Urban Development

An aerial view of downtown Iowa City.

Iowa City Hopes Zoning Amendments Will Increase Housing Supply, Diversity

Iowa City is planning ahead to ensure that housing supply keeps up with housing demand.

August 21, 2023 - The Gazette

Aerial view of Le Corbusier-designed Cité Radieuse in Marseilles, France.

What Is the City of Tomorrow?

The City of Tomorrow is the English name given to an early work of urban design by Le Corbusier, who, throughout his career, evolved a concept of city planning firmly based in rationality and order.

August 21, 2023 - Diana Ionescu

Massachusetts State Capitol

Massachusetts Pushing Statewide Zoning Reforms With Steeper Penalties for Non-Compliance

Massachusetts is one of the states in the nation requiring local governments to make more space for multi-family housing. Not all local governments are willing to comply, however.

August 21, 2023 - Mass Live

One of the "Guardians of Traffic" in Cleveland, a scuplture of a large figure adorning a bridge in Cleveland. Downtown Cleveland is in the background.

Parking Requirements Removed Near Cleveland Transit Stops

Transit oriented parking reform has arrived in Cleveland.

August 20, 2023 - Signal Cleveland

Aerial view of the River Seine and the Eiffel Tower in Paris, France

Meet the New River Seine

The Paris Olympics will highlight the renaissance of the city’s famous river.

August 17, 2023 - World Crunch

View of blurred motion traffic on downtown Salt Lake City street

One-Third of Downtown Salt Lake City Devoted to Parking

A new map highlights prime downtown real estate that could be repurposed for more productive uses.

August 16, 2023 - Building Salt Lake

Red brick historic Central Railroad of New Jersey Terminal, Liberty State Park, New Jersey with glass high-rise building in background.

How Transit Villages Are Reshaping New Jersey’s Urban Landscape

Will the Garden State become Manhattan 2.0 in the next 50 years? Probably not. Will it look different from today? Probably yes.

August 16, 2023 - Marcelo Remond

A sign announces the Kingston, New York Historic District

Kingston, New York Goes 100 Percent Form-Based for its New Code

Kingston recently adopted a form-based code, taking the rare step to entirely replace its old zoning code with form-based standards while also repealing parking requirements and allowing accessory dwelling units and missing middle housing.

August 16, 2023 - Times Union

California state capitol building dome with U.S., California, and POW/MIA flags on flagpole

California Adopts CEQA Reforms for Infrastructure, Leaves Out Residential

The state of California adopted reforms to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pertaining to climate-friendly infrastructure projects, but residential development interests hoping for relief from CEQA will have to wait.

August 15, 2023 - James Brasuell

A tent covered in blue and black tarps sits on a downtown Los Angeles sidewalk with the white ziggurat-topped L.A. City Hall looming in the background

Los Angeles Wants to Transfer Public Land to Marginalized Groups

A systematic reparations plan has begun in the city of Los Angeles, though it’s still too early to tell about the scale and impact of the plan.

August 15, 2023 - City News Service via the Eastsider

View from back of mother and hcild holding hands and walking down asphalt walkway painted with game grid.

Do Americans Really Prefer Sprawl?

Not if they live in a large metro area.

August 14, 2023 - Michael Lewyn

An aerial view of downtown Knoxville, Tennessee, with rolling hills and autumn foliage in the background.

Missing Middle Housing Reforms Coming to East Tennessee

With the cost of housing around Knoxville, Tennessee rising, elected officials and political candidates are looking for new ways to allow residential density.

August 13, 2023 - Knox News

Diagram of proposed at-grade alternartive B for Interstate 94 project

More Options Presented for Minneapolis I-94 Project

Two new proposals for replacing the freeway with at-grade segments offer new visions for the future of downtown Minneapolis.

August 11, 2023 - Streetsblog USA

Apartment buildings in San Diego, California

San Diego Planning Commission Rejects Voluntary State Density Law

The density-enabling mechanisms of the California law Senate Bill 10 are too much for San Diego’s citizen planners.

August 10, 2023 - The San Diego Union-Tribune

Map of Panther Island flood control project

Report: Fort Worth’s Panther Island Should Emphasize Mixed Use, Walkability

Originally planned as a primarily residential development, the riverfront development could shift to a focus on entertainment, commerce, and outdoor recreation.

August 10, 2023 - Fort Worth Star-Telegram

Photo of Bruce Stiftel as a young man standing in front of a green chalkboard

Youth, Inexperience, and a Sense of Mission

Forty years ago this week, I arrived in Tallahassee to take my first full-time university job. It was a nervous moment. After nearly eight years of graduate school, I was about to learn if I was any good at the career I'd prepared so long to begin.

August 10, 2023 - Bruce Stiftel

Cincinnati and Covington

A Roundtable Discussion on the Future of Cities

Since the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic, there has been shortage of opinions on the coming evolution of cities. It’s time to check in with the debate.

August 10, 2023 - Vox

An aerial view of the Anchorage metropolitan area shows sprawling development surrounded by tall mountains.

Anchorage Considering Consolidation of Residential Districts

If changes to Title 21 of the city’s municipal code are approved, Anchorage could go from having 15 types of residential zoning to one.

August 9, 2023 - Alaska Journal of Commerce

An image of Downtown Nashville with the Cumberland River at dusk.

Nashville Adopts New Mass Timber Building Standards

Mass timber buildings up to 18 stories high will now be allowed in the Music City.

August 9, 2023 - Nashville

Silicon Valley

State Regulators Reject Palo Alto’s Housing Element a Second Time

More analysis and more equity will be required for Palo Alto to finally adopt a Housing Element that complies with state laws.

August 8, 2023 - Palo Alto Weekly

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.