The Daily Source of Urban Planning News

Elderly Walking

Changing Perceptions of Aging in Planning

In planning, stereotypes of older adults still dominate, and it’s time for that message to change.

March 22 - Insights (Toole Design)

Philadelphia Jewelers' Row

The Role of Local Governments in Stabilizing the Economy

By providing support for workers and small businesses, local governments will play a crucial role in weathering the virus and stabilizing the economy.

March 22 - Brookings

Public Transit Ridership

40 Million Californians Ordered to Stay At Home to Contain Coronavirus

The largest state in the country has been ordered to shelter in place.

March 20 - California Coronavirus (COVID-19) Response

Seattle Electric Bus

King County Postpones August Target for Transit Sales Tax Initiative

King County, home to Seattle, will wait to ask voters to approve a 0.2% sales tax for funding transit until a time both when transit use is higher, and people aren’t facing waves of sudden unemployment.

March 20 - The Urbanist

Glendale, California

Economic Argument for Historic Preservation in L.A.: Older Housing is Affordable Housing

Donovan Rypkema and Adrian Scott Fine highlight myth-busting findings on the impacts of historic preservation overlay zones (HPOZs) on affordability, density, diversity, and economic resilience of neighborhoods across Los Angeles.

March 20 - The Planning Report


First-Time Buyers

More Questions Than Answers in Real Estate

The effects of the coronavirus pandemic on the U.S. real estate market are only beginning to show, but renters, homeowners, landlords, lenders, and more need to prepare for the worst.

March 20 - Connecticut Law Tribune

Construction Site

The Architecture Billings Index Was Strong on the Eve of the Pandemic

The Architecture Billings Index in February 2020 could lend hope in the current economic climate, or it could set a benchmark for a future recovery.

March 20 - Archinect


UC Berkeley and North Berkeley

The New Regionalism of the Coronavirus Pandemic

In the absence of federal leadership in dealing with the coronavirus pandemic, East Coast states and West Coast counties have collaborated to implement uniform containment strategies to arrest the spread of COVID-19, and it's catching on.

March 19 - CNBC

Grand Central Station Tunnel

Transit Agencies Seeking Federal Help as Ridership Plummets

Two of the most transit rich regions in the United States have sounded alarms about the need for federal relief as transit ridership plummets as workers stay home or avoid public transit. The APTA is supporting the cause.

March 19 - Government Technology

Accessory Dwelling Unit

Mayor Lightfoot Expected to Push for Legal Coach Houses in Chicago

Mayor Lori Lightfoot is expected to introduce legislation that would relax zoning restrictions on coach houses, known widely as accessory dwelling units, in the city of Chicago.

March 19 - Chicago Sun-Times

Atlanta #Snowpocalypse

Traffic Congestion Disappears from Atlanta

A region once brought to a standstill by two inches of snow is now almost completely free of traffic congestion.

March 19 - Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Interstate 5

$10 Billion Approved for Highway Funding in Washington State

Despite the drastic funding limitation imposed by Washington's voter-approved Initiative 976, the state found a way to fund $10.4 billion in (mostly highway) transportation projects.

March 19 - The Urbanist

Bus Priority Zones

Camera Enforcement of Bus Lane Scofflaws Proposed in Chicago

A new level of enforcement would keep bus lanes clear in Chicago.

March 19 - Chicago Sun-Times

India

Experiencing Hyperdensity in Old Delhi

A tourist visit through the oldest, densest part of Delhi, India, reveals the chaos and beauty of hyperdensity.

March 19 - Common Edge Collaborative

Census Workers

FEATURE

2020 Census Adapting Quickly to the Coronavirus Pandemic

Delayed operations and recommendations for how college students should report their living conditions are key to the Census response to COVID-19 so far. The Census is still expected to wrap up by the end of July 2020.

March 19 - James Brasuell

Ben Carson

Breaking News: HUD to Suspend Foreclosures and Evictions

The federal government has announced a critical effort to stabilize the economy as the country addresses the coronavirus pandemic.

March 18 - CBS News

Mega-Developments

Details of the 12,000-Home Sunnyside Yard Project

A proposed development project in Queens would be the largest housing project built in New York City since the 1970s.

March 18 - CityLab

New York City

Density in the Pandemic Era

High population density is viewed as an environmental benefit in terms of decreasing emissions, particularly from transportation, but from the public health perspective of containing the spread of COVID-19, it might be a significant negative.

March 18 - The Washington Post

Autonomous Vehicles

What the Future Looked Like Before the Coronavirus

Common Edge surveyed mayors and urban designers for ideas about what the next decade holds in store for cities. There were plenty of challenges in facing the world before the pandemic.

March 18 - Common Edge

Los Angeles Bureau of Street Services

Parking Enforcement Reduced in L.A., Intact in New York City

The two largest cities are headed in two different directions when it comes to parking enforcement for street sweeping during the coronavirus pandemic—for now at least.

March 18 - Los Angeles Times

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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.

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.