The Daily Source of Urban Planning News

New Highways

Kentucky Planning a New Freeway Around Louisville, Raising Alarms

Local news sources are shedding light on planning for a new highway route that could pass through sensitive habitat of endangered that has yet to undertake a formal environmental or public input process.

July 11 - WFPL

Boston Red Line

More Developers Paying for Transit Service in Boston

A spate of recent development agreements have generated extra cash to run additional transit service on the MBTA system in Boston.

July 11 - The Boston Globe

The Villages Florida

Report Ranks the Best-Selling Master-Planned Communities

Real estate advisors RLCO have been compiling data on sales at master-planned communities since 1994. The mid-year report for 2019 shows strong sales growth in the sector.

July 11 - RCLCO

U.S. Senator Kamala Harris (D-CA)

Kamala Harris and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez Release Fair Housing Legislation

The two leading figures of the Democratic Party in Washington, D.C. released the "Fair Chance at Housing Act."

July 10 - The Hill

Fringe Development

Land Trusts Find Traction in the Spiking Colorado Housing Market

According to an article in The Denver Post, more community land trusts are being created in Colorado to help more find their footing in the housing market.

July 10 - The Denver Post


Charles River

Urban Rivers Everywhere Follow the Cuyahoga's Lead

On the 50th anniversary of the Cuyahoga River catching fire in Cleveland, it's a good time for urban river keepers everywhere to reevaluate their work and redouble their efforts to make safe and healthy rivers for everyone.

July 10 - The Boston Globe

Tent City

Will Appeal of Landmark Appeals Court Ruling Allow for Clearing of Tent Cities?

If the Supreme Court hears an appeal of a landmark U.S. Ninth Circuit Court case settled in April, the ruling would have widespread implications for dealing with homeless encampments throughout the West, perhaps nowhere more so than Los Angeles.

July 10 - Los Angeles Times


Houston Townhouse

Op-Ed: Zoning Shouldn't Discriminate Based on the Definition of 'Family'

By designating that "family" refer to a specific set of ties, many zoning codes make it difficult for "functional" families without those ties to find a place to live.

July 10 - CityLab

Seattle Skyline from Kerry Park

A 'Green New Deal' for Seattle

The city of Seattle has taken the first steps toward creating a "Green New Deal." Now comes the hard part of deciding on specific policies.

July 10 - The Urbanist

Minnesota Non-Conforming Uses

Another Benefit of Zoning Reform: More Flexibility for Historic, Non-Conforming Uses

Non-conforming uses, usually historic buildings that predate the strictures of 20th century zoning codes, can get a little more comfortable under the reforms approved by the Minneapolis 2040 Comprehensive Plan.

July 10 - MinnPost

Brooklyn Bridge Park

50 Years of 'Design With Nature'

Ian McHarg's groundbreaking book was published 50 years ago.

July 10 - WHYY

Brownstones

The Underappreciated Role of Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae in Access to Affordable Housing

A housing researcher formerly with the Obama administration's Treasury Department explains the role of government-sponsored enterprises in opening the housing market with more affordable options.

July 10 - Joint Center for Housing Studies of Harvard University

Cars and Herbie

How the Law Enshrines Car Dependence

Land use regulations provide exhibit A in this indictment of the American legal system's support for a murderous and destructive dependence on automobiles for transportation.

July 10 - The Atlantic

Portland, Oregon

Portland Development Map Focuses Around the Urban

New apartment buildings and new civic buildings are some of the developments under construction in the City of Roses.

July 9 - The Oregonian

Homeless Encampment

Los Angeles Clarifies and Strengthens Protections Against Source of Income Discrimination

Los Angeles officials hope a new law will cut off one of the city's pipelines to homelessness.

July 9 - Los Angeles Times

Rocky Mountain National Park

The Private Landowners of the West's Vast Open Spaces

Wealthy buyers are snapping up large parcels of land and imposing new rules. Residents say restricting access is not fair and the actions are affecting communities and their way of life.

July 9 - The New York Times

Toxic Algae Bloom

Algae Bloom Shutting Down Mississippi Beaches

The Gulf Coast is facing the environmental threat of algae blooms that cause rashes, stomach cramps, nausea, diarrhea, and vomiting.

July 9 - The Houston Chronicle

Hurricane Harvey

Scrutiny for Houston Development Patterns After New Stormwater Regulations

Advocates and researchers say new development regulations, with more stringent flood protections, aren't doing enough to control the stormwater impacts of sprawl.

July 9 - Community Impact Newspaper

Administration building at the World's Columbian Exposition, Chicago, on opening day, May 1, 1893

Exhibition Shows the Swagger and the Social Conscience of a Previous Era of Planning

It's rare for an entire exhibition to be devoted to the practice and history of planning. This is a big one.

July 9 - CityLab

Centennial Yards

Court Ruling Clears $1.9 Billion in Public Money for Atlanta Mega-Project

A $5 billion redevelopment project in Atlanta, named Centennial Yards, will receive substantial public support.

July 9 - The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

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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.