The Daily Source of Urban Planning News

Society Hill Historic Buildings

Master Plan Proposed for Philly's Society Hill

The master plan proposed by the Society Hill Civic Association contains lessons about single-family zoning in a historic neighborhood with fingerprints of 20th century urban renewal also present.

July 20 - PlanPhilly

Transportation Ideals

Equity and Mobility: A Comic Treatment for Transportation Professionals

What does "equity" mean for transportation professionals? This is discussed in a 12-page comic published in the Canadian Institute of Transportation Engineers newsletter.

July 20 - Transportation Talk

Housing Construction

We Can Totally Build Our Way Out of This Problem

A list of responses to the statement, "We Can't Build Our Way Out of This Problem."

July 20 - Shelterforce

Manhattan and Brooklyn

New York City Clamps Down on Short-Term Rentals

New York City just approved new regulations on short-term rentals that could greatly reduce the number of listings in Airbnb's largest domestic market.

July 19 - The New York Times

Housing Starts, Permits Declining

Housing starts haven't ben this low in nine months, according to new data released by the U.S. Department of Commerce.

July 19 - Reuters


Aqueduct

Voters to Decide on Repair of Vital Aqueduct for San Joaquin Valley

California voters in November will have the opportunity to help repair the Friant-Kern Canal, damaged by subsidence, as well as invest in watershed conservation programs, by passing a citizen-initiated $8.9 billion general obligation bond measure.

July 19 - The Sacramento Bee

Philadelphia

Gentler Gentrification in Philly's Germantown

Germantown has acquired many more wealthy residents without displacing many of its long-term residents or losing its diversity.

July 19 - Next City


Detroit Vacant

Growing in the Gaps

In post-bankruptcy Detroit, planner Maurice Cox and his interdisciplinary team are making vacancy an asset, revitalizing through preservation, and listening to residents who know the city the best.

July 19 - Urban Omnibus

The Penninsula

Bay Area City Could Extend Development Restrictions Beyond Their Expiration Date

A signature-gathering campaign has expressed a desire to extend height and density limits in San Mateo.

July 19 - The Daily Journal

Planning in Earnest for a Hyperloop From Pittsburgh to Chicago

Funded studies of the hyperloop concept are underway in the Midwest.

July 19 - Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Kids playing outside

Canadian Neighborhood Prohibits Kids From Playing Outside

It's been called a 'War on Fun.'

July 19 - Vancouver Sun

Fall Sprawl

Prescriptions for the 'Broken' Massachusetts Multi-Family Market

The Metropolitan Area Planning Council (MAPC) is taking a strong stance in support of zoning regulations that enable new multi-family housing developments.

July 19 - Metropolitan Area Planning Council

Construction

Inclusionary Zoning Explained

Master the ins and outs of inclusionary zoning.

July 19 - CityLab

Septic Tank

'Not In Our Backyard': Septic to Compost Conversion Plan Hits Local Opposition Snag

A proposal for a facility that converts septic waste to compost will have to find another home, after a decision in Linn County, Iowa.

July 18 - The Gazette

Seattle Regional Transit Systems

Regional Transit Investment Priorities Set for Puget Sound

Funding allocations under consideration at the Puget Sound Regional Council give an indication of the region's public transit priorities.

July 18 - Seattle Transit Blog

San Francisco City Hall

San Francisco Voters to Decide on Employer Tax to House the Homeless

It started in Seattle with the Amazon Tax to pay for transportation and housing needs exacerbated by the city's largest employers. Last month, a Google Tax was placed on the November ballot in Silicon Valley. A landlord tax in Oakland could be next.

July 18 - Bloomberg News

SORTA Metro

Cam Hardy, Crusader for Cincinnati Bus Riders

Cincinnati's bus riders are overwhelmingly black and poor, and looming deficits threaten to make service even worse.

July 18 - Cincinnati Enquirer

California

How Land Use Policy Helped Turn California Blue

As recently as a half-generation ago, California passed anti-immigrant laws, routinely elected Republican politicians, and wallowed in land use laws—like Prop. 13—enacted by conservatives. Manuel Pastor explains California's change of heart.

July 18 - California Planning & Development Report

Socialist Parking

Parking: Where We Embrace Socialism in the U.S.

"Comrades, rejoice: In the face of the counter-revolutionary neo-liberal onslaught, there’s at least one arena where the people’s inalienable rights reign supreme: we embrace socialism for car storage."

July 18 - City Commentary

Metro Train Station

L.A.'s Transit-Oriented Communities Program Finds Affordable Housing Success

The Los Angeles Transit-Oriented Communities program, which offers development bonuses in exchange for affordable housing in developments near transit lines, is the city's most successful affordable housing tool.

July 18 - The Real Deal

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.