Peter Calthorpe

Silicon Valley aerial view

Calthorpe Makes the Case for a Corridor-Based Approach to Affordable Housing

Peter Calthorpe's case study of El Camino Real in the Silicon Valley shows the potential for affordable housing development in the land surrounding side right-of-ways.

September 22, 2020 - CNU Public Square

Automated Vehicles

Peter Calthorpe's Self-Driving Car Dissent

The founder of New Urbanism takes his autonomous vehicle skepticism, and ideas for other solutions to congestion, to the pages of the New York Times.

November 5, 2018 - The New York Times

United Nations Taking First Steps Toward the New Urban Agenda

Some of the big work left undone by the Habitat III summit in finalizing the New Urban Agenda in December is now moving forward. The future of the New Urban Agenda and UN-Habitat can now start to take shape.

April 26, 2017 - Citiscope

Op-Ed: San Diego Should Look to Beaches to Increase Density

San Diego should look to its beach communities and its major intersections to achieve its housing and Climate Action Plan goals while minimizing community polarization, writes urban planning consultant Howard Blackson.

March 4, 2016 - UrbDeZine

Coal Mining and Power Station

Climate Change: a Global Commons Problem

A quick city planner's guide to the voluminous Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change report out earlier this month.

May 2, 2014 - PlaceShakers

Del Mar Station TOD

Why the New Urbanist Visionary Who Coined 'TOD' Wants to Retire It

In a wide-ranging interview with Metropolis Magazine, CNU founding member Peter Calthorpe opines on China's planning process, the future of America's suburbs, CA high-speed rail, and why he would retire the term 'transit oriented development'.

July 24, 2013 - Metropolis POV Blog

The Future of Municipal Planning: Is John Nolen Rolling Over in his Grave?

Are today's city planners fulfilling the promise of John Nolen? Howard Blackson explores a profession losing its influence, and ponders how to get it back.

April 9, 2013 - PlaceShakers

Smart Growth Vs. Environmentalists (and Other Challenges) in Bay Area

What to do with 200 vacant, industrial acres bordering S.F. Bay in Newark, CA is no easy task for city planners who face activists, including environmentalists, skeptical of any development, let alone one of higher density.

December 29, 2012 - Reuters

What's Your "Pub Shed?"

A Cinco de Mayo mapping exercise leaves happy trails.

May 5, 2012 - PlaceShakers

What Is the Best Way to Improve Safety for Cyclists and Pedestrians?

In response to an eye-opening Atlantic Cities article about the lack of enforcement of traffic laws in NYC, especially as it contributes to pedestrian and cyclist injuries and deaths, four esteemed debaters offer opinions on how to improve safety.

February 29, 2012 - The New York Times - Room For Debate

Peter Calthorpe's Impassioned Argument for High Speed Rail

Architect Peter Calthorpe lays out a forceful argument for the lower costs and higher benefits of constructing high speed rail versus expanded highways to serve the state's growing population and economic development.

January 10, 2012 - San Francisco Chronicle

Is Now the Time for New Urbanism?

As CNU 19 convenes in Madison, Wisconsin, Reporter Mike Ivey says that New Urbanism's brand of smaller homes and denser lifestyle may be finally finding its niche.

June 3, 2011 - The Cap Times

State Subsidies Enable the Southwest's Largest New Urbanist Development

It's at Albuquerque's edge, it's the size of Manhattan, and it's happening, despite drought, recession and tightening state budgets. An annotation of Mesa del Sol's master plan explains how and why.

April 25, 2011 - High Country News

"The Dirt" Interviews Peter Calthorpe

Peter Calthorpe, author of "Urbanism in the Age of Climate Change," speaks about his new book and the role of landscape architecture and new urbanism in the twenty-first century.

February 10, 2011 - THE DIRT

Calthorpe's Saltworks: Is it Smart Growth?

The Redwood City Saltworks development designed by Peter Calthorpe has taken a lot of flack from environmentalists -- and rightfully so, says John Parman, in particular for its susceptibility to potentially rising bay waters from global warming.

December 9, 2010 - The Architect's Newspaper

Urban Lifestyle Preference On The Rise

Using the 15-year-old transformation of Rockville, MD's mall-centered downtown to a mixed-use town square as an example, the real estate industry sees the suburban-to-urban lifestyle change spreading across much of the country.

August 4, 2010 - Reuters via ABC News/Money

Calthorpe Clashes With Environmentalists

Famed architect Peter Calthorpe has designed several large developments planned for the San Francisco Bay Area, but some local environmentalist groups aren't satisfied that they are green enough.

July 7, 2010 - The New York Times - Bay Citizen

Calthorpe, California and Climate Change

Peter Calthorpe sees California Assembly Bill 32, the law mandating a state-wide reduction in carbon emissions, as the key to pushing through great urbanism.

May 23, 2010 - Fast Company

Data Rules the Day: Live from CNU

I'm at the 18th Congress for the New Urbanism, always a stimulating affair and this year is no exception. We're in Atlanta, Georgia, although I've unfortunately not seen much of the city beyond a few leafy, upscale blocks past the anonymous section of downtown. Right now, I'm waiting for a session on "The Great American Grid" to begin, undoubtedly a topic of some interest to our readers considering the comments inspired by Fanis Grammenos' dismissal of America's grid worship.

May 21, 2010 - Tim Halbur

TOD Diluted

Brian Paul argues that developers have jumped on the transit-oriented development bandwagon without actually delivering true TOD.

April 23, 2010 - Gotham Gazette

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