Known for its history of making or breaking the careers of countless Hollywood stars, Los Angeles has long been recognized as a city of opportunity. Historically, however, opportunities have not been equally distributed, as disinvestment in low-income communities leaves many households at a disadvantage. One of the largest of these disadvantages is the lack of reliable public transportation, which, in turn, reduces residents’ socioeconomic opportunities and access to financial resources. Low-income households with children face especially considerable challenges.

As data shows, low-income and high-poverty neighborhoods tend to suffer from infrastructure disinvestment, increased crime, and police violence, which, combined, can create unsafe transportation experiences. The presence of children adds further complications, as difficulties with public transportation and safety concerns increase the pressure to purchase personal vehicles, a decision that may not be financially feasible for many low-income families.

In a case study focused on South L.A., a team of researchers led by Dr. Tamika Butler conducted in-depth interviews of thirty-nine low-income households with children to better understand their transportation patterns and experiences. The results of the study strongly support the notion that low-income households with children face several additional travel-related challenges, which have “significant implications” on other aspects of daily life. For parents of low-income households, the lack of safe, dependable transportation and the financial burdens of private transportation options add significant stress to the existing hardships of parenting. For households far from transit-dense areas, the lack of personal vehicles significantly limits parents’ employment opportunities, affecting long-term family outcomes such as children’s educational quality and future earnings.

The presence of children shifts parental travel behavior as parents often prioritize travel around their children’s schedules. As a result, the time allocated for personal travel and quality family time decreases significantly, leading many parents to conclude that purchasing a personal vehicle is necessary. Interviewees cited several benefits to personal vehicles, including better transportation to jobs, less stress surrounding time-sensitive errands, and the security of knowing they have a vehicle in case of emergency. Unfortunately, the economic burden of purchasing a vehicle serves as an additional constraint, as low-income households often have more drivers than vehicles—if any at all. Juggling the pros and cons of owning a private vehicle versus relying entirely on public transportation is a challenge for numerous households.

The researchers’ proposed solution? Equitable, multimodal transportation capable of addressing the diverse needs of low-income households with children. As they point out, access to a range of transportation options increases the choices parents have in how to meet their family’s needs—choices they know how best to address.

If you’re interested in reading more about this topic, check out the article by Tamika L. Butler, Madeline Wander, Madeline Brozen, and Evelyn Blumenberg in the Journal of Planning Education and Research.

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Butler, T. L., Wander, M., Brozen, M., & Blumenberg, E. (2026). Transportation Challenges of Low-Income Households with Children: A Case Study in South Los Angeles. Journal of Planning Education and Research, 0(0). https://doi.org/10.1177/0739456X261420396

Imagine spending years growing fruits and vegetables in your backyard and consuming them for every meal. Then, one day, a soil test reveals that the lead levels in your yard are drastically higher than the government’s safety guidelines. For many residents of Buffalo, New York, this is not a bad dream; it’s a reality. Since it was once a major industrial hub in the late nineteenth century, Buffalo now carries a toxic environmental legacy beneath every front lawn and community garden, even though its local economy has moved away from manufacturing.

A new study, by researchers at the University at Buffalo, investigates two main questions: How do racial and socioeconomic backgrounds of residents overlap with the levels of chemical contamination in their neighborhoods? And what is the community experience of planning and policy regarding tainted soil? By comparing maps of the spatial distribution of people of color across Buffalo with maps of each neighborhood’s score of lead paint levels and proximity to hazardous waste sites, researchers found that areas with polluted soil were almost always located in predominantly Black, Hispanic, and immigrant neighborhoods.

The study also included focus group interviews of Buffalo residents that centered on their perspectives and experiences with soil contamination. Many participants expressed concern, arguing that tainted soil prevented them from safely growing food in their own backyards. While some completed at-home soil testing kits to stay conscious of their risk, most reported learning about toxicity issues from small neighborhood organizations rather than the government, a point of frustration for people looking for long-term contamination solutions. “This is an infrastructure problem,” commented one interviewee.

Soil contamination is about more than infrastructure; it is about planning. While Buffalo has several zoning policies related to drinking water contamination and lead-based paint, it fails to take action against hazardous soil, and residents are expected to assess these dangers on their own. The study authors call on city leaders in Buffalo and elsewhere to integrate hazardous soil issues into community planning processes, arguing that policymakers should focus on taking direct action rather than relying on local collective organizations to do the heavy lifting.

If you’re interested in reading more about this topic, check out the research led by Alexandra Judelsohn in the Journal of Planning Education and Research.

