United States

HUD

HUD Rule Change Allows Landlords to Use Screening Services Despite Discrimination Concerns

A revised U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development rule makes it more difficult to submit claims of housing discrimination when a landlord's decisions is influenced by a third-party tenant screening service.

October 1, 2020 - The Markup

Brooklyn, New York City

Adaptive Reuse More Popular Than Ever, Study Says

The past decade saw more old commercial buildings transformed into residential buildings than any decade previous.

September 29, 2020 - RentCafé

Wall Street

Lessons from the Last Housing Crisis: How to Get Control of Properties

How to keep affordable apartments and single-family homes out of the hands of institutional investors if the coronavirus pandemic leads to a giant wave of evictions and foreclosures.

September 29, 2020 - Shelterforce Magazine

U.S. Supreme Court

Amy Coney Barrett's Only Property Rights Ruling, Careful, Narrow, Deferential

A month ago, Barrett dismissed a challenge to Chicago's deal with the Obama Center by rejecting a very expansive claim of a "taking" under the 5th Amendment and by showing great deference to the city.

September 28, 2020 - California Planning & Development Report

New York Subway Coronvairus

Looking Ahead and Way Back as the U.S. Passes 200,000 Coronavirus Deaths

It's been eight months since the first confirmed infection from the novel coronavirus in Washington state. As deadly as COVID-19 is, Americans should reflect when 200,000 died in a single month from a far deadlier virus 102 years ago.

September 28, 2020 - The New York Times

Highway Sign in North Carolina

Americans Aren't Likely to Start Driving at Pre-Pandemic Levels Soon

Vehicle miles traveled (VMT) and gasoline production trends point to VMT in the United States staying ten to 12 percent lower than in 2019 for the next few months, at least.

September 28, 2020 - Eno Center for Transportation

Bank Owned

Wall Street Wagering on a Permanent Suburban Renter Class

Expectations that the economic downturn of the COVID-19 pandemic will create a wave of homeowners leaving the market, whether by choice or necessity, are driving big acquisitions by private equity firms and Wall Street investors.

September 28, 2020 - The Wall Street Journal

COVID-19 City

New Google Map Layer Shows COVID-19 Infection Rates

A new layer showing the seven-day average of confirmed COVID-19 cases started rolling out to Android and iPhones last week.

September 27, 2020 - The Verge

Black Lives Matter

A New Guide to Black Voices on the City

Introducing a new interactive resource that presents the contributions of the Black community to a growing understanding of cities and the built environment.

September 24, 2020 - Black Voices on the City

irishtown bend

Legacy Cities, Post-Pandemic

The question of how the pandemic and all of its corresponding crises will alter the future of cities and planning has persisted since March. This article rightfully focuses those large, challenging questions of the Legacy Cities of the United States.

September 24, 2020 - Economic Innovation Group

Strip Mall

How Typical Economic Development Kills Community Character

An economic development pro makes an argument for an approach to economic development that prioritizes the urban design decisions that favor community character.

September 23, 2020 - Proud Places

Air Pollution

Report Quantifies the Effects of Trump's Environmental Policy Changes

With the signs of climate change all around, the effects of the Trump administration's environmental regulation rollbacks look increasingly dire.

September 23, 2020 - The New York Times

Michigan State Park

10 of America's Most Beautiful Parks

With the pandemic, people need to see and experience beauty, nature, and parks more than ever. Learn more about some of America's urban oases.

September 22, 2020 - National Geographic

COVID-19 Eviction Crisis

New Gig Economy Player: Eviction Crews For Hire

A new company called Civvl is hiring contract workers to help evict people during the economic struggles of the pandemic.

September 22, 2020 - Vice

University Campus

Widespread Coronavirus Testing Critical for College Reopenings, But...

The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign developed a high-frequency coronavirus testing system that would be the envy of an country or corporation, testing students, faculty and staff twice a week, but it still failed to stem a major outbreak.

September 21, 2020 - Bloomberg BusinessWeek

Asphalt Road

Hot Asphalt May Increase Air Pollution in Urban Areas

Research shows that road asphalt exposed to heat and sunlight may eventually become a significant emissions source.

September 21, 2020 - The Guardian

Uber Autonomous Vehicle

Back-Up Driver of Autonomous Vehicle Charged With Negligent Homicide of Pedestrian

The broader safety implications of the death of Elaine Hertzberg after being struck by an Uber autonomous vehicle in Tempe is still being litigated. Last week, the back-up driver of the vehicle was charged with negligent homicide.

September 21, 2020 - NPR

Los Angeles River Kayak

Keeping Gentrification From Following Green Space

Los Angeles organizers work with park professionals on policies to allow green space investment in neighborhoods that have lacked it without paving the way for displacement.

September 18, 2020 - Shelterforce Magazine

Akron, Ohio

New Legacy Cities Initiative Announced

The Lincoln Institute of Land Policy is launching the Legacy Cities Initiative to provide a network of support for cities of the country's industrial past.

September 18, 2020 - Lincoln Institue of Land Policy

Coronavirus Social Distancing

Crossing the Digital Divide During COVID

Organizations blend past and present strategies to stay in touch with community members.

September 17, 2020 - Shelterforce Magazine

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.