New Orleans

New Orleans

New Orleans Stormwater Systems Failing Again

In an underreported fact, it has rained every day since April 1 in New Orleans this year. The city is struggling to deploy stormwater infrastructure, however, and flooding overwhelmed drainage again this month, on the cusp of hurricane season.

August 16, 2017 - The Guardian

Loyola Streetcar

Criticisms Emerge for New Orleans' Biggest Post-Katrina Streetcar Projects

Advocates have reason to be concerned about the performance of the two newest streetcar lines in New Orleans—both the largest transit projects after the destruction of Hurricane Katrina.

August 11, 2017 - The Times-Picayune

New Orleans Streetcar

New Orleans Begins Planning for the Future of Mobility

The city of New Orleans recently launched a new 20-year transit planning process.

July 19, 2017 - The Times-Picayune

General P.G.T. Beauregard equestrian statue

New Orleans Begins Removing Monuments to the Confederacy

The city of New Orleans has a plan to remove four monuments to the Confederate States of America, deciding that monuments to the racist cause of the Confederacy belong in a museum, not in the city.

April 24, 2017 - The Times-Picayune

High Line Sign

Incentives and Non-Traditional Strategies Solving Common City Problems

Small reminders and suggestions can add up to big changes for cities that "nudge" citizens.

March 9, 2017 - Data-Smart City Solutions

New Orleans Musicians

How Will Pricey Cities House Their Artists?

With rents on the rise even in "inexpensive" cities like New Orleans, artists and musicians are getting priced out. Affordable housing designated for artists is one way to help them stay.

February 10, 2017 - PBS NewsHour

Rolling Digital Billboards Hit New Orleans' Streets

A southern Louisiana company is bringing a mobile, four-sided digital billboard to the streets of New Orleans

February 7, 2017 - The Advocate (Louisiana)

New Orleans

Proposed Law Would Curb Late-Night Partying in New Orleans

A string of shootings on Bourbon Street in New Orleans have inspired the mayor to propose a package of new security measures. One of the proposals would cut back the city's all-night revelry.

January 25, 2017 - The Advocate

A orivate eye at work

Stakeouts and 'Private Eyes': Monitoring Short-Term Rentals for Tenants' Rights

The constantly moving legal lines between regulators and short-term rental companies like Airbnb have taken on some distinctly noir activities.

December 27, 2016 - Bloomberg

Climate Change

Taking on Climate Change Without Wrecking Cities for the Poorest and Most Vulnerable

Rebuilding and repairing New York City after Hurricane Sandy shows how climate change can exacerbate existing equity problems and that such disasters must spur efforts to rebuild fairly, not entrench existing problems.

November 28, 2016 - The Nation

Pedestrian Intersection

Lack of Pedestrian Signals Puts New Orleanians at Risk

A recent report has shed light on the lack of pedestrian signals at intersections around the city of New Orleans, where pedestrians have been injured or killed at greater rates than more populous neighboring parishes.

October 26, 2016 - The Advocate

New Orleans

New Orleans Approves Contentious Short-Term Rentals Regulation

Many cities popular with tourists are dealing with the effects of a proliferation of short-term rental properties (brokered through the use of online platforms like Airbnb). New Orleans just took steps to legalize, but limit, short-term rentals.

October 22, 2016 - The Times-Picayune

The Data Science Behind New Orleans' Blight Reduction Efforts

The BlightSTAT system has helped New Orleans track and improve blighted conditions around the city.

October 21, 2016 - Data-Smart City Solutions

New Orleans Doors

New Orleans Leverages New Federal Housing Rule as Gentrification Tool

New Orleans is among the first cities to respond to the Department of Housing and Urban Development's Affirmatively Furthering Affordable Housing rule.

October 5, 2016 - The New Orleans Advocate

New Orleans Added Almost 2,00 Affordable Units in 2016

A report from HousingNOLA about efforts to create and preserve affordable housing in New Orleans finds reasons to celebrate and reasons to keep working on the challenge.

October 4, 2016 - The New Orleans Advocate

Getting Raised in Gentilly, Loisiana

Louisiana Dials Back Requirements for Elevating Homes in Flood Areas

Housing market pressures, flood insurance costs, changing FEMA maps, and improved methods of flood control are giving victims of flood damage in Louisiana mixed signals on how high they should rebuild their homes.

September 22, 2016 - The Advocate (Louisiana)

Audubon Park, New Orleans

Green Spaces Are Making a Comeback in New Orleans

Some good news from a state that has seen far too much bad news this year: local officials report that the trees of New Orleans are making a surprisingly strong comeback after devastation wrought by Hurricane Katrina.

August 30, 2016 - The New Orleans Advocate

New Orleans

New Orleans Planning Commission Recommends Limits for Short-Term Rentals

The New Orleans City Council must still approve regulations for short-term rentals, but the Planning Commission has spoken.

August 10, 2016 - The Times-Picayune

New Orleans, Hurricane Katrina

Unexpected Good News for Children Arises from an Environmental Devastation

Hurricane Katrina may have devastated much of New Orleans, but in its wake, literally, unexpected good work was done. Clean sediment was deposited over lead-contaminated soil, one reason why lead levels in children decreased.

July 28, 2016 - The Times Picayune

Shotgun Homes, New Orleans

New Orleans Mayor Announces Five-Year Affordable Housing Plan

Faced with increasing numbers of residents more than 50 percent of their income on housing costs, the mayor of New Orleans has announced his intentions to build or preserve 7,500 affordable units by 2021.

June 23, 2016 - Gambit

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.