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Judelsohn, A., Frimpong Boamah, E., Adamu, K., Yin, F., Paltseva, A., Kordas, K., Parasnis, M., Chen, T., & Nalam, P. (2025). Envisioning Healthy Soil Futures: Planning and Policy Inertia in Addressing Soil Contamination in a Postindustrial City. Journal of Planning Education and Research, 0(0). https://doi.org/10.1177/0739456X251373027

When a flood hits a community, devastation can overwhelm residents, but being proactive and preparing for such disasters can make a big difference. Urban planners are increasingly looking to utilize technology to highlight the areas that are most at risk of floods. New research explores how the use of urban digital technology (UDT), which integrates data and the physical environment, is used with a dashboard. The paper helps find out if these two technologies work well together to educate the public and to create climate resilience measures.

In Cedar Key, FL, planners have set up this dashboard to engage and inform residents. The website includes data on risk reduction, natural landmarks, flood scenarios, hurricanes, and more. The Resilient Cedar Key project is successful because it uses these two technologies - UDT and geospatial dashboard - to inform the potential climate change impacts and anticipate that resilience planning. However, there are setbacks because the site and UDTs in general are not always user-friendly.

The screenshot above shows how there is a lot of information on the site, but it can be difficult to understand at first glance. If we want the use of these kinds of dashboards to be a great educational tool for communities, it must show a more simple way for people to understand this visualization of potential flooding impacts. Specifically, if it is visualized in a way that the general public can understand, it would improve community competency and would build skills to think about the risks of floods in their area. It will be exciting to see if the use of these kinds of dashboards will continue to grow and be used with other technologies, like the Cedar Key, FL case study showed.

If you are interested in reading more about this study, check out Integrating Urban Digital Twin with Cloud-Based Geospatial Dashboard for Coastal Resilience Planning: A Case Study in Florida (2025) which can be found in the Journal of Planning Education and Research (JPER).

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Citation: Chen, Changjie, Yu Han, Andrea Galinski, Christian Calle, Jeffrey Carney, Xinyue Ye, and Cees van Westen. 2025. “Integrating Urban Digital Twin with Cloud-Based Geospatial Dashboard for Coastal Resilience Planning: A Case Study in Florida.” Journal of Planning Education and Research, February. https://doi.org/10.1177/0739456x251316185.

Using a deep dive into over 51,000 home sales, researchers compared two BRT corridors—Mesa and Alameda & Dyer. One corridor saw property values jump by 4%, adding thousands to home prices. The other? No significant change. Why the difference?

The study reveals that lower-income neighborhoods benefited more from BRT, while wealthier areas—where people already owned cars and had better transit access—barely felt the impact. Simply put, BRT matters more when it fills a real transportation gap.

Homes near the Alameda & Dyer line saw a 4% price increase after the BRT opened, adding thousands of dollars in value. But along the Mesa corridor, where home prices were already higher, BRT had no noticeable effect. Why? In the wealthier neighborhoods, residents are more likely to own cars and already have good infrastructure, making the new transit system less impactful. Meanwhile, in lower-income areas, BRT dramatically improves mobility, making homes more attractive to buyers.

But that’s not all. The study suggests that BRT can be a powerful tool for revitalizing less-developed neighborhoods, offering better access to jobs, services, and economic opportunities. This challenges the traditional one-size-fits-all approach to public transit planning. Instead of assuming that transit investment will benefit all communities equally, cities need targeted strategies to ensure transit systems actually help the people who need them most.

The takeaway? Mass transit isn’t just about moving people—it’s about shaping cities and creating economic opportunity. But for it to work, transit planners must understand the unique needs of different communities and design projects that deliver real value where it’s needed most. For policymakers, the takeaway is clear: investing in public transit can boost property values, but only when it meets the specific needs of the community. Ignoring local context can mean wasted resources and minimal impact.

The question remains: Are we building transit for convenience—or for real impact?

If you’re interested to read more about this, check out Yang Song, Chanam Lee, Yougre Noh, Wei Li, and Hanwool Lee’s article in the Journal of Planning Education and Research (JPER)!

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Citation: Song, Y., Lee, C., Noh, Y., Li, W., & Lee, H. (2025). Bus Rapid Transit Impact on Property Prices: Comparing Two Natural Experiments in El Paso, TX. Journal of Planning Education and Research, 0(0). https://doi.org/10.1177/0739456X251317541

A new study, through a case study of the Purple Line during the construction phase, examines the costs and benefits of the modern paradigm of transit-oriented development. Light rail is often sold as a solution to urban congestion, offering greener transit and sparking growth. But in neighborhoods along the future Purple Line, something different is happening. Rents are rising. Small businesses are struggling. And low-income renters are worried that this shiny new rail line will leave them behind. Construction chaos is making daily life a nightmare, with detours, torn-up roads, and costs piling up—both financially and emotionally.

