Coronavirus and Urbanism

The 'Zoom Boom' Can't Save the Midwest
Although remote work has opened up new housing possibilities for many Americans, data indicates that migration flows to 'heartland' cities have been relatively modest.

U.S. Rents Match Pre-Pandemic Projections—Except in Big, Expensive Cities
Rents are resetting to pre-pandemic projections around the United States. Cities like San Francisco and New York are lagging behind, however.

$425 Million in Rent Relief Never Reached Those in Need
A damning investigation reveals the immense financial resources that states could have spent on rent relief but failed to do so, whether willfully or not.

Seattle Extends Eviction Moratorium, Struggles to Distribute Rental Assistance
The city's mayor announced an extension to the city's eviction moratorium as millions in emergency rental assistance remain undisbursed.

Biden Administration Extends Eviction Moratorium, Implements Stronger Eviction Protections
The Biden administration is promising a "whole-of-government" approach to prevent an impending wave of displacement and effectively distribute rental assistance.

Minnesota Transit Buses Deliver COVID-19 Vaccines
The state's department of health is deploying the retrofitted buses to administer vaccines in hard-to-reach communities.

U.S. Traffic Fatalities Increased Most for Black Americans During the Pandemic
Two new reports confirm the racial disparities of traffic violence in the United States, revealing more proof about who stayed home during the pandemic, and who was forced to navigate the risks of the pandemic in public.

The Consequences of Urban Population Decline for American Cities
Big cities saw the sharpest population declines during the pandemic. Is the trend here to stay?

Ride-Hailing Prices Skyrocket as the U.S. Emerges From the Pandemic
A shortage of drivers and spiking demand are driving Uber and Lyft prices higher than ever as the companies struggle to achieve profitability.

Census: 7 Million Americans Are Behind on Rent
With the federal eviction moratorium due to expire at the end of the month and rent relief programs failing to reach those who need it most, an eviction crisis still looms.

NYC Transit Ridership Patterns Have Shifted to the Outer Boroughs
Signs of the times, and more evidence of the essential service provided by public transit throughout the pandemic.

How Some Main Street Businesses Survived the Pandemic
Despite the economic blow dealt by last year's lockdowns, business districts in smaller cities like Wilkes-Barre managed to weather the crisis.

Columnist: New York City Needs Economic Recovery Strategies Other Than Gentrification
It's a tale of two cities as New York starts to emerge from the pandemic.

The Future of Downtowns Still Hangs in the Balance
Center City in Philadelphia offers a case study for one of the largest and potentially most consequential contingencies of the pandemic: What happens to downtowns is most workers never come back to the office?

A Key Housing Market Metric Hits Uncharted Territory
The nationwide house price-to-rent ratio has hit its highest level since 1975.

Most Questions About the Long-Term Impact of the Pandemic Still Unanswered
Planetizen started gathering articles attempting to predict the post-pandemic future in March 2020. The work goes on, with many questions left still to be answered.

Vaccination Disparities Between Urban and Rural America
The pandemic has largely been measured by case incidence, down significantly in recent weeks in most states. A new metric, the vaccination rate, may determine where the virus strikes next. The urban-rural divide is a major factor, says the CDC.

COVID Vaccines Are Already Changing Cities
Here are just a few ways urban environments are transforming and reinventing themselves in the wake of the coronavirus.

Car-Free Streets Benefit Restaurants, Yelp Survey Shows
Restaurants in areas designated as "slow streets" during the pandemic saw a boost in consumer interest.

Zoning Incentives for Supermarkets: New York Expands its FRESH Program
The FRESH program, previously offering zoning incentives for grocery store development in 19 districts around New York City, will expand to 11 new locations.
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