North Carolina

Lynx Blue Line

Scrutiny for Charlotte Silver Line Light Rail Plan

Cost and economic development considerations supersede mobility considerations in the planning for Charlotte's planned light rail line.

March 9, 2019 - WFAE

NCCU Station Rendering Durham

Duke Faculty Support N.C. Rail Project; University Opposes It

Duke University will not sign an agreement for a regional rail project that has widespread support from the campus community.

March 6, 2019 - Streetsblog USA

Manteo, North Carolina

The 'Decolonial Planning' Project

A potentially radical point of view that must be considered by planners: moving the field forward will require soul searching that confronts an overcomes the disposition and exploitation that defined the past and continues to influence the future.

March 5, 2019 - Progressive City

Downtown Charlotte

Affordable Housing Tipping Point in Charlotte

Charlotte saw the writing on the wall, and decided to act decisively in addressing its lack of affordable housing options.

February 20, 2019 - Governing

South Carolina Resilience

North Carolina Reconsidering its Stance on Climate Change

Two hurricanes later, residents of North Carolina aren't so willing to deny the need to do something about the effects of climate change. A Democratic governor and a changing State Legislature have already produced action.

December 29, 2018 - Inside Climate News

Nation's Newest Toll Road Opens in North Carolina

For a small fee, motorists can now bypass a congested arterial road with two dozen traffic lights outside of Charlotte. Built and operated by the North Carolina Turnpike Authority, the 18-mile, electronically tolled Monroe Expressway opened Nov. 27.

December 6, 2018 - WFAE

Coal-Fired Power Plant

Investigation Reveals the Failures of 'Clean Coal'

As the federal government sends massive subsidies to encourage so-called clean coal technology, coal-burning power plants aren't sending less pollution into the air and into the earth.

December 5, 2018 - Reuters

Bonner Bridge

Climate Change Won't Be Kind to the Carolinas

The 4th National Climate Assessment brought the reality of climate change to the regional and local level. The Carolinas provide a particularly poignant case study.

December 4, 2018 - The Charlotte Observer

Georgia

Cities Positioning for an Expanding Venture Capital Market

Cities outside of the big coastal tech hubs have characteristics well suited for the high-tech sector.

November 15, 2018 - TechCrunch

Interstate Research Triangle Park North Carolina

‘Nudging’ Durham Commuters Toward More Sustainable Modes of Travel

Behavioral science is informing the city’s efforts to change the way people commute.

November 4, 2018 - CityLab

Downtown Freeway

State Gubernatorial Elections Have Environmental Consequences

The environment and climate change may not be top issues in the nation's hotly contested gubernatorial contests next Tuesday, but their outcomes can cause policy changes. Take North Carolina and the election of Roy Cooper, a Democrat, two years ago.

November 1, 2018 - The Charlotte Observer

Charlotte North Carolina

For Many Charlotte Residents, Affordable Housing Still Isn’t Affordable

Over the last decade and a half, the city has put millions of dollars into affordable housing. But the help is not reaching Charlotte’s neediest residents.

October 25, 2018 - The Charlotte Observer

Charlotte, NC

How to Understand Your City's Eviction Crisis

Other cities could learn from efforts to lower eviction rates in Charlotte, North Carolina.

September 20, 2018 - Urban Institute

Hurricane Florence Causes Coal Ash Spill at Former Coal Power Plant

The breach of the coal ash landfill by a former coal-burning power plant in Wilmington, North Carolina serves as a reminder that even after coal plants are shuttered, the by-products of the world's most polluting fossil fuel can still cause harm.

September 19, 2018 - Utility Dive

South Carolina Resilience

Don't Blame Climate Change for Hurricane Florence

But you can blame climate change for 6 inches of storm surge resulting from sea level rise. Florence made landfall near Wilmington, North Carolina on Friday as a Category 1 storm with wind speeds of 90 mph.

September 17, 2018 - The Washington Post

Oakwood Modernist House

Raleigh Could Legalize Accessory Dwelling Units—With Lots of Strings Attached

Residents in parts of Raleigh would be allowed to build accessory dwelling units (ADUs) on their property, if a majority of their neighbors approve the idea.

September 6, 2018 - The News & Observer

North Carolina Light Rail

Light Rail From Durham to Orange Finds Final Funding Piece

Planners behind a new 17-mile light rail system that will connect the cities and employers in the Research Triangle in North Carolina overcame a change of funding plans by the state.

August 29, 2018 - The Herald Sun

North Carolina

Charlotte's North Tryon Vision Plan Focuses on People, Not Cars

Charlotte's North Tryon Vision Plan is "among the more ambitious long-term urban planning projects in American cities," this article. Released in 2015, the plan's work is not done.

August 11, 2018 - Next City

Durham

Evidence of Race's Role in Land Use Decisions

Analysis of a city's zoning and land use decisions over seven decades reveals the role race plays in decision making.

July 27, 2018 - CityLab

Downtown Freeway

In Sprawling Charlotte, Traffic Jams Point to Climate Solutions

A look at the relationship between sprawl and climate change mitigation in the fast-growing North Carolina city.

June 22, 2018 - Yale Climate Connections

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.