Flooding risk complicates cities' push to legalize basement apartments

In the age of extreme weather, amid the deaths of 11 New Yorkers living in basement units following heavy rainfall from remnants of Hurricane Ida, cities aim to balance safety with affordable housing accessibility.

By Jason Plautz • Nov. 11, 2021

Reassessing the smart cities movement

Smart Cities Dive asked 25 of the largest U.S. cities how they define a "smart city" and how that definition has evolved, the challenges they've faced in rolling out equitable policies and technologies, and their outlook for what's next.

By the Smart Cities Dive Team • Nov. 9, 2021

Explore the Trendline➔

Top 5 stories from Smart Cities Dive

From worsening climate change to a shifting transportation landscape and the housing affordability crisis, cities have their work cut out for them.

By Smart Cities Dive staff

EV adoption poised to surge if Congress OKs $100B in purchase incentives, experts say

U.S. electric vehicle sales could finish 2021 at 5% of new purchases, according to industry observers. That's a milestone, but experts say adoption could really take off depending on federal government investments.

By Robert Walton • Nov. 5, 2021

A Greener Future for Playgrounds

A Greener Future for Playgrounds

Oct. 28, 2021

Green infrastructure increases resiliency to climate change, provides many other co-benefits

Editor's note: This article was originally published in American City & County, which has merged with Smart Cities Dive to bring you expanded coverage of city innovation and local government. For the latest in smart city news, explore Smart Cities Dive or sign up for our newsletter.With risin...

By Andy Castillo • Oct. 27, 2021

A Delaware vertical farm sees itself as the future of urban agriculture. Can it succeed?

Second Chances Farm hires formerly incarcerated individuals in Philadelphia and Wilmington, Delaware. The founder sees opportunity for the business model and communities, but others question the financial viability.

By Scott Pruden • Oct. 26, 2021

‘I get more smiles here’: Topeka makes a bid for the remote worker

For many people, crowded and expensive areas like New York or the Bay Area have grown nearly unlivable. The Choose Topeka program has found success dangling up to $15,000 for remote workers to relocate to the Kansas city.

By Emilie Shumway • Oct. 25, 2021

Thinking of adding smart trash cans in your city or facility? Here's what to do next.

A huge change in waste management that's a trash-collecting game changer.

Oct. 25, 2021

Report: Green infrastructure projects can mitigate flooding, increase resiliency in underserved communities

Editor's note: This article was originally published in American City & County, which has merged with Smart Cities Dive to bring you expanded coverage of city innovation and local government. For the latest in smart city news, explore Smart Cities Dive or sign up for our newsletter.Addressing...

By Andy Castillo • Oct. 20, 2021

How one of the hottest US cities is finally restructuring its heat response

The Phoenix City Council opted to fund an Office of Heat Response & Mitigation. Residents have demanded cities do "more, better, and faster for extreme heat for a long time," said inaugural Director David Hondula.

By Maria Rachal • Oct. 19, 2021

We have a once-in-a-generation opportunity to meet cities’ pressing needs. Let’s get it done.

Passing the Biden infrastructure bill will have ripple effects across the U.S., writes Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego, driving investments in areas including electric vehicles, energy efficiency and recycling infrastructure. 

By Kate Gallego • Oct. 18, 2021

City strategies evolve on American Rescue Plan spending

Local governments are working through the historic influx of federal funds, including newly available competitive grants, while infrastructure bill dollars remain at bay.

By Maria Rachal • Oct. 14, 2021

5 ways New York City can overhaul its streets to be more resilient: report

A Regional Plan Association report calls for expanding bike lanes and busways, gradually phasing out free parking, adding green infrastructure to gather stormwater and more.

By Cailin Crowe • Oct. 13, 2021

Climate adaptation plans from US agencies envision transit resilience, modern building codes

The Biden administration's whole-of-government approach to climate resilience planning has environmental, transportation and housing regulators, among others, mapping out more equitable preparedness in communities.

By Maria Rachal • Oct. 12, 2021

Rescue funds buoy economic outlooks, but cities eager for infrastructure dollars: NLC report

Many cities lost revenue in FY21, but certain economic and tax changes, plus infusions of direct federal relief, helped them weather the pandemic better than the Great Recession, according to National League of Cities researchers.

By Maria Rachal • Oct. 7, 2021

A new approach to helping solve climate change and sustainability

Cape Town's severe drought grabbed global headlines in 2018 and provided important lessons in how to respond to such a crisis.

Sept. 28, 2021

Cool pavements research builds as temperatures rise

Arizona State University and MIT Concrete Sustainability Hub researchers recently shared their respective studied benefits and lingering questions about how lighter pavements could impact urban heat island effects.

By Maria Rachal • Sept. 24, 2021

We can't forget public transit, walking and cycling in the push to decarbonize transportation

Electric vehicles have lawmakers' attention as one tool to mitigate the climate crisis. But perpetuating private vehicle use won't move the U.S. toward a more equitable transportation future.

By Pooja Shah • Sept. 23, 2021

A tech billionaire wants to build a smart city in the desert. Can it be sustainable?

City and water experts weigh in on whether sustainability is possible for Diapers.com founder Marc Lore's proposed “city of the future” in the water-scarce American desert.

By Adina Solomon • Sept. 20, 2021

Connecticut falls behind state’s GHG goals: ‘We told you so,’ says Acadia Center

Despite the rise in emissions, the electric sector "shows encouraging results," the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection said. Proposed new gas projects are a step in the wrong direction, though, advocates warn.

By Robert Walton • Sept. 14, 2021

3 cities enter accelerator program to help achieve 100% zero-emissions commercial vehicles by 2030

Chicago, San Diego and San Jose, California, each won $100,000 to reduce emissions through local initiatives that include a cargo e-bike pilot and zero-emission neighborhood zone. 

By Cailin Crowe • Sept. 3, 2021

DC flexible housing subsidy shows promise for addressing homelessness, researchers say

Participants used 29% fewer homelessness services, and 88% of them remained in stable housing, in the program's first year, but more time and research will be key to determining the program's long-term effectiveness, said Urban Institute and DC government researchers.

By Katie Pyzyk • Aug. 26, 2021

Cities use art to combat extreme urban heat

As urban areas struggle to cope with scorching temperatures, the Boston-area Metropolitan Area Planning Council is helping local leaders partner with community groups and artists to develop creative cooling infrastructure. 

By Kat Friedrich • Aug. 23, 2021

Equity concerns drive changes to federal community hazard mitigation program

After lower-resourced areas and Midwest, Mountain West and Gulf states lost out in the Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities program's first year, FEMA aims to boost disadvantaged rural communities' access to grants.

By Maria Rachal • Aug. 20, 2021

Cities to test commercial EV fleets, smart traffic, curbside management using federal funds

Los Angeles, Pittsburgh, and Santa Monica, California, are among the cities set to explore commercial electric trucks, smart loading zones in high-traffic areas, and other innovations with Energy Department funding.

By Jason Plautz • Aug. 17, 2021