The Daily Source of Urban Planning News

Op-Ed: Cap Philly's 10-Year-Tax Abatement

Qualifying developments are eligible for a ten-year tax abatement in Philadelphia. These op-ed authors say the abatement doesn't work as anything other than a government payout.

July 27 - The Philadelphia Inquirer

Durham

Evidence of Race's Role in Land Use Decisions

Analysis of a city's zoning and land use decisions over seven decades reveals the role race plays in decision making.

July 27 - CityLab

Yosemite Smoke

A Map of 'Smoke Events' Around the World

Fire season is back, and it's not safe to breathe in huge swaths of the world.

July 27 - The Mercury News

Louisiana Flooding

30 Years of Climate Change Proof

It's been 30 years since James Hansen told Congress about global warming. We might call it climate change these days, but Hansen was right.

July 26 - Associated Press via The Mercury News

Woman Computer

Op-Ed: Pay Equity in Architecture Is Just a Math Problem

Unlike other measures of value, writes Jeanne Gang, pay is a number. And that should make it easy for architecture firms to address any existing wage gaps.

July 26 - Fast Company


Marquam Bridge

Tolling of Portland Interstates Could Be Decided by Voters in 2020

Should plans to toll Interstates 5 and 205 in Portland get the go-ahead from the Oregon Transportation Commission and the Federal Highway Administration, they would still be subject to a state referendum.

July 26 - Portland Tribune

Prospect Hill Park, Waltham, MA

Housing Crunch Provokes Debate in Boston Suburb

The city of Waltham, Massachusetts has added over 11,000 jobs since 2010, but only a few hundred homes. Developers see a prime opportunity, but city officials are reticent.

July 26 - The Boston Globe


Downtown Los Angeles

Downtown Los Angeles Streetcar Plans Released

The streetcar planned for the central business district and historic core of Los Angeles would cost nearly $300 million and move an estimated 4,181 riders a day.

July 26 - Los Angeles Downtown News

Urban Sprawl

Carbon Offsets for Suburban Developments? The Courts Could Decide

The county of San Diego wants sprawling suburban developments to buy carbon offsets, billing the idea as a fix to the region's housing affordability crisis.

July 26 - The San Diego Union-Tribune

Pittsburgh Redevelopment

Hazelwood Green Mega-Project Taking Shape in Pittsburgh

A 178-acre parcel of land, a trio of powerful foundations as owners, and looming planning approvals—it's time to take a close look at Hazelwood Green.

July 26 - Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Detroit, Michigan

Parking Lot Snafu Corrected in the Detroit Zoning Code

One unclear illustration almost reaped a $1 million reward for the Illitch family, owners of the Little Caesars Arena, the Detroit Tigers, and the Detroit Red Wings.

July 26 - Detroit Free Press

Alternative Transportation

Tariffs Could Visit the E-Bike Market

Manufacturers of electric bicycles, also known as pedal-assisted bikes and e-bikes, could be next on the Trump Administration's list for tariffs.

July 26 - Streetsblog USA

M42 Bus

New York's Worst Bus Routes Named for 'Pokey' and 'Schleppie' Awards

There are solutions to slow, unreliable bus service. These local buses don't have any of those solutions going for them.

July 26 - Crain's New York Business

Citi Bike Rack

Subsidizing Bike Share for Low-Income Riders

In New York, SNAP recipients to get access to Citi Bikes at discount like DIVY riders already do in Chicago.

July 25 - Fast Company

Pumping Gas

Another Major Climate Win for Big Oil in Federal Court

A New York federal district court rules on a climate change lawsuit like its West Coast counterpart did last month: Don't hold oil companies accountable for climate change and sea level rise. Baltimore and Rhode Island file climate change lawsuits.

July 25 - Inside Climate News

Bike Parking

BLOG POST

Reducing Cities' Carbon Footprints

There is more than one way for a city to systematically reduce it carbon footprint.

July 25 - Kayla Matthews

Southern California Coast

San Diego Called Out for Section 8 Housing Discrimination

San Diego was identified for its failure to enact a Section 8 housing discrimination ordinance in a recent American Bar Association article. Poverty law attorney Parisa Ijadi-Maghsoodi explains the situation.

July 25 - UrbDeZine

Derelict Commercial Buildings

Optimism and Investment, Not 'Managed Decline," for the Rust Belt

Managed decline assumes that struggling cities will continue to struggle indefinitely. Is there a better way to plot neighborhood stabilization?

July 25 - Notes from the Underground

Public Toilet

Futuristic Public Toilets Coming to San Francisco

San Francisco's street furniture predates Google, but the city hopes a new design will bring it into the Information Age.

July 25 - San Francisco Chronicle

Corner lot gas station

Berkeley Zoning Board Choose Current Gas Station Over Proposed Co-Housing Development

The Zoning Adjustments Board (ZAB) of one of the nation's most progressive cities has chosen a very conservative approach to new housing projects.

July 25 - Berkeleyside

Post News

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.