Chicago

Logan Square Target on Elston Avenue

Dense Development Generates More Property Taxes Than Big Box Stores in Chicago

After examining property taxes for Target, Family Dollar, and Liberty Bank in Chicago, Steven Vance found that nearby dense development paid more per square foot than the big box developments.

May 15, 2018 - Chicago Cityscape

Chicago Commuter Rail

Chicago's Metra Will Try One-Day Pass

Along with a scheme to simplify fares, Metra will roll out a one-day pass and a set of federally mandated safety updates.

May 14, 2018 - The Chicago Tribune

Ohio River

Millennials Moving to Mid-Size Cities

Jobs and cheap housing give some small cities a big appeal for folks in their 20s and 30s.

May 7, 2018 - Curbed

Governor of Wisconsin

Another EPA Rollback, Tailor-Made for Gov. Walker and Southeast Wisconsin

Politics and economics win over public health in Racine County as the EPA exempted the area around the Foxconn's massive facility from meeting stricter ozone pollution standards, saving the company from investing in smog-reducing equipment.

May 5, 2018 - Chicago Tribune

Crash

Hit-and-Run Traffic Fatalities Reach Record High

Over 2,000 people died from hit-and-run collisions on American roads in 2016, the highest since 2009, claiming a disproportionate amount of pedestrian and cyclist lives. One solution: more protected bike lanes.

April 30, 2018 - CBS This Morning

Chicago Winter

DUI Arrests in Chicago Continue to Decline. Did Ride Hailing Do That?

Some credit a drop in DUI arrests in the city of Chicago to drunks using ride hailing services.

April 26, 2018 - Streetsblog

Accessory Dwelling Unit

Chicago Coach Houses, Legalize 'Em

Coach houses could provide affordable housing and revenue for home owners if they were more widely permitted in the city.

April 21, 2018 - Chicago Cityscape

North Lake Shore Drive

Bus Lane Proposed for Chicago's Famous Lake Shore Drive

Chicago's buses are getting slower. Putting dedicated bus lanes on the drive could speed buses up, and a growing coalition supports the idea of dedicated bus lanes on one of Chicago's busiest thoroughfares.

April 20, 2018 - Crain's Chicago Business

Chicago El

Free Public Transit for Chicago?

The CTA just raised fares, but some think if the service were truly committed to equity it should be made free.

April 18, 2018 - Chicago Reader

Riverfront Open Space

Mayor Emanuel Wants to Open More of the Chicago River to the Public

Plans to double the length of publicly accessible riverfront will be included in Mayor Rahm Emanuel's State of the City address tonight.

April 16, 2018 - Chicago Sun Times

Chicago

Risk and Reward in Play With Wrigleyville Developments

A wave of investments is visiting one of the most famous, and notorious, neighborhoods in the city of Chicago. The question is whether the final product will be worth the expense.

April 12, 2018 - Chicago Tribune

Wrigley Field

Sunday Fun: Vote for the Best Buildings in Illinois History

Voting is open until April 13.

April 8, 2018 - Illinois Top 200

Downtown North Little Rock

Resurrecting the Classic American Main Street

In an interview, urbanism scholar Emily Talen discusses what it would take to restore "main street principles" to American towns and cities. Understandably, small retailers play a big role.

March 30, 2018 - Sidewalk Talk

Hyperloop

Elon Musk Company Closes in on Chicago's Airport Express

The announcement of the finalists to build the O'Hare Express has critics even more concerned about the project's viability.

March 28, 2018 - Streetsblog Chicago

Chicago Snow and Winter

Surface Parking Lots Making Way for Higher Uses

Are the urban revival and the future of mobility already rendering parking lots obsolete? Chicago provides a case study of a new generation of skyscrapers rising were cars once parked.

March 26, 2018 - Chicago Tribune

The Windy City

More Homes Underwater in Chicago Than Other U.S. Cities

One in ten Chicago homes is currently underwater, more than double the national average.

March 22, 2018 - Crain's Chicago Business

CTA Train

Demolition Starts for CTA's Controversial Flyover Project

The Chicago Transit Authority's Red-Purple Bypass Project will add an additional track to speed up trains passing through the Belmont Station. The project requires the demolition of several neighborhood buildings.

March 9, 2018 - Chicago Tribune

Security cameras on a building

Cities and Surveillance

For six years, New Orleans police have been using a secret program that uses social media to locate violent criminals.

March 7, 2018 - CityLab

Chicago El Tracks

Chicago Police Still Targeting Black Cyclists

A year after a report showed a giant discrepancy in enforcement of bike regulation between white and black riders, data the Chicago Police Department continues to target black bikers.

March 4, 2018 - Streetsblog Chicago

Chicago

CTA to Fund 'FastTracks' with Ride-Hailing Fee

CTA upgrades will speed up trains and increase capacity for four train lines in the city.

February 14, 2018 - Streetsblog Chicago

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.