Land Use
Wealthy Developer Finds Money to Fund Freeway Project, Despite Opposition
Houston's third outerbelt, the Grand Parkway, continues to move forward despite an outpouring of opposition, highlighting the special, institutionalized role real estate developers play in transportation decisions in Texas, writes Angie Schmitt.
Streetcars are Go in Cincinnati
In Cincinnati, voters have defeated an attempt to block the city's new streetcar, which now will move forward and could be operational as early as 2013. The new streetcar will link downtown and the uptown district around the University.
Occupy D.C.'s Urban Design Model
Evelio Contreras and Philip Kennicott film the Occupy movement transforming MacPherson Square into an urban hub, in one of Washington's central nodal points.
Nebraska Clashes With Keystone XL Project
Nebraska may play a key role regarding decision for pipeline that will run from Canada to Texas. Many businesses and labor groups support the Keystone XL project; many environmentalists oppose it.
Adult Uses and Zoning: How Do You Define "Naked"?
A neighborhood association is protesting that Stadium Club, a "steak-and-strippers" place in Washington, DC, is an adult use and against local zoning ordinances. But the Board of Zoning Adjustment decided recently that it isn't "sexually-oriented."
Mother-In-Law Apartments Are Good for the Economy
Accessory dwelling units, or in-law apartments, are gaining approval in greater numbers of communities.
Landlords and Regulators Aren't Equipped to Handle Temporary Uses
Even a real estate market as strong as Washington, DC has vacant land and storefronts. Regulatory burdens and business customs make finding temporary tenants difficult, even though temporary uses can enliven dead spaces and spark entrepreneurship.
Introducing The Low Line
Under New York's Delancey Street lurks 60,000 square feet of vaulted ceilings and cobbled streets, sitting unappreciated in the dark. A group of entrepreneurs have plans to create a subterranean park there.
One Southland Big Box Gets Beautified
As a compromise for its presence in the community, mall developers on behalf of residents got one Costco's plans to be redrawn to look less like a, well, Costco. Rosanna Xia reports on the process.
Jakarta's First Bicycle Lane Has Problems
In Jakarta, efforts to becoming a more livable city inspired the construction of a designated bicycle lane. The 1.5 km bike lane stretches from Ayodia Park To Blok M, but due to lack in law enforcement, bikes aren't the only ones using these lanes.
Buffalo Poised for Success, Says Planner
Buffalo, NY urban planner Chris Hawley is excited about the possibilities for his city, explaining that the Rust Belt infrastructure already in place gives Buffalo a leg up over cities built later in history.
Panoramic Pics of Top 100 Public Spaces
Planetizen regular Chris Whitis features some stunning shots of several of the winners of our recent Top 100 Public Spaces crowdsourcing survey.
WSJ Asks "Why Should Museums Be Stuck in Cities?"
The Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art opens next Friday in Bentonville, Arkansas, and Holly Finn says "sophisticates" who gripe that the collection should be less remote and more accessible are elitist.
Sustainability and Affordability Don't Always Go Hand in Hand
Op-ed columnist Andrew Ross notes that while some progressive cities are being lauded for sustainable, green design, most American cities struggle to achieve sustainable results that are available to all residents.
Art As Urban Change Agent
Elizabeth Currid-Halkett examins the viability of arts driven urban revitalization and finds that the strongest predictor of success is the nature of the art being produced and exhibited in the neighborhood.
Co-Housing Offers A Fresh Approach To Sustainable Development
A return to community focused development is changing the design of neighborhoods across the country. Leon Kaye explains how the Mountain View Co-Housing's 19 new condos could provide a model for other cities.
The Problem with "Playground Cities"
Witold Rybczynski crams a lot of insight into a very brief blog post on the issues of "playground cities" such as New Orleans that attract tourists and are flooded with vacation homes.
As Cities Grow, Their Definitions Get Murky
As the world continues to urbanize and megacities continue to grow, cities are increasingly "unrecognizable," no longer necessarily, say, places of political power. David Pillings repots on this and other issues challenging the traditional city.
Preserving Brooklyn's Industrial Heritage on its Waterfronts
While the rest of the city's waterfronts are to be developed as public promenades, much of Brooklyn wants to retain its previous industrial uses. Liana Grey reports.
Apartments to be Razed for Athletic Complex
As part of a larger parks plan, one Atlanta suburb wants to use its bonds to build a sports complex where housing already exists. Adding to the controversy, the idea doesn't seem to have gone through a proper public review. Melissa Weinman reports.
City of Costa Mesa
Licking County
Barrett Planning Group LLC
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
Mpact Transit + Community
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
Tufts University, Department of Urban and Environmental Policy & Planning
City of Universal City TX
ULI Northwest Arkansas
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.
