Smart Growth
Does Portland's Innovative Planning Hinder its Competitiveness?
Wendell Cox questions the economic impact of the city's much-celebrated land use and transportation policies, which are intended to strengthen the urban core and discourage sprawl.
Smart Growth Brain Trust
A new law in New York State requires state agencies to form smart growth advisory panels to determine whether proposed infrastructure projects meet smart-growth principles.
Transportation Research Helped Create Sprawl, New Report Says
We've been measuring traffic congestion all wrong, a new report shows, and that's been making more highways look like the solution to long commutes. They're not.
New Study Reexamines Causes and Costs of Congestion
Analysis indicates that compact development reduces the time urban residents spent in traffic and requires less spending on highways.
How could Ventura transform?
A short documentary exploring the development challenges that the City of Ventura faces.
Smart Growth = Clean Air
Kaid Benfield presents the evidence that compact development can bring about a decrease in noxious emissions.
West Baltimore's 'Highway to Nowhere' Coming Down
This past Friday, demolition began on a segment of Baltimore's infamous "Highway to Nowhere" to expand parking for the local commuter rail service (MARC). A side benefit: reuniting communities separated since the 1970s.
New York Passes Smart Growth Bill
Governor David Paterson signed The Smart Growth Public Policy Infrastructure Policy Act on Monday, which directs the state to invest in infrastructure in dense communities rather than sprawling ones.
Do You Have Innovative Smart Growth Projects That Need Funding?
As the post-recession economy continues to plod along, those in the non-profit sector continue to face stiff funding competition. Organizations furthering the smart growth/new urbanism cause may find this to be particularly frustrating, as re-working how and where America builds has never been so important.
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.
Green Urbanism's Affordability Problem
Nature writer David Oates embeds himself in green, urban Portland and finds much to like about the green city movement but also much room for improvement.
Remaking Southern California Cities
A video created for the Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG) presents a serious look at what infill development would look like in Ventura and Fullerton.
GreenTRIP Sustainable Transport Building Certification Program
There are various ways to define building sustainability. A narrow perspective assumes that sustainable development simply means that buildings minimize energy consumption and climate change emissions, but a broader perspective recognizes that sustainability requires consideration of additional economic, social and other environmental impacts, such as lifecycle affordability, social equity, community integration, public health and safety, and land use impacts.
Complete Streets Bill Heats Up
In Albany, NY, a "complete streets" bill that would dictate that all new roads follow guidelines for bike and ped accessibility is gaining ground as it passes through the state Congress.
Smart Growth, 10 Years Later
Wisconsin looks back at tens years with a smart growth law in effect, with most critics calling it a success with some room for improvement.
Developers Spearhead Smart Growth Makeover
Rockville Pike, Maryland has grown haphazardly and auto-centrically for the past few decades. A group of developers has brought planners and politicians together to makeover the town with smart growth principles.
Relax, Smart Growth is Your Friend
Roger K. Lewis of The Washington Post paints a reassuring picture for suburban homeowners frightened of smart growth. Home values will go up, and you'll be able to walk to get a cup of coffee, says Lewis.
Turning an Aging Train Station Into a TOD Hub
Wyandanch, in Babylon, NY is using an old asset to become new urban.
Smart Growth Worries School Board
The school board of Chicopee, Massachusetts is concerned that a proposed smart growth district would overwhelm the school system.
Sustainable: Buzz Killing the Buzz Word
In his commentary, Rob Steuteville questions whether we should work toward sustaining what we have, or building a more resilient future.
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.
