Land Use
Is Planning All About Tax Revenue?
Jeffery R. Levine asks if, given the reliance on property taxes, the planning process is truly revenue-blind.
Americans Crave the Familiar in Architecture and Design
Kaid Benfield argues that if people are going to embrace mixed-use, denser living styles, architects and designers need to "embrace the familiar."
Farmland Sale Sparks Protests in China
Since Wednesday, Chinese farmers have been protesting the sale of over 800 acres of farmland to developers. The scene, writes Andrew Jacobs, is not entirely uncommon lately as concerns over environmental justice build.
"Making More Space for People"
That's what Janette Sadik-Khan said New York is striving to do on their streets, speaking last week at a two-day conference at Harvard.
Slow Growth in Cities May Have Lessened Foreclosures
Researchers found in their analysis of 300 California municipalities that the cities that had slow growth or anti-growth policies were less impacted by the housing crisis, writes Mark Bergen for Forbes.
Toronto Debates Need for Waterfront Mega-Mall
Some say that there is simply not enough retail in existence now; versus U.S. cities, at least, Toronto has fewer malls in both numbers and square footage. Dana Flavelle explores why that might not necessarily mean it's underserved.
Plan for Haiti Unveiled
Trans_City Architecture and Urbanism have unveiled a comprehensive plan for Jacmel, Haiti. Highlights of the plan, which took a year and a half to draw up, include prefab homes that work around the city's "topographical challenges."
Island Nation Considers Abandoning Ship, Going Mobile
Kiribati, a tiny island nation south of Hawaii, is facing a mounting threat from climate change. President Anote Tong is apparently seriously considering putting all 100,000 of Kiribati's people onto a manmade floating island.
Reintroducing Industry to the City
Industrial uses have long been banished to the edges -- but recently savvy cities are seeing the value of making them walkable again.
Revitalizing an Industrial Mill Site as an Industrial Mill
The Faribault Woolen Mill in Faribault, Minnesota was opened in 1865, and closed in 2009. Two brothers intend to reuse the site for its original use, using an historic preservation credit to help fund the business.
L.A. Suing Billboard Magnate Over Supergraphics
Michael McNeilly of SkyTag covered building sides across Los Angeles with multi-story advertisements, disregarding laws prohibiting them. The city is suing SkyTag for millions in penalties.
Density in the Backyard
Vancouver is working to incorporate more density in traditional single-family neighborhoods by allowing additional dwellings in the backyard, adjacent to alleys.
Cemeteries: A Great Place to Play Frisbee?
Aaron Hanauer and Colleen Ayers explain that the "rural cemeteries", a form that began in the early 19th century, used to be a popular place for family outings. With land in cities at a premium, could they be so again?
Have We Reached "Peak Male"?
Elizabeth Farrelly poses that as we get more connected via the internet and social networking, the female traits of connectivity and relationship-building are ascendant and may mean a new feminine paradigm for city-building.
Would Jane Jacobs Approve of Janette Sadik-Khan?
With a new edition of The Death and Life of Great American Cities releasing this week, Sam Lewis looks at a handful of "planebrities" to see how they would measure up for Ms. Jacobs.
Today is Park(ing) Day
All over the world, people are celebrating Park(ing) Day, taking over metered parking spots with homemade hangouts and parklets to reclaim public space dominated by cars.
Maryland Lays Out Plan to Combat Sprawl
A large chunk of the state's developed land is designated as low to very low single-family residential, which explains an exceptionally high percentage of workers who commute to work alone. PlanMaryland seeks to change this unsustainable trend.
Use the Mortgage Interest Deduction to Channel Smart Growth
Galina Tachieva of DPZ argues that targeting mortgage interest deductions to benefit infill development and denser living would be an effective way to fight sprawl.
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
City of Universal City TX
ULI Northwest Arkansas
Town of Zionsville
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.
