zoning Discrimination Still Affects Canadian Cities
Policies that encouraged urban segregation and led to the displacement and disenfranchisement of communities of color continue to reverberate in Canada's urban centers.

American Jobs to Build Electric Vehicles Excludes Miners
Mining jobs needed to produce the metals for processing into battery parts used to build electric vehicles in America will not be developed in the U.S. but in Australia, Brazil and Canada, mainly to avoid battles with environmentalists.

Lumber Prices Spike; Housing Prices Follow
The cost of lumber has more than doubled in the past year, according to industry sources, adding more than $24,000 to the cost of a new home.

Tech and the Post-Pandemic City
To steer American cities into the future, public and private sectors—and citizens—must work together to build broad, lasting support around complicated issues such as transparency and data privacy.

Canadian Supreme Court Upholds Carbon Tax
A historic ruling in Canada allows the federal government to supersede the efforts of provinces in fighting the causes of climate change.

Opinion: Build Housing, Not Expressways
As it rebuilds the Gardiner Expressway, Toronto could use the opportunity to create more real estate for affordable housing.

Vancouver Might Allow Non-Profit Housing to Skip Rezoning Application
Vancouver is considering eliminating a rezoning application, which could save non-profit developers up to two years in the city's approvals process.

Is the Era of Over-Parking Over?
Cities like Vancouver are rethinking parking minimums as they try to meet climate goals, reduce traffic, and reallocate street space to other modes.

WSDOT Report Outlines Plan for Cascadia High-Speed Rail
A regional high-speed rail network could be coming to the Pacific Northwest, linking cities from Oregon to British Columbia.

The Most Popular Urban Planning Articles of 2020
The most-read news, features, and blogs on Planetizen in that year that was 2020.

The Most Cited Planning Researchers
Using Google Scholar Citation Profiles, Virginia Tech Planning Professor Tom Sanchez has created a database of planning research citations.

Big Investors Cornering the Canadian Rental Market
What's good for pension funds and real estate investment trusts is likely bad for renters.

Anti-Racist Reforms for the Urban Planning Status Quo
An urban planner in Vancouver defines the roots of racism in city building, and calls on urban planners to be more effective anti-racist allies.

Watch: Responding to Anti-Black Racism in Planning and Urbanism
A must-watch conversation between BIPOC researchers and advocates working in the realm of planning and urbanism is available to watch on YouTube.
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