Blogs

December 6, 2023

The Continuing Evolution of Complete Streets

December 2023 marks the 20th anniversary of the first official use of the term "Complete Streets," learn about key trends and influencing factors that will continue to shape the Complete Streets of the future.

December 4, 2023

Career Advice for Planning Students

Learn from planning directors about the skills and insights you need to be successful as a planner.

November 30, 2023

The Lasting Legacy of Harmful Land-Use Regulations

Uncovering JAPA: Early land-use regulations shaped the concepts of race, which challenge today's planners to create equitable spaces.

November 17, 2023

Improving Inclusivity of Urban Governance

Uncovering JAPA: Nurturing the culture of a governing body can make it more inclusive for everyone.

November 15, 2023

Student-Led University Course Challenges Conventional Planning Processes

Equity in Practice: Learn how students created a new course at the University of Michigan to DO WHAT.

November 15, 2023

Minneapolis Appeals Ruling That Delays Implementation of the 2040 Comprehensive Plan

Minneapolis is appealing a recent court ruling that blocked the 2040 comprehensive plan from transforming housing in the city.

November 14, 2023

Top Five Takeaways: White House Housing Fact Sheet

The Biden-Harris Administration announced new actions last month to support and accelerate commercial-to-residential conversions through new federal guidance on financing and tax incentives, technical assistance, and the reuse of federal properties.

November 14, 2023

Yan Song, PhD, Selected as Next Editor of Journal of the American Planning Association (JAPA)

News Release: Yan Song, PhD, selected as new editor of the Journal of the American Planning Association.

November 13, 2023

Tribal Zoning? Well, It’s Complicated

Spotlight on Zoning Practice: How can planners help tribal authorities apply zoning to "checkboard" reservations?

November 9, 2023

The Impact of Prejudice Data on Advancing Equitable Planning Practices

Uncovering JAPA: Understanding the impact of the Mapping Prejudice project on advancing more equitable planning policies and practices.

November 8, 2023

Support for Zoning Reform Across Capitol Hill

Federal action on zoning reform is the rare issue in Congress gaining bipartisan support from across the aisle. The PRO-Housing Program cleared important legislative hurdles this month after gaining a second year of funding in the Senate transporation and housing funding bill and passing as an amendment in the House's version of the same funding bill.

November 7, 2023

States Take Varied Approaches to Resilience Governance

APA News: New research analysis from APA identifies the varied approaches states are taking for resilience governance.

November 3, 2023

Planning Action for a Just Transformation to a Net-Zero Climate Resilient World

Statement from the Global Planners Network about the need for effective planning to generate sustainable urbanism in advance of the 74th World Town Planning Day on November 8, 2023.

November 2, 2023

Impact of Low-Cost Housing Interventions

Uncovering JAPA: The positive impact of low-cost housing remediations led to reduced blight and crime in Philadelphia.

November 1, 2023

A Community's Successful Journey to Modern, Digital Community Development

Sponsored content from Tyler Technologies. Learn how planners in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida collaborated with IT to successfully implement Enterprise Permitting & Licensing software and modernize their planning process.

October 27, 2023

Examining the Role of Land Use and Regulations in Housing Development

A recap of the third convening for the Housing Supply Accelerator focusing on examining the role of regulatory processes in facilitating housing production to address shortages.

October 27, 2023

Strategies for Creating More Just and Equitable Societies

Uncovering JAPA: This viewpoint explores three aforementioned strategies that can be used to start dismantling the existing system in favor of a more just system that that works for everyone.

October 25, 2023

APA Recognizes 2023 National Planning Award Winners

From ambitious comprehensive plans to intergenerational collaboration with young residents, APA is proud to recognize this year’s award-winning planning efforts.

October 23, 2023

Investing and Rejuvenating Historic All-Black Towns

Equity in Practice: Weekend festival focuses on helping historical all-Black towns survive and thrive.

October 20, 2023

Dissecting 30 Years of Black Urbanist Thought in Urban Planning

Uncovering JAPA: Analysis confirms planning journals and practitioners have not focused on Black voices and Black urbanism for nearly three decades.

October 18, 2023

Three Governors Issue Executive Orders on Housing to Increase Supply

Governors of Colorado, New York, and Hawaii have exercised their executive powers to implement various levels of zoning reform within their states.

October 13, 2023

No State Immune to Housing Supply Shortage

A new report, sponsored by APA, finds that the nation's housing supply shortage is getting worse, faster - especially for small towns and suburban communities that faces high housing demand in the aftermath of the pandemic.

October 12, 2023

A New Tool for Assessing Equity in Health Impact Assessments

Uncovering JAPA: A new approach to ensuring racial and ethnic equity are advanced in health impact assessments (HIAs).

