The Daily Source of Urban Planning News

Seattle Mixed Use Development

There's a Hole Where Ground-Floor Retail Should Be

Mixed-use developments still often operate better in theory than in reality.

June 7 - Strong Towns

Gowanus Canal

Draft Rezoning for Gowanus Released

Planners in New York City released the latest in a series of rezonings of New York City neighborhoods.

June 7 - Crain's New York Business

Gateway Arch

Design Review: Revamped Gateway Arch an Urban Success

Pulitzer Prize-winning critic Blair Kamin assesses the remodeled Gateway Arch in St. Louis, prior to its big public opening on July 3.

June 7 - Chicago Tribune

Hurricane Harvey

Buying Flood-Prone Houses an Expensive Proposition in Texas

Harris County has a home buyout program, designed to reduce the amount of residents living in flood-prone homes. But when it comes to home buyouts, a lot of money goes a little way.

June 6 - Houston Chronicle

Homeless sleeping

The End of the Social Safety Net

A new report from the Human Rights Council of the United Nations chastises the United States for allowing so many Americans to live in poverty.

June 6 - The Washington Post


Japan

Japan Targeting 2020 Olympics for a Driverless Car System

Japan prioritizes technological advancement to grow its economy.

June 6 - Reuters

Downtown Boston

Boston to Launch New Downtown Plan

The Boston Planning & Development Agency will hire consultants to craft a vision for its rapidly changing downtown.

June 6 - The Boston Globe


Water Emergency Transportation Authority

Dismal Poll Findings for Bay Area: Half the Respondents Want to Leave

To paraphrase Bill Clinton, it's the housing, stupid! In addition to the troubling findings of the Bay Area Council poll, a California housing report found that Silicon Valley had the highest percentage of residents leaving their counties.

June 6 - The Mercury News

Eviction

California Evictions Much Faster and More Frequent Than Previously Thought

About 500,000 tenants face eviction every year—triple previous estimates. And over a million may be involuntary displaced despite never making it to court.

June 6 - Tenants Together

Don't Forget the Green Benefits of Accessory Dwelling Units

Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) don't just help mitigate housing supply and affordability issues, they also offer significant sustainability benefits.

June 6 - Sightline Institute

Atlanta streetcar

MARTA Could Make the Atlanta Streetcar Free Again

They say if you love something, you should set it free.

June 6 - The Atlanta-Journal Constitution

Costs for Minnesota's Southwest Corridor Light Rail Line Creeping Up

Increasing costs mean local agencies need to dig in their heels if they expect to receive funding from the federal government.

June 6 - Minneapolis Star Tribune

Kid on Train

Kids' Books About Mobility (Not Just Cars)

Introducing the Streetsblog Guide to Children's Books.

June 6 - Streetsblog USA

Street Vendor

In Support of Street Vendors

From garbage pickers to tamale sellers, workers in the informal economy can account for half the workforce in developing cities. They should be respected as an important constituency.

June 5 - City Lab

Davis and Sacramento

Widening I-80 from Davis to Sacramento: HOT Lane or HOV Lane?

Caltrans is studying a plan to widen 16 miles of Interstate 80 through Solano and Yolo counties, over the Yolo Bypass. Initially, the plan called for a carpool lane, but uncertainty about funding makes a toll lane a possibility.

June 5 - The Sacramento Bee

Cincinnati Streetcar

Revenue Projections Falling Short for Cincinnati's Streetcar

The city of Cincinnati is scrambling to cover the difference on a shortfall of funding from a voluntary tax incentive contribution agreement (VTICA) system set up to support the Cincinnati Bell Connector.

June 5 - Cincinnati Business Courier

Downtown Los Angeles

Bad News for L.A.'s Homelessness Strategy: Public Restroom Plan Falls Apart

The city's failure to deliver public restrooms is not the first sign of trouble for its sweeping homelessness plan, but it’s a painful one for the residents of Skid Row.

June 5 - Los Angeles Times

New York Public Transit

Subway Rescue Plan Wins New York Times Editorial Board Support

An editorial by the New York Times puts the onus for implementing the so-called Fast Forward plan on New York's political leadership.

June 5 - The New York Times

Celebrity

Kanye West Jumps Into the Affordable Housing Business

Seriously.

June 5 - The Architect's Newspaper

Atlanta, Gergia

Gentrifying Neighborhood Qualifies as a Federal 'Opportunity Zone'

The state of Georgia's Opportunity Zones designations included one choice that raised questions about the purpose of the new federal program.

June 5 - WABE

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.