Residents are already seeing big changes. In Long Branch, for example, there’s a sense that the future is being designed for “newcomers” rather than the people who’ve called the area home for years. Longtime Latinx residents watch as single-family homes turn over to wealthier buyers, often from a different demographic. Local mom-and-pop shops are being replaced by chain stores and higher-end retailers. And while some welcome the promise of better transit and new amenities, many renters fear these changes will price them out entirely.

And it’s not just about housing. Construction itself has been very disruptive. Roads are wrecked, sidewalks blocked, and businesses are losing customers. One participant called the process a “stupendously huge disaster.” Others worry the new line could bring crime or push out affordable services they rely on.

The Purple Line is still years away from opening, but its effects are already deeply felt. For many, it’s a symbol of progress—but for others, it’s a looming threat to their homes, livelihoods, and way of life. Will this transit project deliver on its promises, or will it become yet another tale of suburban gentrification gone wrong? Only time will tell, but for now, the Purple Line is raising more questions than answers.

If you’re interested to read more about this, check out Nicholas Finio’s article in the Journal of Planning Education and Research (JPER)! This article takes a deep dive into the .

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Citation: Finio, N. (2024). Suburban Gentrification: Change, Stasis, and TOD along the Purple Line. Journal of Planning Education and Research, 0(0). https://doi.org/10.1177/0739456X241298945

Since 2013, the Colombian capital has been on a mission to relocate residents living in dangerous flood and landslide zones with a housing subsidy program. It sounds noble—until you realize over 57% of these so-called “safe” subsidized units are still built in high-risk areas, as a recent study revealed. And for internally displaced persons (IDPs), the situation is even worse: they make up a disproportionate share of this unsettling statistic.

Picture this: a family finally moves into their new government-subsidized home, only to realize it’s in a flood zone dependent on unproven levee systems that may buckle under the next heavy storm. These houses, though an improvement in construction quality, are often isolated in sprawling, poorly connected suburbs with weak infrastructure. Residents may gain property titles, but they lose proximity to jobs, schools, and city life—trading one risk for another in a cruel cycle of exclusion.

Even worse, Bogotá’s obsession with homeownership limits housing options for the displaced, sidelining rental markets that could offer flexibility. Instead, IDPs find themselves trapped in peripheral areas, effectively cut off from Bogotá’s opportunities while enduring the looming threat of yet another disaster.

This study by Hugo Sarmiente, Professor at Columbia University GSAPP, shows that this isn’t just a story about flawed urban planning. It’s a cautionary tale of how even the best intentions—protecting vulnerable populations from climate risks—can backfire when inequities remain unaddressed. Bogotá’s double displacement crisis is a wake-up call: without bold political action, the fight against climate change might end up deepening the very inequalities it seeks to resolve.

If you’re interested in reading more about this, check out Hugo Sarmiente’s article in the Journal of Planning Education and Research (JPER)! This article analyzes the spatial relationship between the city’s risk zones and subsidized housing.

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Citation: Sarmiento, H. (2024). A Double Displacement: Climate Resettlements and Bogotá’s Desplazados. Journal of Planning Education and Research, 0(0). https://doi.org/10.1177/0739456X241298941

Enter Urban Gentri, a groundbreaking board game designed to make people feel gentrification. Forget dry textbooks or dull lectures—this game throws players into the middle of the action. You’re no longer an observer; you’re a decision-maker. Whether you're a tenant struggling with skyrocketing rents, a developer eyeing profits, or a policymaker trying to keep the peace, this game lets you experience the ripple effects of every choice.

Here’s the kicker: It works. This study involving 45 participants found something amazing. After playing Urban Gentri, people’s understanding of gentrification skyrocketed. They didn’t just learn facts—they felt the struggles and complexities. Players came away with empathy for those affected, a desire to support local businesses, and even plans to take action in their own communities. Some said the role-playing made them see things they’d never considered before, like the importance of balancing growth with community preservation.

The game is built on two powerful frameworks—ADDIE and MDA—that blend education with engaging gameplay. It’s not just a random set of rules; every detail is carefully designed to immerse players and spark real learning. And while this study focused on Korea, the lessons are universal. From Brooklyn to Seoul, the challenges of gentrification are similar, and the insights gained from this game could spark global conversations.

Why does this matter? Because gentrification is more than just a buzzword. It’s about people, communities, and the choices we make. And if a game can turn a dry topic into a compelling, emotional experience, imagine what else we can learn through play. Urban Gentri isn’t just a game—it’s a tool for understanding, empathy, and maybe even change.