October 11, 2023

Are We Close to Automating Zoning?

Spotlight on Zoning Practice: Can generative AI take the drudgery out of drafting zoning regulations?

October 6, 2023

Mural Festival Advances Creative Placemaking

Uncovering JAPA: Explore a successful model of creative placemaking using murals to engage the community from Springfield, Massachusetts.

October 4, 2023

Planning for Boulder's Unique Community: Navigating Challenges and Embracing Digital Transformation

Sponsored content from Tyler Technologies. Learn about the unique qualities of the community of Boulder, Colorado and how a shift to digital helped address their planning challenges.

September 28, 2023

Planning for Care - A Necessary Element of Equitable, Livable and Healthy Communities

Uncovering JAPA: Explore how care work depends on the urban environment and how planning can enhance the social and material conditions for caregiving in cities.

September 26, 2023

Renaming Streets to Promote Reconciliation

Equity in Practice: Learn how Charlotte, North Carolina, approached and ultimately renamed streets that had honored Confederate and white supremist leaders.

September 21, 2023

A New Way to Identify Bargain Areas for Child Economic Mobility

Uncovering JAPA: Explore a new way to identify neighborhoods with a more reasonable cost of living that can increase children's economic mobility.

September 20, 2023

The New Nicollet Redevelopment: Reimaging New Places and Opportunities

Learn about the project site location, New Nicollet Redevelopment, for the 2024 Student Planning and Design Competition.

September 19, 2023

Getting Hired: Compensation and Salary Negotiations

Members of the Women and Planning Division held a webinar offering their perspectives on how to approach compensation and salary conversations as part of the job offer.

September 12, 2023

Who’s That Knocking at Your Door?

Spotlight on Zoning Practice: How equitable are your zoning regulations for home occupations?

September 12, 2023

Housing Finance Takes Focus at Most Recent Housing Supply Accelerator Convening

The second Housing Supply Accelerator convening held in Tacoma, Washington, focused on housing finance, including filling the information gap, public-private partnerships, and utilizing federal funding and programs.

August 31, 2023

Transportation Demand Management is a Movement for Improvement

Sponsored content from Southwestern Pennsylvania Commission. From vehicles to bicycles, traffic flow to bus routes, one common benefit across most Transportation Demand Management (TDM) efforts is reduced emissions and cleaner air. View Southwestern Pennsylvania Commission’s (SPC) Strategic Action Plan for regional TDM

August 31, 2023

Addressing Racial Harms Through Reparative Planning

Uncovering JAPA: A framework that provides theory and practice for planners working toward urban justice.

August 30, 2023

Federal Zoning Reform Funding Available Now

A new federal competitive grant program – totaling $85 million – is now available to help local governments develop and implement policies that create and preserve housing options by breaking down barriers to zoning reform.

August 28, 2023

Using Public Space to Expand Storytelling on the National Mall

A new temporary exhibit on the National Mall aims to balance protecting historic spaces while increasing opportunities for more stories to be shared.

August 22, 2023

Getting Hired: Answering Tough Interview Questions

How do you best navigate the 'thorny' questions during a job interview? Get tips on how to answer the difficult interview questions.

August 14, 2023

Whose Status Quo Should Zoning Protect?

Spotlight on Zoning Practice: How can zoning protect historically disadvantaged and vulnerable neighborhoods and business districts?

August 10, 2023

Using Reparative Planning to Address Infrastructural Systems

Uncovering JAPA: ACT-LA aims to apply a divest-invest approach to stopping systems and practices that have caused harm.

August 8, 2023

Getting Hired: Tips for Interviewing

Hiring managers that are members of the Women and Planning Division held a webinar offering their perspectives on preparing for and acing interviews.

August 3, 2023

Black Counternarratives in Planning History

Uncovering JAPA: Understanding planning history from the perspective of those oppressed by traditional planning ensures the oppressed are no longer dismissed as passive victims but active players in their lives and communities.

August 1, 2023

Empowering Planners: Harnessing Data and Insights for Community Development

Sponsored content from Tyler Technologies. How can planning departments use data and technology tools to help make data-driven decisions that solve their locality’s problems? This article looks at data's potential for planners and how technology tools can empower their decision-making process.

July 20, 2023

Eliminating Food Insecurity With Aquaponics

Equity in Practice: East Oakland partners to address food insecurity.

July 18, 2023

Futureproofing the Planning Profession

Learn about the skills and approaches planners will need to future-proof the profession.

July 17, 2023

Planning Priorities Face Cuts in Congress

Federal investments in zoning reform, climate action, and infrastructure are on the line this week as Congress moves to reduce federal spending for the next fiscal year. APA unpacks the disappointing cuts and the legislative pathway forward.