A proposed California bill would make it easier for developers to build on urban brownfield sites.
"Forty-three banks turned down developer Jeff Lee before he landed a loan to transform the polluted site of a former United Parcel Service depot into the first million-dollar condos in downtown Los Angeles... Lee, who has since sold all but one unit at his upscale Flower Street Lofts near Staples Center, sees a profitable future in turning old factories, long-abandoned warehouses and other less-than-pristine real estate into badly needed urban housing."
"As proposed by Cedillo, the measure would encourage the development of brownfields by spelling out the obligations of developers to clean up soil pollution caused by previous owners. However, the bill would limit the future legal liability of developers to treat tainted underground water as long as that water is not used for drinking and does not pose a threat to human health or safety."
Thanks to Chris Steins
FULL STORY: Reviving Urban 'Brownfields'
The City of Broken Sidewalks
Can Los Angeles fix 4,000 miles of broken sidewalks before the city hosts the 2028 Olympic Games?
Shifts in Shopping: Transforming Malls Into Parks
Maybe zombie malls still have a second life — one with a little greenery.
To Build More Housing, Cities Must Be Smarter in How They Use Land
How strategic land use policy decisions can alleviate the housing crisis and limit unsustainable sprawl.
Omaha Streetcar Yielding $1.5 Billion in TIF Funds
The line, scheduled for completion in 2027, is bringing billions in new investment to the city’s urban core.
NYC’s Proposed Zoning Reforms Lag Behind Other Cities
Cities like Austin and Minneapolis are making major changes to their zoning codes to encourage housing construction, but New York’s proposed reforms are far less ambitious.
Why Traffic Never Gets Better
Despite abundant research showing that roadway expansions provide limited congestion relief and increase long-term traffic problems, they still occur due to wishful thinking: advocates claim that “this” project is different.
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.
City of Prescott
Alamo Area Metropolitan Planning Organization
Village of Glen Ellyn
HUDs Office of Policy Development and Research
CORP - COnsulting Research Projects
City of Cambridge, Maryland
Newport County Development Council: Connect Greater Newport
Rockdale County Board of Commissioners