If you’re interested to read more about this, check out Minju Kim, Jihyun Ahn, and Yunmi Park’s article in the Journal of Planning Education and Research (JPER)! This article explores how “planners and educators can create engaging platforms to inform the public and promote informed decision-making on complex urban issues.”

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Kim, M., Ahn, J., & Park, Y. (2024). Urban Gentri: Serious Game on Learning about Gentrification. Journal of Planning Education and Research. https://doi.org/10.1177/0739456X241280179

This eye-opening study dives deep into the challenges and opportunities for disaster preparedness at PHAs. Interviews with housing officials, nonprofit leaders, and PHA staff reveal an unsettling truth: financial strain, red tape, and a glaring lack of disaster training are leaving these communities at risk. There’s no clear plan, no training, and no dedicated policies to handle emergencies.

But it’s not all bad news. The study also highlights some shining examples of resilience. PHAs with strong partnerships, staff experienced in past disasters, and clear roles for disaster management are leading the way. These success stories prove that with the right resources and teamwork, PHAs can safeguard their residents.

This research is a call to action. Public housing residents deserve the same level of safety as anyone else—and with thoughtful planning, PHAs can rise to the challenge.

When the next disaster comes, will we be ready to protect our most vulnerable neighbors? It’s a question that demands urgent answers. You can read more about the study in the Journal of Planning Education and Research (JPER)!

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Khan, A. S., Aurand, A., Hamideh, S., Vickery, J., Walter, R. J., & Errett, N. A. (2024). Opportunities for Implementation of Disaster Risk Management Strategies among Public Housing Authorities. Journal of Planning Education and Research. https://doi.org/10.1177/0739456X241293384

New research introduces a game-changing tool: a housing informality index designed to identify and measure the severity of these subdivisions.

Using data from tax appraisals and fieldwork, the study uncovered 128 highly informal neighborhoods in Dallas County alone—some with conditions rivaling slums in developing countries. These areas are marked by crumbling homes, poor infrastructure, and sky-high energy costs for residents forced to rely on inefficient heating and cooling. Why are these neighborhoods so neglected? Many lie in unincorporated areas where local governments refuse to take responsibility.

The index doesn’t just stop at identifying problems—it points to solutions. It highlights areas most in need of immediate intervention, pushing for affordable housing upgrades like weatherproofing homes or improving access to clean water. The authors even suggest borrowing ideas from international slum upgrading programs, emphasizing collaboration between residents and local governments.

This isn’t just an academic exercise. It’s a wake-up call to planners, policymakers, and anyone who believes in fair housing. These forgotten neighborhoods deserve attention, resources, and dignity. And with tools like this index, we have a roadmap to start making things right. America’s informal subdivisions are closer than you think—just on the edges of our cities and consciousness. Isn’t it time we brought them into the spotlight?

If you’re interested to read more about this, check out the article by Ariadna Reyes, Josh Newton, Camilo Caudillo, and Subham Kharel in the Journal of Planning Education and Research (JPER)! This article proposes a replicable, data-driven index to identify informal subdivisions and measure levels of peri-urban housing informality.

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Reyes, A., Newton, J., Caudillo, C., & Kharel, S. (2024). An Index to Identify and Classify the Spectrum of U.S. Peri-Urban Informal Subdivisions. Journal of Planning Education and Research. https://doi.org/10.1177/0739456X241294232

They used an innovative method called “conformance variation” (CV) to measure the gap between planned land uses (like residential, industrial, and recreational areas) and the real-world changes that happened over time. Spoiler alert: the plans didn't go as planned! Recreational spaces like parks and playgrounds took the biggest hit, with a massive average CV of 70%. This means that, in many cases, land set aside for public enjoyment ended up used for other purposes. Meanwhile, residential and commercial areas expanded as expected—underscoring the pressing need for housing and business space in rapidly growing cities.

But the story doesn’t stop at the numbers. The research highlights how traditional master plans, rooted in colonial-era planning ideals, may no longer suit the evolving needs of modern Indian cities. These rigid plans lack flexibility, struggle to adapt, and often fall behind due to bureaucratic red tape, limited resources, and political interference. As a result, city landscapes change in ways that don’t align with their carefully laid plans, pushing urban spaces to grow chaotically instead of cohesively.

The study’s ultimate recommendation? It’s time for a shift from static master planning to continuous, data-driven assessments that don’t just assume outcomes but verify them—ensuring that the cities of the future are not only well-planned but also well-implemented. For Indian cities, this means moving beyond ambitious visions to create urban spaces that truly meet the needs of their citizens.

