Land Use
Dallas's Ambivalent Commemoration of a Decisive Day
On the eve of the 50th anniversary of the assassination of John F. Kennedy, Mark Lamster examines Dallas's efforts to commemorate the tragedy. A new memorial is the latest example of the city's "ambivalent response to the events of November 1963."
Lessons From a Failed Anti-Highway Campaign
A decade-long campaign to stop the $2.6 billion Ohio River Bridges project in Louisville has apparently lost out to intrenched interests. With the help of the campaign's founders, Angie Schmitt examines where the popular grassroots effort went wrong.
Apple "Spaceship" Gets Approval to Land in Cupertino
Steve Jobs's final product got the go-ahead from an enthusiastic Cupertino City Council yesterday. The company's controversial new headquarters, dubbed the "spaceship campus", forgoes the tech trend towards urban offices for a pastoral setting.
How Parking Meters Turned Around a Struggling Downtown
The revival of Old Pasadena is one of the truly great urban success stories from the past few decades. The area's comeback was not based on shifting demographics or "political will", writes Colin Marshall, but a less sexy foundation: parking reform.
10 Ways Cities Are Turning Back Time
It's back to the future for global cities, now that we've realized what a mess the 20th century was.
Covert Coating Destroys NYC Street Art Mecca
In advance of its demolition to make way for a luxury condominium development, the abandoned brick warehouse turned world-renowned street art canvas known as 5Pointz was given a new coat of white paint overnight, shrouding its celebrated graffiti.
Applying a "Pop-Up" Approach to the Planning Process Itself
Tactical urbanism is transforming cityscapes around the world, but what would it mean to apply a "pop-up" approach to the planning process? A recent project in Santa Monica, CA allowed participants to evaluate public realm improvements in real-time.
Three Quick Wins for Auckland (or Any City’s) Walkability
The following “top three” relatively quick wins for a more walkable city, written below from the perspective of Brent’s observations, reflect some relatively low-cost opportunities toward a more liveable & successful Auckland.
Why Aren't Boston's First Parklets Being Used?
With Boston's first parklets off to a slow start, observers wonder whether their low usage is due to poor planning, bad design, or insufficient outreach. With the parklets set to reopen in the spring, can they be tweaked to succeed?
130 Years on, Boston's Emerald Necklace Still a Model Linear Park
Writer Kaid Benfield used a recent trip the American Society of Landscape Architects annual meeting in Boston to reflect on what that city can teach us about designing urban parks.
Visionary Concepts Make "Rebuild by Design" Shortlist
10 bold ideas for building the New York area's resiliency have been selected to move to the final round of a design competition run by HUD. The best designs could tap into billions of dollars in Hurricane Sandy relief funds.
Ten Trends Guiding the Real Estate Market
At last week's fall meeting in Chicago, experts with the Urban Land Institute peered into their crystal ball to predict the trends that will guide the recovery of the real estate market over the next year.
New Neighborhood Sets Extraordinary Bar for Sustainability
Sure, reusing an existing building is probably the most sustainable method of construction, but a new neighborhood on Bainbridge Island, Washington sets an enviable standard for environmental responsibility in every aspect of its design.
Replacing Parking with People: The Next Wave of Adaptive Reuse
The trend towards less driving and auto ownership is causing designers to rethink the future of America's ever-growing supply of parking garages. Eric Jaffe explores what it means to design a garage with an eye towards a less car-dependent future.
As Seas Rise, Can South Florida Keep its Head Above Water?
With much of its highly-developed coastline located just a few feet above sea level, Florida is highly vulnerable to global warming. But you wouldn't know that by the actions (or inaction) of state legislators and business leaders.
Commercialism Defeats the Public Interest in Massive Sydney Redevelopments
The redevelopment of more than 100 publicly-owned acres at Barangaroo and Darling Harbour is poised to transform Sydney's western side. By ignoring the lessons of past projects, and bowing to commercial interests, the projects are "civic failures".
Bloomberg Loses Battle for Ambitious Midtown Upzoning
It was supposed to be the crowning land use achievement in a mayoral reign that saw 40 percent of New York City rezoned. But statements indicate the City Council is set to shelve Mayor Bloomberg's controversial Midtown East upzoning.
Struggling Cities Demolish Their Way to Growth
Saddled with thousands of vacant buildings, and little hope of recovering lost population, cities such as Baltimore, Buffalo, and Cleveland are pursuing large-scale demolitions. Shrinking cities are changing the very practice of urban planning.
It's Time to Bring Bold Planning Back to Boston
As a reaction to the excesses of urban renewal, Boston has refrained from comprehensive planning for nearly 40 years. With a new mayor set to take office, it's time to create a new master plan for the city, argues a commentary in the Globe.
Bucking Trends, Atlanta's Baseball Team Decamps for the Suburbs
After playing just 17 seasons at downtown Atlanta's Turner Field, which was built for the 1996 Olympics, the city's baseball team is giving up their urban home for a new stadium 14 miles northwest of the city.
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.
City of Rosemead
Rutgers University, Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy
One Hundred Miles
University of Michigan School for Environment and Sustainability (SEAS)
Hunter College, City University of New York (CUNY)
The Architects Foundation
City of Cambridge
Montrose County
The Pocatello Development Authority
