Density

San Diego Metropolitan Transit System

Transit Ridership Up in San Diego

Most of the U.S. saw public transit ridership continue its downward trend last year, but San Diego’s ridership, particularly on light rail, was up.

March 20, 2019 - KPBS

Northwest Portland Hostel

The Case for Fourplexes in Portland

Building more fourplexes could do a lot to fix Portland’s missing middle plan, one commentator argues.

March 20, 2019 - Henry Kraemer

New York City

Study: Density Can Impede Growth

Size and growth go hand in hand, until they don't, according to a new analysis. Density might be the reason that synergy eventually shortcircuits.

March 18, 2019 - CityLab

Portland Streetcar Bike

How, and Where, a Big Transit Oriented Density Bill Would Allow Change in Oregon

Analyzing the potential outcomes of Senate Bill 10, one of two statewide upzoning bills under consideration in the state of Oregon this year.

March 10, 2019 - Sightline Institute

Mountlake Terrace, Washington

When Light Rail Comes to Suburban Washington, So Do Bigger Plans

Mountlake Terrace, located about halfway between Seattle and Everett, will soon have new building heights to go along with a new light rail station.

March 7, 2019 - The Urbanist

Tacoma Washington

Accessory Dwelling Units Find Public Support in Tacoma, Washington

Tacoma, Washington, a city of over 200,000 residents in the Pacific Northwest, is making room for more.

March 6, 2019 - The Urbanist

Baltimore Demolition

Putting in Condos Without Kicking Out Renters in Vancouver

Transit oriented development doesn’t have to mean evictions and demolitions for existing renters, but often it does.

March 5, 2019 - The Tyee

Apartment for Rent

The Case Against Rent Control

Rent control is gaining popularity in cities and states around the country. Some economists urge caution when considering this form of tenant protection.

March 5, 2019 - Brookings

UC Berkeley and North Berkeley

Berkeley to Study Missing Middle Housing Options for Single-Family Residential Neighborhoods

The city of Berkeley, famed for its radical left politics in the 1960s, is now considered a bastion of anti-development obstructionism. Those politics could be changing, however.

February 28, 2019 - The Bay City Beacon

Toronto from the CN Tower

Growth Plan Debate Heats Up in Toronto

The question of how and where to grow is causing controversy in Toronto. A recent op-ed picks a side.

February 27, 2019 - Toronto Sun

Basement Apartment

ADU Results Fall Short of Intentions in D.C. Region

Accessory dwelling unit regulations vary but results are consistently underwhelming in the D.C. region.

February 26, 2019 - Greater Greater Washington

Orenco Station

Oregon to Consider New Densities for Transit Adjacent Neighborhoods

The Oregon Legislature is already considering one of the most sweeping and ambitious statewide land use reform bills in the country. A new bill would allow even more density around transit stations.

February 20, 2019 - Willamette Week

Maryland Suburb

Video: The Densest Place in the United States

Visit the notoriously dense suburb of Friendship Village, Maryland.

February 1, 2019 - City Beautiful

Single-Family Neighborhood

Accessory Dwelling Unit Legislation Proposed in Washington Sets a New Standard

If it approves HB 1797, Washington will pace the rest of the nation (even California and Oregon) on reforming zoning to allow more accessory dwelling units.

January 31, 2019 - Sightline Institute

Jersey City

Visualizing Density in New Jersey

An interactive map shows the surprising density of the Garden State.

January 30, 2019 - NJ.com

Greenwich Village, Manhattan

The Sweet Smell of Density? Subconscious Influences on Perceptions of Urban Form

Michael Hooper of Harvard University writes about a recent article in the Journal of Planning Education and Research

December 13, 2018 - JPER

Washington

Suburbs Encouraging Accessory Dwelling Units

Renton, a suburb of Seattle dealing with skyrocketing housing prices like many of the communities in the region, is allowing new density in residential neighborhoods in the form of backyard cottages.

December 8, 2018 - Crosscut

California State Capital

SB 827: Part 2

California State Senator Scott Wiener has released the highly anticipated follow up to last year's failed bombshell of a housing bill, SB 827.

December 4, 2018 - The San Diego Union-Tribune

Minneapolis Stone Arch Bridge

Minneapolis 2040 Expected to Pass After Adjustments

One of the most ambitious comprehensive plans of a major city in the United States is headed to approval, after amendments and compromises garnered the necessary political support among city councilmembers.

November 25, 2018 - Star Tribune

Houston Metro

What Makes a Transit System Great in the U.S.

Transit should make people's lives better, with density a key component of successful systems.

November 23, 2018 - Urban Edge

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.