Urban Development

Chicago Transit

Proposed Chicago Ordinance Would Promote Affordable Housing Near Transit

The Equitable Transit-Oriented Development ordinance could advance equity and reduce car dependency, but the legislation faces resistance from some city council members.

June 9, 2022 - Streetsblog Chicago

A group of tents line a street in front of Los Angeles City Hall.

Analysis: California’s Bumpy Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing Implementation

California took the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development's Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing (AFFH) rule and ran with it. Fully realizing the goals of the AFFH in California will require more work, according to a recent analysis.

June 8, 2022 - Policies for Action

San Fernando Valley

What Is Induced Demand?

“If you build it, they will come.”

June 6, 2022 - Diana Ionescu

Bend, Oregon

Oregon to Reform Parking Requirements in 52 Cities

Oregon, the first state to end single-family zoning statewide, is on the cusp of another historic planning reform as the Land Conservation and Development Commission nears approval for new “Climate-Friendly and Equitable Communities” rules.

June 6, 2022 - Sightline Institute

Amazon Warehouse

Amazon’s Largest Warehouse Ever Under Construction in Southern California

Twice as big as Downtown L.A.’s tallest skyscraper and bigger than Disney’s California Adventure Park with room to spare, the largest Amazon warehouse in the world is under construction in Southern California’s Inland Empire.

June 6, 2022 - Orange County Register

Nighttime view of downtown Richmond, Virginia

Mapping Richmond’s Displaced Communities

A new project catalogs the city’s history of displacement and its impact on communities of color.

June 6, 2022 - VCU News

New York City Bike Infrastructure

‘City of Yes’ Zoning Initiative Announced to Support Business and Housing Opportunities in NYC

New York City’s new mayor, Eric Adams, has announced a new signature zoning initiative.

June 6, 2022 - New York City Office of the Mayor

A conceptual rendering of a large development, with several buildings of about 7 or 8 stories high surrounding an open green space.

St. Paul Approves Master Plan for Thousands of New Jobs and Homes

A new neighborhood dubbed “The Heights” is planned for the East Side of St. Paul, Minnesota.

June 3, 2022 - Pioneer Press

A row of homes, some brightly colored, on a sunny day in Austin, Texas.

Austin Considering Zoning Tools to Support Affordable Housing Development

An expansion of the city’s vertical mixed-use (VMU) affordable development program is the furthest along of a package of reforms intended to spur the construction of affordable housing.

June 2, 2022 - Community Impact Newspaper

The ramps of the interchange between the Major Deegan Expressway and the Cross Bronx Expressway

New York City Could Cap Cross Bronx Expressway

A multi-agency effort will assess options for ‘reimagining’ the notorious Cross Bronx Expressway and improving public health and quality of life along the corridor.

June 1, 2022 - StreetsBlog NYC

A aerial view of an empty FedEx Field, home of the NFL's Washington Commanders, and parking lot.

Washington Commanders Looking to the Periphery for a New Place to Play

The suburbanization of the National Football League continues.

May 31, 2022 - The Washington Post

A row of multistory, brick buildings in a small U.S. city, with retail uses on the ground floor and apartments above.

What Is Incremental Planning?

The concept of incrementalism can be applied to numerous fields and disciplines—one of which is planning. In the field of planning, the word incremental is usually used as an adjective to describe other planning words, such as code reform and development.

May 31, 2022 - James Brasuell

Highway Construction

Federal Environmental Justice Program Could Worsen Outcomes in Low-Income Neighborhoods

Without more specific regulations, the Justice40 initiative, which requires spending 40 percent of federal funds in underserved areas, could fund projects that increase emissions and pollution.

May 30, 2022 - Streetsblog USA

The historic Pearl District in San Antonio is pictured on a beautiful dat.

The Pandemic Population Picture Comes Into Focus

Big U.S. cities lost population as the pandemic loitered into its second year. Suburban cities in Idaho, Arizona, Texas, and Florida grew the fastest during that time.

May 29, 2022 - James Brasuell

Boise Idaho

Boise’s New Planning Director Warns Against 'Dysfunctional Highways'

On the heels of his stint as Atlanta’s planning director, Tim Keane says Boise should avoid following in the path of American cities that have let highway expansion and sprawl go unchecked for decades.

May 27, 2022 - Boise State Public Radio

Aerial view of single-family homes in Atlanta, Georgia suburb

Voters Reject Atlanta-Area Cityhood Proposals

After local activists whipped up concerns about forced density to promote cityhood for three wealthy Atlanta suburbs, residents voted to remain in unincorporated Cobb County.

May 27, 2022 - Bloomberg CityLab

Arlington County, Virginia

Zoning Reform Gains Momentum in Northern Virginia

Arlington County and Alexandria are moving forward with actions that could potentially launch a new era of planning and development in their respective communities.

May 27, 2022 - Greater Greater Washington

Transit Oriented Development

Feds to Award $13 Million for Transit Oriented Development Planning

A newly bolstered competitive grant program administered by the Federal Transit Administration has announced a new round of funding.

May 26, 2022 - Federal Transit Administration

Rural road in Central Ohio

Opinion: Ohio Needs Public Transit

A new Intel facility is set to bring thousands of workers to rural Ohio. Will the state embrace mass transit or give in to auto-centric sprawl?

May 25, 2022 - Columbus Alive

Public Comment

What Is a Planning Commission?

Planning commissions fill an influential advisory role in planning processes, maintaining citizen oversight of government planning powers and also providing a public forum for debate about the future of communities.

May 24, 2022 - James Brasuell

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.