With the proposed extension of the DC Metrorail, the largest mall in the Washington area has drawn plans to transform the shopping area into "something like a small city."
The Washington area consistently ranks as having some of the worst traffic for metropolitan cities in the country. Tysons Corner, a sprawling commercial area in McLean, Virginia, just outside the I-495 capital beltway and in between I-66 and the Dulles toll road, is partly to blame for this record, with some of the worst traffic congestion in the DC area. At rush-hour and lunch hour, Tysons Corner, undoubtedly, is not the place to be--its streets always at a near grid lock (and its sidewalks always quite empty).Despite the traffic, since Tysons Corner Mall opened in the late 1960s thirteen miles from downtown Washington, the land surrounding the mall (and indeed past the mall towards Dulles airport) has seen enormous growth,; it is now prime commercial real estate for the DC area. Although having virtually no residential housing, the "technoburb" (R. Fishman) is home to many of the region's high-tech companies, contracting firms, headquarters of companies like USA Today (since 2001), and features high end hotels and restaurants, and some of the most desirable shopping--all only linked to each other and only accessible by the automobile."The owners of Tysons Corner Center, already the region's largest mall, are developing a plan that would double its size and move toward transforming the iconic suburban shopping destination into something like a small city. The center's managers describe the proposal as another step in the competitive evolution of the mall, which opened in 1968, was transformed in the mid-'80s by the addition of another floor and new anchor stores, and now seeks to capitalize on opportunities presented by the proposed Metrorail extension at its front door."
Thanks to Andrew Simmons
FULL STORY: Rebirth at Tysons Corner: Owners of the Largest Mall In N.Va. Hope to Double Size

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

Canada vs. Kamala: Whose Liberal Housing Platform Comes Out on Top?
As Canada votes for a new Prime Minister, what can America learn from the leading liberal candidate of its neighbor to the north?

USGS Water Science Centers Targeted for Closure
If their work is suspended, states could lose a valuable resource for monitoring, understanding, and managing water resources.

Study: Large SUVs Double Risk of Death for Children Under 10
New research from the United Kingdom reveals the higher risk of larger vehicles for pedestrians and cyclists.

Texas Bills Aim to Tackle Housing Affordability
One proposed bill would raise the threshold for neighbor opposition to new development.

New York State Budget Includes $68B MTA Capital Plan, Boosts Transit Security
The state’s FY26 budget includes increased investment in transit security, mental health services, and fare evasion enforcement.
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.
New York City School Construction Authority
Village of Glen Ellyn
Central Transportation Planning Staff/Boston Region MPO
Chaddick Institute at DePaul University
Institute for Housing and Urban Development Studies (IHS)
City of Grandview
Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada
Toledo-Lucas County Plan Commissions