Economic Downturn

Ithaca, New York

Obstacles Remain in the First U.S. City to Cancel Rent

Ithaca took historic action by passing a resolution to offer rent forgiveness to support its large population of renters during the current economic crisis. The city still has work to do to deliver on that promise.

July 16, 2020 - Shelterforce

Down Payment

U.S. Mortgage Delinquencies Spike

The popularity of the mortgage forbearance program enabled by the CARES Act is one reason not to fear a housing crash like the Great Recession, yet.

July 15, 2020 - The Washington Post

Coronavirus

'Metro Recovery Index' Measures the Impact of the Pandemic and the Trajectory of the Recovery

Brookings has released a new tool for measuring the impact of the coronavirus on local economies across the country, as well as the effectiveness of economic recovery efforts.

July 14, 2020 - Brookings

Electric Scooters

Mobility Companies All Over the PPP Recipients' List

The transportation industry has been promising high-tech innovations for years, and has attracted a lot of big time investment dollars along the way. But it looks like some of them are struggling during the pandemic anyway.

July 7, 2020 - The Verge

Love

Mapping Eviction Risk

Millions of renters are at risk of eviction as federal support runs out and the economic realities of the pandemic take hold.

July 2, 2020 - FastCompany

LaGuardia Airport

Construction Costs Holding Steady During Pandemic

It might have been wishful thinking to assume the pandemic would cause big declines in costs for materials and labor in the construction industry.

June 30, 2020 - The Dallas Morning News

Coronavirus

Chicago's Planning Director on Leadership During Crises

Maurice Cox, planning commissioner for the Chicago Department of Planning and Development, is the subject of this in-depth coverage by the Chicago Tribune.

June 29, 2020 - Chicago Tribune

Coronavirus

The Eviction Crisis Is Already Here

Without rent relief from Congress, the recent wave of evictions could become a tsunami, according to housing advocates.

June 25, 2020 - Diane Yentel via Twitter

New Orleans Musicians

New Rockefeller Foundation Program Supports 'Credit Invisible' Communities in Crisis

The Rockefeller Foundation is launching a grant program intended to prevent displacement as Black and Latino communities experience the worst public health and economic effects of the coronavirus pandemic.

June 19, 2020 - Smart Cities Dive

Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac

Federal Eviction and Foreclosure Moratorium Extended Until the End of August

Breaking news: a federal moratorium on evictions and foreclosures of single-family mortgages backed by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac will be extended until at least the end of August. The moratorium had been set to expire at the end of June.

June 17, 2020 - Federal Housing Finance Agency

Emergency Housing

Report: $15.5 Billion Per Month Needed for Housing Market Relief

A new report from researchers at the Urban Institute makes the case for federal and state relief for renters and property owners hurt by the economic realities of the coronavirus pandemic.

June 17, 2020 - Urban Institute

Georgia

Pandemic Expected to Dampen Enthusiasm for Mixed-Use Developments

The retail component of the mixed-use development business model is expected to face a long, challenging downturn, and developers and designers are looking in other directions to make ends meet in the meantime.

June 15, 2020 - The New York Times

Rent Jubilee

Ithaca Approves Historic #CancelRent Legislation

Ithaca, New York is the first city in the nation to go through with a plan to cancel rent, giving three-quarters of the residents in the city a needed safety net as the coronavirus pandemic and resulting economic crisis persists into the summer.

June 15, 2020 - FastCompany

Black Lives Matter

Can it Happen Here? Is it Happening Here?

An urban planning scholar of foreign conflict shares insights into how recent political unrest in the United States resembles and distinguishes from the ethnic and nationalistic conflict experienced in other countries in recent decades.

June 14, 2020 - Scott Bollens

Back Bay

Renters Falling Behind, Survey Says

New survey data from Massachusetts finds massive housing market stress as more and more renters falling behind on payments.

June 11, 2020 - The Boston Globe

Homelessness

Housing Programs on the Chopping Block in Philadelphia

The city of Philadelphia is facing a $649 million budget shortfall, and Mayor Jim Kenney is proposing to cut deeply from the city's housing budget to make up the difference.

June 11, 2020 - WHYY

Eichler

The Housing Market During COVID-19: Supply Dips, Prices Rise

While fewer houses are being bought and sold in the first months of the pandemic, prices are on the rise as buyers find less supply available on the market.

June 10, 2020 - CNBC

Wine Country Fires

Budget Crunch Threatens California's Climate Resilience Plans

Facing a massive budget due to the declining revenues created by the coronavirus pandemic, California will have to cut a program intended to retrofit homes and roofs as a protection against wildfire, among other climate resilience programs.

June 9, 2020 - North State Public Radio

Coronavirus and Homelessness

Reports Offers COVID-19 Recovery Guidance for Struggling Communities

Communities struggling with the economic, social, and health realities of the 21st century must start planning now to mitigate the worst outcomes of the coronavirus pandemic, according to a new report from the Center for Community Progress.

June 9, 2020 - Center for Community Progress

Freeway Construction

Trump to Suspend Environmental Regulation for Economic Emergency

Reports from the White House indicate that the Trump administration is planning to rollback federal environmental protections to expedite highway and other projects.

June 5, 2020 - The Washington Post

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.