Followers of Vancouver city planning will remember that in 2008, as part of the approval of the EcoDensity Initiative, our Council approved what remains (we think) the highest green standard for private sector building design in North America. The 2008 policy requires that buildings that go through rezonings (representing most buildings built in Vancouver) must establish that their design, at approval, is capable of achieving LEED™ Silver. We actually nick-named it "Silver Plus", because we mandated that there be a minimum of 3 energy points, 1 water point, and 1 storm water point, emphasizing the things that matter most to us.
Urban Development / Real Estate
Moving the Tipping Point for Creative Places
Human-scaled, creative development isn't getting built because most of the money in real estate comes from institutional investors that prefer predictable, large scale projects like subdivisions and strip malls, says Neil Takemoto of CoolTown Beta Communities.
On Top of the World: Looking Down from Dubai's Burj Khalifa
The world's tallest building is now open in Dubai. Christopher Corbett takes you up to the 124th floor.
The State of Happiness
A new study ranks the U.S. states by residents' happiness. From Louisiana (#1) to New York (#51), the happiest people tend to live in sunny, outdoorsy states with strong quality of life measures.
USA Today
The Mormon Church Backs Mixed-Use Project
City Creek Center is a $1 billion mixed-use development project that some say is a godsend for downtown Salt Lake City, creating jobs during a tough economy. Others wonder how the church's influence will play out in the culture of the project.
The New York Times
HUD Hearts Portland
Obama's brand new Office of Sustainable Housing and Communities admits to being inspired by Portland's groundbreaking urban planning policies.
The Oregonian
One Latvian Town For Sale, Cheap
A secret Russian military facility abandoned by the Russian military when the Soviet Union collapsed was sold at auction on Friday by the Latvian government. Officials celebrated the sale and hoped it could bring new life to the empty town.
The Huffington Post
Grants Signal Shift in Federal Urban Planning Policy
HUD announced this week the formation of a new Office of Sustainable Housing and Communities, along with $100 million in grants for regional integrated planning initiatives.
The Seattle Times
The Economics of Greenfield Development
This essay from The Urbanophile looks at the economics behind greenfield development.
The Urbanophile
Underused Olympic Stadium to Become Water Park
Underused since the end of the 2008 Summer Olympics, the Beijing Water Cube swimming stadium will be converted into a water park.
Agence France Presse
Reviving the National Mall
After receiving thousands of comments and suggestions, planners in Washington D.C. have narrowed options down to five plans for remaking the National Mall.
The Architect's Newspaper
Pittsburgh's US Steel Roof Reimagined as a Public Space
Other cities have opened up tall buildings to the public; Pittsburgh envisions doing the same with US Steel, which has a 1-acre flat roof.
PopCity Magazine
Air Force Quashes Unborn NIMBYism in Arizona
As a preventive measure to avoid future NIMBYism, an Air Force base in Arizona has effectively blocked the spread of residential development close to its borders.
The Arizona Republic
Habitat for Humanity Embraces Density
Instead of building its signature single family homes in dense New York neighborhoods, Habitat is expanding its model to include LEED-certified apartment buildings.
New York Times
The World's Largest Haitian Diaspora Looks On
Architect and urban designer Hector Fernando Burga looks at Haiti through the lens of a Haitian enclave in Miami and wonders what role designers can play in the devastated country's revival.
Places
Integrating Technology in an Instant City
Technology is going to be deeply integrated within New Songdo City, an instant city developing on a man-made island off the coast of Korea.
Fast Company






















