The Daily Source of Urban Planning News

There's a Hole Where Ground-Floor Retail Should Be
Mixed-use developments still often operate better in theory than in reality.

Draft Rezoning for Gowanus Released
Planners in New York City released the latest in a series of rezonings of New York City neighborhoods.

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.

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.

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.

Japan Targeting 2020 Olympics for a Driverless Car System
Japan prioritizes technological advancement to grow its economy.

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

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.

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.
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.

MARTA Could Make the Atlanta Streetcar Free Again
They say if you love something, you should set it free.
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.

Kids' Books About Mobility (Not Just Cars)
Introducing the Streetsblog Guide to Children's Books.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.
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Ada County Highway District
Clanton & Associates, Inc.
Jessamine County Fiscal Court
Institute for Housing and Urban Development Studies (IHS)
City of Grandview
Harvard GSD Executive Education
Toledo-Lucas County Plan Commissions
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NYU Wagner Graduate School of Public Service
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.