Coronavirus and Urbanism

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Madrid Pedestrian Street

Pedestrian Malls in the 21st Century

The successes and failures of past pedestrian malls can inform the future of pandemic-induced "open streets" programs.

September 26, 2021 - Bloomberg CityLab

Rockaway Beach Bus

Transit Needs Service Changes, Now More Than Ever

As travel patterns and needs shift, transit agencies should look at service changes as a much-needed 'regular practice.'

September 7, 2021 - TransitCenter

Boise Idaho

The Most Overvalued U.S. Housing Markets

A new study examines how far out of control some housing markets have gotten as a result of pandemic trends in real estate.

September 5, 2021 - Fortune

Coronavirus

Landlords, Investors Lining Up to Evict Non-Paying Tenants

Rental housing is booming business, and some landlords and their investors see additional dollar signs in the potential to evict tenants protected by eviction moratoria up until this point in the pandemic.

August 30, 2021 - The Intercept

A group of socially distanced tents for the homeless are set up on a parking lot in San Francisco's Civic Center.

Cities Need More Public Bathrooms–Well Beyond the Pandemic

COVID-19 laid bare the dismal state of public bathrooms in America, and some cities stepped up to add more facilities. But why remove them while the need remains?

August 30, 2021 - Diana Ionescu

Supreme Court of the United States

Supreme Court Strikes Down Federal Eviction Moratorium

The majority opinion claims the CDC overstepped its authority and calls for congressional approval of any further eviction moratoriums.

August 29, 2021 - New York Times

San Francisco Houses

White-Hot Real Estate Market Starting to Cool

The housing frenzy brought on by the pandemic is easing up, with slower growth of median home prices and fewer offers.

August 20, 2021 - New York Times

A single bike rider wearing a mask rides along a waterfront in Portland, Oregon.

Can Portland's Bike Boom Outlast the Pandemic?

"Anytime the city does something to dramatically improve streets for people and limit car access...it’s hard to take them back."

August 13, 2021 - Oregon Public Broadcasting

Empty Parking Garage

One Pandemic Real Estate Bet: Condos for Cars

The possibility of many more urban dwellers driving than ever before, even in transit-rich locations like New York City, is still very real.

August 13, 2021 - Bloomberg

Coronavirus and Transportation

What Is the Future for Transit After COVID? - A Debate

Critic Randal O'Toole and advocate Todd Litman debate how communities should plan for public transit in the post pandemic future. Should it contract or expand?

August 12, 2021 - Pairagraph

Palmer Apartments

Developer Accuses L.A.'s Eviction Moratorium of Illegal Taking, Files Lawsuit

Geoff Palmer is suing the Los Angeles, seeking $100 million to make up for income lost because of the city's eviction moratorium during the pandemic.

August 11, 2021 - Los Angeles Times

People gather on a street with no cars during the L.E.A.F. Festival of Flowers in the Meatpacking District of New York City.

Permanent Car-Free Streets in Manhattan's Meatpacking District

The local Business Improvement District has decided to permanently block cars from a large swath of Manhattan's Meatpacking District.

August 11, 2021 - New York Post

Eviction Crisis

Emergency Rental Relief Gaining Momentum in Some States

Rental assistance spending in June surpassed the entire year's total so far, but there's still a long way to go.

July 25, 2021 - The Washington Post

San Francisco Parklet

San Francisco Supervisors Vote to Keep Parklets, Close Them at Night

The pandemic-era outdoor seating arrangements can stay, but a last-minute amendment lets business owners close them overnight.

July 21, 2021 - San Francisco Chronicle

Rent Jubilee

Survey Measures Consequences of the Pandemic for Small Landlords

A new survey reveals details about the financial crunch facing owners of small rental properties as tenants struggle to pay rent during the pandemic and emergency aid is slow to reach those in need.

July 20, 2021 - Terner Center for Housing Innovation

Lower Manhattan

The Death and Life of the 'Death of the City' Narrative

At the onset of the pandemic, certain media figures were quick to jump on the bandwagon of anti-urbanism. While many of the anti-urban predictions failed to come about—neither did the problems of cities disappear.

July 13, 2021 - The New York Times

A row of motels on a wide street in Fresno, California

Beleaguered Project Homekey Credited With Local Success

California's Project Homekey has been a boon for homelessness support services as well as the economic and living conditions on a corridor in Fresno known as Motel Drive.

July 11, 2021 - CALmatters

Downtown Cincinnati

Why Central Business Districts Need Diverse Users

Central districts benefit from diversity, but a century of disinvestment and exodus has put many in a precarious position.

July 8, 2021 - The New York Times

LA Al Fresco Informational Graphic

Los Angeles Extends Outdoor Dining Program for Up to Three Years

An emergency ordinance signed by the city's mayor will allow restaurants to keep outdoor dining facilities built during the pandemic for at least one more year.

July 8, 2021 - Eater Los Angeles

Rent Jubilee

Opinion: CDC Eviction Moratorium Is Ineffective, Unnecessary

The effects of the pandemic economic shutdown on the rental market have been far lower than feared—at least at aggregate, not individual, levels. Is an eviction moratorium the most helpful tool at this point in the pandemic?

July 8, 2021 - Governing

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.

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.