The Daily Source of Urban Planning News

Fayetteville, Arkansas

A Suburban Retrofit Rides the Bike Trails

Communities around Northwest Arkansas have placed bike infrastructure at the center of a plan to retrofit suburban communities.

April 6 - The Atlantic

Schools

Research Connects School Choice to Gentrification

One unintended consequence of No Child Left Behind: increased gentrification.

April 6 - The Atlantic

Miniature Village

Friday Fun: 'World's Greatest Indoor Miniature Village' for Sale

It's a big little deal. Or is it a little big deal?

April 6 - The Philadelphia Inquirer

Volunteers

When Coastal States Kill Building Codes, FEMA Pays

Despite the increasing number and intensity of natural disasters, some vulnerable states are relaxing building regulations and leaving the federal government to pick up the tab when tragedy strikes again.

April 5 - Bloomberg

Construction of I–66 Toll Lanes Outside the Capital Beltway Begins this Weekend

Widening of Interstate 66 for 22.5 miles in Northern Virginia will accommodate two toll lanes in each direction, accessible to trucks. The $3.7 billion project, to be built by public-private partnership at no cost to the state, will open in 2022.

April 5 - WTOP


Off the Beaten Path

Designing comfort stations to accommodate more than 60 million annual New York State Parks visitors — representing many different genders, backgrounds, and accessibility needs — is no simple task.

April 5 - Urban Omnibus

Galveston, Texas

Makeover Revealed for Galveston's Popular Stewart Beach

The Galveston Park Board of Trustees is looking to add some bells and whistles to an already popular destination.

April 5 - Houston Chronicle


Intercontinental Hotel

Massachusetts Considering a Hotel Tax on Short-Term Rentals

Legislation moving through the Massachusetts Legislature would implement the same tax on short-term rentals that already applies to hotels. Local jurisdictions would also be free to implement their own taxes on short-term rentals under the law.

April 5 - The Boston Globe

San Francisco Residential Neighborhoods

San Francisco to Grant Low-Cost Housing Preference to Artists

A new program underway at the San Francisco Arts Commission would make it easier for artists to gain access to the city's stock of affordable rental and ownership opportunities.

April 5 - KQED

Ohio River

Ohio Announces 320 'Opportunity Zones'

The new Opportunity Zones program is one to watch as states around the country throw their hats in the ring.

April 5 - CityBeat

Internet Cables

ACLU Report Recommends Municipal Broadband

Faced with the potential consequences of the federal Communications Commission's recent repeal of net neutrality, a report by the American Civil Liberties Union suggests that municipal internet as an antidote.

April 5 - Smart Cities Dive

Weymouth, Massachusetts

The Planned Community of the Future Is Also a 'Smart City'

Planned community developer LStar Ventures is building a smart city experiment near Boston.

April 5 - The New York Times

New York Vacant Storefront

Mayor de Blasio Wants a Vacancy Tax to Combat Empty Storefronts

The hottest trend in commercial real estate, letting storefronts in Manhattan sit empty while waiting for top dollar, is robbing the city's streets of the benefits of a bustling economy.

April 5 - New York Post

Jersey City Demolition Ban Is All About the 'Bayonne Box'

An inexpensive architectural style is deemed unfit for a town looking to preserve its history—and become a more sophisticated city.

April 4 - The Jersey Journal

Tesla

More Bad News for Tesla—This Time From the EPA

A rollback of fuel economy standards carries huge financial consequences for the all-electric vehicle manufacturer that makes over $300 million annually by selling credits to auto manufacturers unable to achieve current fuel economy standards.

April 4 - Vox

Twins Logo Sign

The Cities that Most Resemble Each Other

A fun activity in city comparison.

April 4 - The New York Times

Portland Park Planning

Master Plan Aims to Reduce Car Trips in Portland's Washington Park

Washington Park is described as the jewel in the crown of Portland's park system. The city recently updated its master plan for the first time since 1981.

April 4 - Bike Portland

BART Station Construction

Decision Deadline Coming Fast for San Jose BART Extension

BART and VTA officials must come to an agreement about whether to use a single- or double-bore tunnel for transit extension in San Jose, and time is running out.

April 4 - The Mercury News

Exurban Development

Exurbs Growing Fast

American exurbs growing again, after brief period of urbanization.

April 4 - Brookings Institute

Free Floating Bikeshare

BART Has Had Enough of Dockless Bikes

With piles of them strewn around stations, the transit agency is "cracking down" on bikeshare companies.

April 4 - San Jose Mercury News

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.