United States

Aerial view of construction site with yellow dump truck and heavy machinery.

National Brownfields Training Conference: Driving Sustainable Redevelopment

The conference will bring together diverse stakeholders to share knowledge, strategies, and resources for the remediation and sustainable redevelopment of contaminated properties, fostering economic growth and environmental restoration.

December 31, 2024 - Brownfields 2025 Conference

One-story vacant Western-style strip mall with blocked windows.

Six Positive Innovations in Housing From 2024

The year saw some encouraging developments in housing and zoning policies that could alleviate the housing crisis and offer renters and homebuyers more diverse options.

December 30, 2024 - Vox

Older unhoused man standing next to cart with belongings and a cardboard sign "West" in a desert landscape.

Homelessness Spiked by 18.1 Percent in 2024

Experts blame the alarming rise in the number of unhoused people on high housing costs and the end of pandemic-era protections.

December 30, 2024 - The New York Times

Brick building with storefronts on ground floor and apartments on two floors above.

Commentary: Residential Vacancies Don’t Outweigh Need for New Housing

The myth that there are plenty of vacant housing units in U.S. cities comes from misconceptions about leasing timelines and developer incentives.

December 29, 2024 - Greater Greater Washington

Blue tarps covering tents set up by unhoused people along chain link fence on concrete sidewalk.

Camping Bans Proliferate After Supreme Court Ruling

A Supreme Court ruling in the case of Grants Pass v. Johnson has led over 100 cities to pass or step up enforcement of camping bans that criminalize unhoused residents.

December 29, 2024 - KSMU

Grey mobile home with yellow "Oversize Load" sign being towed on road.

Mobile Home Prices Rising Sharply

Manufactured housing offers an affordable housing option for many Americans, but mobile homes — and land rents — are going up in cost.

December 26, 2024 - Fortune

Bike path, part of Grand Rounds Scenic Byway in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

How to Make Greenways Better

Adding amenities such as public restrooms and shade trees can make greenways like Detroit’s Joe Louis Greenway more inviting and comfortable for their users.

December 25, 2024 - Time Magazine

Houses on Lake Michigan shore with yellow "Keep Off Rocks" sign.

How US Cities Can Prepare for Climate Disasters

Resilience, encompassing infrastructure, governance, economic strength, and social cohesion, is critical for cities to mitigate rising climate risks like flooding, wildfires, and heat, ensuring long-term recovery and adaptability.

December 24, 2024 - The Washington Post

Aerial view of manufactured housing mobile home park in rural area.

Rural Renters at Increased Risk of Eviction

Rural residents often have a harder time accessing legal assistance and eviction prevention resources.

December 23, 2024 - The Daily Yonder

Man in wheelchair in designated area on public bus.

USDOT Issues Accessibility Guidelines for Transit Stations

A new rule aims to clarify accessibility requirements to help state and local DOTs upgrade their facilities more quickly to meet ADA standards.

December 23, 2024 - Smart Cities Dive

Two oil drilling derricks in vast field in West Texas.

Silent Threat: America’s Abandoned Oil Wells and the Danger Beneath

Abandoned oil and gas wells across the U.S. pose significant environmental, health, and safety risks, with many leaking hazardous gases and chemicals, highlighting regulatory failures and the immense financial burden of remediation.

December 23, 2024 - ABC News

Close-up of yellow "Warning Biohazard" sign with people in hazmat suits cleaning up in background.

Students Drive Solutions for Environmental Justice Through Video Challenge

The Environmental Justice Video Challenge empowers students and communities to collaboratively address environmental inequities through innovative data-driven strategies, resulting in impactful projects and fostering local leadership.

December 23, 2024 - U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

Old oil well with red brick building in the background.

AI Uncovers Forgotten Oil Wells: A High-Tech Solution to Environmental Hazards

Researchers are using artificial intelligence, drones, and sensors to locate and assess undocumented orphaned oil and gas wells, addressing their environmental and climate risks by identifying high-priority sites for plugging and methane mitigation.

December 22, 2024 - Berkeley Lab

Small trees on city sidewlak with glass buildings in background.

Cities Prioritize Urban Reforestation to Combat Heat and Revitalize Communities

Cities like Phoenix, Chicago, and Boise are prioritizing urban reforestation as critical green infrastructure to combat extreme heat, address environmental inequities, and foster community revitalization.

December 20, 2024 - USGBC

Aerial view of downtown Baltimore, Maryland with prominent statue in foreground at dusk.

Rebuilding Together: How One Baltimore Program Advanced Education and Community Development

When Baltimore got funding for a round of school renovations, the state directed it to design schools that would also advance neighborhood revitalization — and it learned some lessons about why that's not always so simple.

December 20, 2024 - Shelterforce Magazine

Electric Cars

Federal Government May Make About-Face on EV Purchases

The incoming administration appears poised to slash funding for electric vehicles and charging infrastructure.

December 19, 2024 - Wired

Close-up of person standing and holding book on train platform.

Planetizen’s Top Urban Planning Books of 2024

Top of mind in 2024 were the far-reaching impacts of climate displacement, zoning as a solution to the housing crisis, and the potential for safer roads and better public transit in American cities.

December 19, 2024 - Planetizen Team

Interior of autonomous car with large map screen on road.

Trump Transition Team Recommends Nixing Car Crash Reporting Rule

A rule requiring reporting of crashes involving driver assistance technology has faced strong opposition from Tesla and other automakers.

December 19, 2024 - Reuters

Children boarding yellow school bus.

Parents Turn to Ride-Hailing as Schools Pull Bus Transportation

Some districts are cutting back on school buses, leaving some children without reliable transportation to and from school.

December 18, 2024 - Associated Press

Row of USPS trucks parked in outdoor parking lot.

USPS Electrification Project Far Behind Schedule

The manufacturer of the electric mail trucks ordered by the Postal Service is plagued by problems that are slowing production to around one truck per day.

December 18, 2024 - The Washington Post

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.