Housing

Predictions for California Planning in 2011

Paul Shigley of the California Planning and Development Report offers three predictions on what the state can expect to see in 2011 in terms of urban planning and development.

December 10, 2010 - California Planning and Development Report

A Photographic Tour of a Foreclosure Hotbed

Modesto, California has one of the highest rates of foreclosure in the U.S. This collection of photography documents the city's abandoned homes.

December 10, 2010 - Telstar Logistics

Coastal Communities Swallowed

Thousands of Louisiana residents are being forced to retreat from their rapidly disappearing coastal communities.

December 10, 2010 - OnEarth

More Immigrants Moving to Midsize Cities

According to new research, immigrant homeownership is shifting from large cities like New York and Los Angeles to smaller ones like Las Vegas and Minneapolis.

December 8, 2010 - Miller-McCune

Will the Downturn Spur New American Dream?

Tara Lohan at Alternet suggests that the economic downturn is contributing to a cultural shift in terms of our aspirations for housing and neighborhood locations.

December 8, 2010 - AlterNet

Rio's Slums to See Massive Redesign

Ahead of the 2014 World Cup and 2016 Olympics, officials in Rio de Janeiro are taking on a massive upgrade project in the city's slums.

December 8, 2010 - Guardian

India's Cities Begin To Collapse Under The Strain Of Migrants

After decades of being a nation of rural dwellers, Indians are rapidly moving into cities in search of better jobs, but the housing infrastructure is not keeping pace.

December 5, 2010 - The New York Times

Indonesians Create a Replica Of Singapore To Escape Congestion

Indonesia cities are the product of sparse planning, floods, overdevelopment, brownouts and epic traffic jams magnified by the dearth of public transit. In response, private planned cities like CitraLand's Singapore of Surabaya are growing rapidly.

December 5, 2010 - The New York Times

Cities Preparing for Lower Revenues

As recession-reduced property tax levels begin to play out in cities across the U.S., municipalities are beginning to react to the realities of lowered revenues.

December 5, 2010 - Citiwire

Can Planning Rebuild "Ghettos of the Mind"?

Dehumanizing urban renewal-era public housing developments across North America are being replaced by mixed-use, mixed income neighborhoods with affordable housing. Yet in Regent Park, Toronto at least, many troubling social problems remain.

December 2, 2010 - The Globe and Mail

Burning Man a Dome Zone, But Not Beyond

Buckminster Fuller's geodesic dome housing design is a popular form of housing at the temporary festival Burning Man. But why hasn't a good idea caught on in the mainstream?

December 1, 2010 - Good

Property Taxes Discourage Density

Local property taxes are often levied disproportionately on multifamily developers, resulting in higher taxes for apartment-dwellers, says Stephen Smith.

November 30, 2010 - Market Urbanism

For Sale: Organic Farm Included

Developers are building more and more residential communities around organic farms, banking on increased resident demand for locally grown food, outdoor recreation space, and small-town charm.

November 30, 2010 - The Los Angeles Times

Top 10 Books - 2011

Planetizen is pleased to release its ninth annual list of the ten best books in urban planning, design and development published in 2010. This year's selection includes some big names, some big ideas -- and a book called "Toilet."

November 22, 2010 - Abhijeet Chavan

Home Sizes on the Decline

The square footage of homes in the U.S. continues to decline, according to a new survey.

November 14, 2010 - CNBC

Atlanta Revamps Public Housing

Howard Husock catalogs the accomplishments of Renee Glover, the controversial leader of the Atlanta Housing Authority.

November 11, 2010 - The Washington Times

Controversial Housing Bill Advances in NJ

A law requiring New Jersey towns to ensure 10 percent of new units are affordable now awaits a vote by the State Assembly.

November 10, 2010 - The Star-Ledger

Lassoing a Plan for El Paso

Fort Bliss in El Paso, TX will be getting 30,000 more troops under the Base Realignment and Closure program, which means a major effort to plan for the added people.

November 9, 2010 - New Urban Network

Slum Redevelopment Drives Real Estate Market In Mumbai

With not much undeveloped land left in Mumbai for fresh developments, the city’s real estate growth will largely be propelled by the success of its many slum redevelopment schemes, according to a recent study.

November 6, 2010 - LiveMint.com

Shanghai Expo Closes With Focus On "Development through Development"

The Expo’s stated theme was “Better City, Better Life,” and organizers boasted it was the first World’s Fair devoted to the contemplation of cities.

November 6, 2010 - Fast Company

FREE Course: Walkable City 1: Why Walkability?

After describing his path towards focusing on walkability as the essence of good planning, Jeff Speck marches through his five principal reasons for making more walkable places.

Reinventing Malls: Planning Alchemy—Turning Gray Fields Into Gold

The course focuses on the opportunities and imperatives that shape reinvention of mall sites.

Top Books

An annual review of books related to planning.

Top Schools

The definitive ranking of graduate planning programs.

100 Most Influential Urbanists

The who's who of urbanism, according to Planetizen readers.

Urban Planning Creators You Should Know

A short list of voices on social, video, and podcasting platforms.