Controversies
Controversial Redevelopment Plan Pleases No One in Pittsburgh
Affordable housing advocates, developers, and planning commissioners all got a bad taste in their mouth on this one.
North Philly Revolts in Face of Temple University Football Stadium Plans
Public concern boiled over last week at a town hall meeting intended to discuss the proposed development of a stadium to house Temple University's football team in North Philadelphia.
Saying No to Surface Parking in Downtown Detroit
Multiple proposals to demolish downtown buildings and put up surface parking lots are meeting resistance.
Berkeley Mayor Condemns Legislation to Increase Housing Density by Transit
Mayor Jesse Arreguín's charges about permissible heights, demolition of rent-controlled housing and displacement that would result from Senate Bill 827 by Sen. Wiener are refuted in the Berkeleyside article, though the latter two have resonance.
'Skyscraper Backlash' Comes to Downtown Portland
As the Portland City Council considers the Central City 2035 plan, downtown residents, many of whom live in high-rises, are actively opposing regulations that would allow new high-rises.
It's the Tech Industry vs. the Sierra Club in California's Big Housing Debate
California State Senator Scott Wiener made a big splash this month by announcing a package of pro-development bills, and now interest groups are taking sides in a heated debate over housing and density.
Debating the Puget Sound Regional Transportation Plan
The Puget Sound Regional Council's recently released "Regional Transportation Plan – 2018" has inspired debate about how the region should plan for growth.
The Real Benefits of Congestion Pricing
Like so many other transportation policies, congestion pricing risks being sold for the wrong reasons.
The Twitter Spat Heard 'Round the Planning World
It's understandable if you were too busy reveling in the holidays to catch the details of a controversy between Elon Musk and Jarrett Walker. The disagreement took on a life of its own on social media.
Portland: Homes for Everyone, or Not in My Neighborhood
Even progressive Portland wrestles with conservatism when it comes to housing in single-family neighborhoods
Lawsuit Settled, Public Money in Hand: Arena Renovations Moves Forward in St. Louis
St. Louis seems to be a never-ending source of stadium financing controversy.
The Year's Architecture Controversies Include Multiple Planning Crossovers
The list of the 12 most "memorable" and "outrageous" controversies in the field of architecture looks a lot like a list of controversies in the field of planning.
Philadelphia's New Inclusionary Zoning Ordinance Hangs Up in Committee
Philadelphia's controversial "Mixed-Income Housing Program" legislation has run into stiff resistance from developers and builders.
When Controversy Erupts Between the Master Plan and the Zoning Changes
Most planners have been there before: it's time to implement the goals of a newly approved Master Plan by rewriting the zoning code, and suddenly the public becomes outraged.
Revisiting Single-Family Zoning After a Political Setback
Few cities have gone so far in considering drastic changes to single-family zoning as Seattle did in 2015. Still, the discussion about single-family zoning would have to go a lot further to turn into meaningful reform.
Is It Time to Rethink the Legacy of Enrique Peñalosa?
Negative responses to the "Most Influential Urbanists" list published last week overwhelmingly focused on one name on the list: Enrique Peñalosa.
Density Debate Boils Over in Southern California's Third Largest City
The city of Long Beach's draft Land Use Element has provoked political forces that would like to cap the growth of the city.
Two More Road Diets Erased in Los Angeles
Traffic safety projects, and with it the city of Los Angeles' Vision Zero and Great Streets initiatives, have been dealt disappointing setbacks in recent months.
New Development, Open Space Set to Clash in Louisville Again
The Covington by the Park development proposal is back. The developer has revised previously stalled plans for a conservation subdivision on Louisville's eastern edge.
Proposed Density Causes 'Chaos' at the Newark City Council Hearing
A suite of zoning changes that would increase building heights and density along the Passaic River in Newark, New Jersey, provoked a chaotic council hearing that devolved into shouting and the removal of residents from the council chambers.
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.
City of Santa Clarita
Ascent Environmental
Institute for Housing and Urban Development Studies (IHS)
City of Grandview
Harvard GSD Executive Education
Toledo-Lucas County Plan Commissions
Salt Lake City
NYU Wagner Graduate School of Public Service
