United States

Clean Water Crisis Exacerbated by Coronavirus
Communities have demanded access to clean water for decades, in some cases. The coronavirus pandemic is compounding the struggle and illustrating the inadequacy of most local government responses.

Increase Housing Supply Softened Rent Increases in D.C., Study Says
A study recently published by the District of Columbia offers supporting evidence to a supply-side approach to housing affordability in high-demand markets.

Opinion: Don't Allow Highway Boondoggles in Stimulus Spending
Instead of doubling down on the unsustainable planning and building practices, the current crisis offers a chance to hit reset, according to this article.

Large Cities Were Already Losing Population. Then Came the Coronavirus.
"Cities of all sizes may soon look less alluring, if drastic drops in income, sales and tourism tax revenue leave gaping holes in budgets," according to this article, which encapsulates a popular school of thought as the pandemic rages.

Is it Time to Revive the Pattern Language?
Software and other fields have made brilliant progress with the pattern language methodology, while built environment fields lag badly, mired in parochial debates over the massive book that invented the methodology.

State and Local Border Restrictions Draw Legal Scrutiny
Some call restrictions at state and county borders necessary to protect the public health of communities. Others call them unconstitutional.

U.S. Needs to More Than Triple Testing Before States Can Open, Study Says
The United States currently tests about 145,000 people daily. A Harvard study calls for a minimum of 500,000 daily, but that's on the low end if the country wants to prevent shutting down again due to a second wave of the coronavirus.

President Trump's Plan to Reopen the Economy Rests with States
After initially saying that he had total authority on how and when to reopen the economy, Trump handed the responsibility to the 50 governors to make their own decisions and offered guidance in the form of a three-phase plan that relies on testing.

Once-in-a-Millennium Megadrought—Happening Now in the Western United States
The Western United States is experiencing a drought the scale of which has only been seen once before in the past 1,200 years, according to a new study. Climate change is not a future problem, say the researchers responsible for the study, it's here.

AIA National Conference Canceled
The conference had been postponed with the potential of being rescheduled later this year.

Demand Expected to Slow in U.S. Rental Market
Analysis from the Joint Center for Housing Studies of Harvard University predicts the pandemic will reduce rents, but only at the top of the market.

The Geography of Low-Income Job Losses
The historic job losses of the past two months have hit the most vulnerable workers harder than others, so far. The Urban Institute estimated and mapped where more low-income jobs have been lost.

Why, and How, to Cut Public Transit Service
There wasn't a playbook for this kind of emergency at the beginning of the year.

Watch: The Future of Cities After COVID-19
An expert panel convened to discuss the effect of the coronavirus on the foundations of society and contemporary life. The future, both the remaining time dealing with the pandemic and after, is becoming more clear with every passing day and week.

The U.S. Passed a Clean Energy Stimulus in 2009—Can the Same Happen in 2020?
The Obama-era American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 funded clean energy and created jobs during the Great Recession. Will clean energy be considered in a future stimulus bill to mitigate economic strain cased by the coronavirus pandemic?

Layoffs Sweeping the Construction Industry
Halted construction work has contributed to a growing number of layoffs in the construction industry during the month of April.

How One Commercial Real Estate Landlord Assesses the Market
The complete upheaval of the commercial real estate market seemingly happened overnight, but the pandemic followed years of structural changes, so the recovery could take much longer.

Expanding Housing Choice Vouchers Would Strengthen the Safety Net
An expanded housing voucher program is needed to address the medium- and long-term economic consequences of COVID-19.

America's 'Most Endangered River' in 2020: The Mighty Mississippi
Heavy flooding are expected to strain the Mississippi and Missouri rivers in Spring 2020, just as resources are stretched thin by the coronavirus.

Census Bureau Seeks Delay
Citing complications from the coronavirus pandemic, the U.S. Census Bureau is seeking a 120-day delay in concluding the Census process, with potential consequences lasting into 2021.
Pagination
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.
EMC Planning Group, Inc.
Planetizen
Planetizen
Mpact (formerly Rail~Volution)
Great Falls Development Authority, Inc.
HUDs Office of Policy Development and Research
NYU Wagner Graduate School of Public Service