Massachusetts

Ralph Northam

Gubernatorial Elections Have Environmental Consequences

A movement initiated by Gov. Terry McAuliffe (D-Va.) to join the East Coast carbon cap-and-trade program has accelerated with the election of his Democratic lieutenant governor, Ralph Northam, as governor. Similar news is expected from New Jersey.

November 13, 2017 - Washington Examiner

Prospect Hill Park, Waltham, MA

Eminent Domain Cases Roil Communities Across Massachusetts

Several communities across Massachusetts are looking to take private property to build new schools.

October 27, 2017 - Boston Globe

Produce Aisle

Ground-Level Grocery Stores Proliferate in Boston

Being able to get groceries without a car can be a big draw in walkable, mixed use neighborhoods. Many Boston grocers and developers are taking that to heart.

October 25, 2017 - The Boston Globe

Hubway Bikeshare

16 Boston-Area Cities Team Up for New Regional Bikeshare

A new regional bikeshare program with all the latest advancements in bikeshare technology is on a fast-track in 16 Boston-area communities.

October 23, 2017 - WickedLocal Concord

Back Yard

Yards Slim Down as House Size Grows

As the footprints of the average suburban home grows and lot sizes shrink, the traditional sprawling yard is getting squeezed out.

October 19, 2017 - Trulia

Fort Point Channel

Boston Plans Park Network for Resilience and Revitalization

The city hopes to accelerate development and mitigate flood risk along the industrial Fort Point Channel with a string of new parks.

October 11, 2017 - The Boston Globe

MBTA Bus

MBTA Pilot Makes the Case for All-Door Boarding

The MBTA pilot tested all-door boarding on two bus lines and found that the little-used best practice improved transit service.

October 10, 2017 - MBTA Data Blog

Students at a graduation ceremony

Universities See a Real Estate Upside in Merging with Smaller Schools

Larger universities, like Boston University, have begun swallowing up smaller schools that offer new students and a goldmine of real estate in dense urban areas.

September 24, 2017 - The Boston Globe

Boston Parking Meter

Boston Mayor Wants to End Dynamic Pricing for Parking

Boston residents didn't like being charged more for parking at peak hours in the Seaport and the Back Bay, and Mayor Martin J. Walsh has heard their complaints.

September 20, 2017 - Boston Herald

Caribbean Hurricane Season

Puerto Rico Braces for Direct Hit from Hurricane Maria on Wednesday

A second catastrophic hurricane is on track to devastate much of the Caribbean, barely two weeks after category five Hurricane Irma departed. In addition to Maria, a much weaker Hurricane Jose will affect the Mid-Atlantic and New England.

September 19, 2017 - CNN

Boston Waterfront

Boston Waterfront Planning Still Delayed

Massachusetts officials will consider zoning changes for an area of Boston's waterfront until November—well beyond the expected due date in August.

September 4, 2017 - The Boston Globe

Boston Subway T

Friday Fun: A Record Subway Ride in Boston

Guinness World Records is on the line.

August 25, 2017 - NECN

Parking

Underwater Parking Garages: Why Not, Boston?

Underwater parking garages have been constructed in Europe, and Boston seems like the perfect opportunity to bring the idea to the United States.

August 23, 2017 - The Boston Globe

20's Plenty

Boston Neighborhoods Asking for Slower, Safer Streets

Rather than focusing only on which streets are most dangerous, Boston officials asked which neighborhoods wanted safety improvements to slow traffic, 45 different communities around the city said they did.

August 22, 2017 - Next City

Boston Construction

Boston's Inclusionary Zoning Track Record Revealed

A new city report provides data on the number of affordable housing units built in the city of Boston as a result of the Inclusionary Development Policy.

August 9, 2017 - The Boston Globe

Boston, Massachusetts

Development Overtakes Open Space in Boston's Seaport District

Planners worry that the success of the waterfront district has led to its overdevelopment.

July 17, 2017 - The Boston Globe

Artificial Intelligence Unlocks the Secrets of Neighborhood Change

Researchers at MIT and Harvard believe that their computer vision system (i.e., artificial intelligence) helps reveal fundamental characteristics of neighborhood change.

July 14, 2017 - MIT News

Storage Tank

$3 Billion Natural Gas Pipeline Shelved in New England; Controversy Remains

Controversy seems to follow natural gas pipelines everywhere they go, including New England.

July 5, 2017 - The Boston Globe

Environmentalism

Let the Climate Resistance Begin

States and cities are reacting to President Trump's withdrawal from the Paris Climate Agreement on Thursday. Three states formed the U.S. Climate Alliance; by Monday, it had grown to 13. Initially 30 mayors signed in support; it's now over 200.

June 6, 2017 - Planetizen

Texas Drought

New Center Integrates Land Use and Water Policy

A new branch of the Lincoln Institute will focus on water planning, especially in the western United States.

May 25, 2017 - The Daily Sentinel

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.