Social / Demographics

California Houses

California Growth Report: Housing Up, Population Down

Good and bad news can be found in the most recent demographic report from the California Department of Finance. The population dropped by nearly 140,000 last year while housing grew at the highest rate in 14 years.

May 4, 2023 - San Francisco Chronicle

Redevelopment

Anti-Displacement Measures for Brownfield Developments

A series of reports published by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and Smart Growth America highlights tools and policies that can help mitigate displacement pressure when recovering and developing brownfields around the United States.

May 2, 2023 - Smart Growth America

 Old sugar factory in Domino Park in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, New York

Bitter Irony Behind Brooklyn’s Sweet Domino Sugar Sign

A new feature on the Brooklyn waterfront is a reminder that Domino Sugar has made several unsavory appearances in the history of Puerto Rican communities.

May 2, 2023 - Mark H. McNulty

Parent and child walking, holding hands on mixed-use trail with trees

A Child’s Eye View of the City

A new VR tool invites urban planners to viscerally understand how a small child experiences the urban realm—with less-than-ideal results.

April 26, 2023 - Fast Company

Close-up of woman drinking boba bubble tea through straw

Boba as a Symbol of Identity and Culture

The Chinese American Museum in L.A. currently features an exhibit exploring the drink’s journey from the cassava root in South America, to the tapioca balls in the Taiwanese confection, and back to the U.S. as a symbol of Asian American identity.

April 18, 2023 - KCRW

View from back of three men in suits sitting in a large room with leather chairs facing dais

Study: Renters, Women, Minorities Underrepresented in Land Use Decisions

The membership of decisionmaking bodies such as planning commissions rarely reflects the socioeconomic, gender, and racial characteristics of the local community.

April 13, 2023 - Urban Institute

Aerial Philadelphia cityscape by night with the City Hall tower in the foreground and Ben Franklin bridge spanning Delaware river in the back

Report: American Downtowns Safer Than You Think

A Brookings Institution study reveals that crime rates in major cities have risen, but downtown districts account for a negligible part of the growth.

April 12, 2023 - The Philadelphia Inquirer

Aerial view of Cape Town, South Africa with development on coast and mountains in background

Study: Inequity Surfaces During Water Crises

As the world’s water supply becomes more threatened, the wealthiest people are exacerbating the crisis through non-essential uses while the poor are the first to lose access to water.

April 12, 2023 - The Guardian

Walkable DC

Opinion: Surprised by Your Neighborhood’s Walkability Score? Don't Be.

A cautionary tale of using indices.

April 12, 2023 - Miriam Pinski

Accessible elevator sign with arrow on a New York City subway platform

New York Must Make Almost All Subway Stations Accessible by 2055, Judge Rules

Another recent ruling is forcing the agency to accelerate its efforts to make all New York subway stations accessible to people with disabilities and mobility issues.

April 11, 2023 - The City

Close-up of crosswalk button for blind pedestrians labeled "button for audible signal only"

Chicago Found Liable for ADA Violations

A federal judge ruled that the city fails to provide “meaningful access” to many of its streets due to a lack of infrastructure for pedestrians with vision impairments at most of the city’s intersections.

April 10, 2023 - WGN

Woman with child and stroller waiting on Prague subway platform with blurred train passing by.

Improving Gender Equality with Urban Planning

“It's a man's world” is not just a saying. As much as we are surrounded by societal structures that contribute to gender discrimination, we are often also surrounded by physical infrastructure that is just as limiting.

April 10, 2023 - Devin Partida

Tents belonging to unhoused people near freeway onramp in Phoenix, Arizona

Phoenix Ordered to Sweep City’s Biggest Unhoused Community

A county judge ruled the city must evict people living in an encampment after local businesses and residents sued.

April 6, 2023 - Arizona Republic

Passengers on a women's only subway car in Mexico City, Mexico

Mind the Gender Gap: Achieving Transit Equity Through a Gendered Perspective

How acknowledging the unique transportation needs of women can lead to more equitable, effective public transport service for all.

April 5, 2023 - Emma Chapman

View of Statue of Liberty with New York City skyline in background

Immigration Grows, Population Drops in Many U.S. Counties

International immigration to the country’s most populous areas tripled even as major metropolitan areas continued to lose population.

March 31, 2023 - The New York Times

Couple embracing happily in front of home with "SOLD" sign

Millennials Now Majority Homeowners

Just over half of people in the ‘Y’ generation now own homes, but the largest generation also continues to dominate the rental market.

March 30, 2023 - RentCafé

Aerial view of traffic on road and buildings in the Bronx, New York City

MTA Proposes Pollution Mitigation Spending for the Bronx

Acknowledging the impact the city’s proposed congestion pricing program could have on underserved neighborhoods, the agency plans to spend over $130 million in revenue from the program on air filtration, trees, and other pollution reduction measures.

March 30, 2023 - The New York Times

Two people riding bikes with helmets on paved park trail

‘Arrested Mobility’: How Transportation-Related Laws Impact Black Americans

A far-reaching new study highlights the disproportionate effect of biking and walking laws on the mobility of Black Americans.

March 29, 2023 - Streetsblog USA

The city of Duluth, Minnesota, pictured from Lake Superior.

‘Climate-Proof Duluth’ Is Changing

Climate refugees are already on the move in the United States. The New York Times recently conducted an exploration on of the most desirable locations to escape wildfires, drought, and sea-level rise.

March 29, 2023 - The New York Times

Miami Traffic Jam

The Cost of Driving Increasingly Out of Reach in the U.S.

New research stresses the importance of socioeconomic differences in U.S. transportation trends.

March 27, 2023 - Salon

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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.