Land Use

Google Expanding its Presence in San Jose
Google has expanded its footprint in North San Jose to cover 1.27 million square feet. Local officials are saying that the company's acquisitions ensure the long-term financial stability of the city.

Mega-Project Trades Trail Funding for Extra Height
In Philadelphia, the Liberty on the River development will transform the Delaware River waterfront.

Support for Shrinking the Nation's Oldest Growth Boundary
Lexington, Kentucky's growth boundary survived a comprehensive plan update in 2019, after years of controversy. A housing crisis, a growing city, and a broken land use system are rearranging the political arithmetic behind the greenbelt.

And Now, Some Good News for the Environment
It's not all gloom and doom for the environment.

Choosing Incentives Over Mandates for Minimum Urban Densities
Washington's House Bill 1923 is one of a number of bills under consideration this year on the West Coast that attempts to leverage the power of the state for the sake of new development.

The Story of Ballparks Is the Story of American Cities
A new book looks at the evolution of American ballparks and the changes that have mirrored urbanism.

Code Hackathon: What Can Go Wrong With Form-Based Codes?
Top problems with form-based codes, and how to fix them.

Vision Zero Proposal Includes Citizen Parking Enforcement
One perhaps overlooked detail of an ambitious Vision Zero bill proposed last week for Washington, D.C.: a provision that would allow ordinary citizens to issue parking tickets.

Little Projects Make a Big Difference in American Downtowns
Alexander Garvin argues that it’s time for the end of the mega-project in an excerpt from "The Heart of the City: Creating Vibrant Downtowns for a New Century."

Controversial Development a Big First Step Into Untouched Desert North of Phoenix
The developers of 1,400 homes in the desert north of Phoenix say they understand the responsibility of being the first to develop an area. Opponents would rather there was no development at all.

Proposal for the Future of New York's Governors Island
The island's 40-acre park is a recreational destination, but waterfront advocates would like to see more use of Governor Island's shoreline and maritime infrastructure.

A Surprising Place for Climate Relocation: Washington State
The city of Hamilton in Skagit County, Washington showcases another kind of community at risk from the effects of climate change and considering relocation to higher ground.

Revisiting a Pre-Recession Plan to Transform North San Jose
San Jose wants to remake the North San Jose neighborhood as "Uptown San Jose," but the amount of development that will require isn't proving an easy sell with some locals.

What the World's 'Blue Zones' Teach About the Built Environment
Public health outcomes, like long life spans, result from a built environment that encourages movement.

Opinion: Less Is More When it Comes to Politics in Planning
A proposal from the provincial government of Ontario would revive an appeals process for planning and development processes in Toronto. An elected official and former planner writes to oppose the idea.

Report: Coworking Spaces Common Only in a Few Big Cities
Coworking might be one of the most common buzzwords of the contemporary real estate market, but shared office arrangements are confined to only a few cities in the country.

First Tiny Home Neighborhood Planned in Georgia
Eight homes, varying in size from 250 square feet to 500 square feet have been approved in an Atlanta suburb.

Planning for Future Cities Today With Urban Nexus Science
The Urban Nexus is an approach to sustainability that seeks to integrate sectors and silos int he design and development process.

Big Redevelopment Opportunity Pops Up in Seattle
This unique redevelopment opportunity is possible because the Washington National Guard plans to abandon a 25-acre property in Seattle, with a mandate to achieve the "highest public benefit" for taxpayers as a result of the redevelopment.

Soccer Stadium Plans Amended Over Concerns About Displacement in Cincinnati
Planning Commissioners in Cincinnati talked a lot about the severed trust between the city, residents, and the Major League Soccer team FC Cincinnati at a hearing last week.
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