If you’re interested to read more about this, check out Sushmita Choudhary and Subrata Chattopadhyay’s article in the Journal of Planning Education and Research (JPER)! This article unveils the urban realities in Indian million-plus cities.

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Choudhary, S., & Chattopadhyay, S. (2024). A Conformance Variation Approach for Ex-Post Master Plan Evaluation: Unveiling Urban Realities in Indian Million-Plus Cities. Journal of Planning Education and Research. https://doi.org/10.1177/0739456X2412891024

Using smartphone data, researchers tracked store visits across various U.S. counties, finding that stay-at-home orders and business closures hit some stores harder than others. On average, retail store visits dropped by 16 percent during the pandemic—a serious blow for businesses reliant on foot traffic. However, the pandemic’s economic punch didn’t land evenly. In lower-income and minority communities, the impact was much deeper, disproportionately hurting mom-and-pop stores that rely on local customers. Some small businesses in these communities saw a staggering 15 percent further decline in visits compared to larger chain stores, exposing a stark economic divide.

For retail spaces in minority and low-income areas, the fallout was devastating, with many stores struggling to stay open and some never recovering. This decline took more than profits—it weakened neighborhoods, threatened local jobs, and shifted the fabric of community life. The resilience (or lack thereof) of these stores exposed long-standing inequities, particularly in access to resources that could help stores survive tough times. 

The research doesn’t just tell us what went wrong; it shines a light on what’s possible. By prioritizing community-centered economic recovery, policymakers could help protect these crucial small businesses in future crises. The paper’s author argues for policies that support vulnerable neighborhoods with faster grants, accessible loans, and focused recovery funds—measures that could make all the difference when the next challenge comes along. 

COVID-19 changed shopping forever, but it also taught us how important these local stores are to our communities. As we rebuild, the big question is: Will we learn the lessons of the pandemic and level the playing field for small businesses everywhere?

If you’re interested to read more about this, check out Li Fang’s article in the Journal of Planning Education and Research (JPER)! This article takes a deep dive into the resilience of retail stores amid COVID-19.

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Fang, L. (2024). The Resilience of Retail Stores amid COVID-19. Journal of Planning Education and Research.  https://doi.org/10.1177/0739456X241293710

Imagine a place where city leaders and private interests, from real estate developers to homeowner associations, hold tight control over local land and are determined to keep it that way. Many cities in Orange County have fiercely resisted California’s push for more low-income housing, favoring sprawling single-family homes and big business developments. In a new research study, we learn that they argue that adding affordable housing doesn’t fit their communities or threatens their high property values. Despite California’s new laws designed to create more equitable housing, many OC cities use legal loopholes and zoning tactics to keep the status quo intact. 

In 2021, local representatives fought back against state housing quotas. They argued that the mandates were too much and didn’t fit with their cities’ needs. Even when a state court dismissed Orange County’s lawsuit in 2021, the county quickly filed an appeal, unwilling to yield to state requirements. Some even raised concerns about fire risks or claimed they didn’t have enough space. Even after a court dismissed their lawsuit, the county quickly filed an appeal. They weren’t willing to give in.

But beyond the legal drama lies a deeper question: can California finally tackle the forces that have long driven up housing costs and kept communities exclusive? California’s reforms have taken on formidable opponents who are determined to defend their cities’ boundaries against a changing tide. With courts increasingly siding with state mandates, the struggle for housing justice continues—but this time, the power of local politics might finally be cracking.

If you’re interested in reading more about this, check out Alejandra Reyes’ article in the Journal of Planning Education and Research (JPER)! This article takes a deep dive into the tug-of-war over who holds the reins on where, how, and if new housing gets built in this high-stakes landscape.

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Reyes, A. (2024). Appealing for Local Control and Spatial Inequality: Reforming Governance and Development Rationalities in Southern California. Journal of Planning Education and Research, https://doi.org/10.1177/0739456X241288503

We are Editors-in-Chief of one of the top urban planning scholarly journals, but you probably don’t care much about that.

You just want to read exciting, compelling, ground-shaking stories about cities and how we plan them. Since 1980, the Journal of Planning Education and Research has been published by the North American urban planning academic association (ACSP). In those decades, articles and essays from our journal have revealed key data, insights, and understanding, dramatically shaping both urban planning theory and practice.

We took the reins of the journal back in January and one of our priorities is to share the research we publish with the broader world in an accessible and entertaining format, hence the launch of this newsletter Ingenious Cities: The Latest in Urban Research and Innovation.

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A couple times a month or so, we will post here jargon-free and compelling stories about new discoveries in research about cities and planning, rich with images and photos. This is a Substack not to be missed!

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