The Daily Source of Urban Planning News

L.A. Times Editorial Supports Redevelopment 2.0
California's redevelopment program was killed during the budget fallout of the Great Recession. Now more state politicians see how tax increment devoted to development investments could be one tool int he state's affordable housing crisis.

Effective Strategies for Tackling Vacant Properties
Urban homesteading as a response to hypervacancy is in the news after South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg proposed the Douglass Plan while on the presidential campaign trail.
Wheels, Scooters, and the Centuries-Old Fight for City Streets
Through the lens of Phoenix, a look back at bicycles in 1893, scooters in 2019, and how the similarities of both betray a bigger issue: The dangerous design of city streets, which favor cars, create conflict, and have long put people at risk.

Tiny Homes and Big Opportunities in Detroit
A new tiny homes community offers vulnerable residents a chance to homeownership.

New Ideas in Urban Research 2019
Research questions and findings from Penn IUR's emerging scholars.

Columbus Makes Big Strides in Air Quality
Columbus achieved something no other U.S. city has managed: moving out of non-compliance with federal air quality standards for ground-level ozone.

Where State-Owned Properties Could Make Way for Affordable Housing in California
A recently published mapping project is the first step toward California leveraging some of it surplus land for the purposes of developing affordable housing.

When Microtransit Works as Public Transit, Explained
How to make Microtransit work. Hint: it's about coverage, not ridership.

How Transportation Technology Determines the Footprint of Cities
The Marchetti Constant, the willingness of people to travel for about a half an hour to get to and from work, explains the size of cities in history, and the metropolitan areas of today.

Appetite for ADUs Rises in San Jose
San Jose has issued a steadily-rising number of ADU permits in recent years. Now, Mayor Sam Liccardo has implemented measures to ease the process for homeowners who want to build granny flats.

Nevada to Embark on 7-Year Program to Record Mileage of Motorists
Nevada is one of 15 states in the Western Road Usage Charge Consortium that are considering a transition from funding their transportation budgets largely by taxing the gallons of fuel that vehicles burn to charging drivers for miles driven.

Governor Calls for 1.3 Million New Homes in Southern California
Local governments in Southern California have chafed at a call from Governor Gavin Newsom for 1.3 million new homes over the next decade. The Southern California Association of Governments has proposed only 430,000.

Tough Market for Luxury Ranches? Blame Generational Differences
Ranches aren't the only segment of the luxury market having a hard time selling at asking price.

$225 Million in Federal Funding for Rural Bridge and Highway Projects Announced
The U.S. Department of Transportation this week announced the recipients of $225 million in project funding under the Competitive Highway Bridge Program. The program is reserved for projects located in mostly rural states.

What Are America's Fastest-Growing Cities?
Views about urban growth and decline often rely on statistics for metropolitan regions rather than cities proper. Here, Richard Florida looks at the fastest- and slowest-growing cities in America, separate from their metro areas.

Gender Bias in Urban Systems
A list of all the ways cities and infrastructure are designed for men, and at the expense of women.

Mortgage Lending in Homogenous Neighborhoods
A new study examines mortgage lending practices in racially homogenous neighborhoods for clues about how those neighborhoods differ from the aggregate, national market.

New Energy Rating System for Chicago Buildings
The city will evaluate all buildings over 50,000 square feet and make the energy performance ratings and information easily accessible.

Atlanta Reaches Fundraising Goal to Fund Homeless Housing
The United Way of Greater Atlanta partnered with the city to raise private money to help pay for 550 homes for the city's homeless.

Bus Ridership Declines Challenge Los Angeles
The Wall Street Journal reports that bus riders on the Los Angeles County Transportation Authority system has declined significantly in recent years.
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Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.