Status Quo Sprawl Lives On in Fresno

The approval of a massive shopping center in Fresno, California, highlights the city's inability to move beyond its sprawl-centric tendencies, according to this piece from The Fresno Bee.

1 minute read

December 22, 2010, 12:00 PM PST

By Nate Berg


Though the city has a plan from 2002 that seeks to undo the negative impacts of sprawl in the city, much of the development scheme remains the same as before, according to columnist Bill McEwen.

"We've got to improve downtown and make it a place that reflects proudly on one of California's biggest cities, the chorus continued.

We must make growth pay for itself, otherwise we'll continue to fall behind on municipal services. And we have to bring more projects to the inner core.

Then, after saying all the right things, the council did what councils have done since Fresno adopted its first growth plan in 1958: it swallowed the jobs and sales-tax pitch. To be specific, it approved the first phase of a 238-acre shopping center that starts with a Target."

Thanks to The Overhead Wire

Saturday, December 18, 2010 in The Fresno Bee

"Planetizen federal action tracker" logo superimposed over black and white image of US Capitol dome.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

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

November 11, 2026 - Zachary Whalen

A road in north eastern Nebraska with power lines on either side, and grassy fields.

Eastern Nebraska is running out of electricity

Data centers and electrification are straining eastern Nebraska’s grid, throttling economic development.

November 6, 2026 - Grist

People walking in downtown St. Louis, walking past shops.

Move over, LA: St. Louis gears up for Olympics, invests millions in downtown redevelopment

The Missouri city will host the 2028 Olympic soccer group stage and knockout matches.

November 1, 2026 - Smart Cities Dive

Construction in Dallas. An aerial shot of a wooden frame of an apartment building.

Dallas releases zoning code overhaul to officials

The drafted overhaul is over 400 pages long.

November 11 - Dallas Morning News

Canal street, where pedestrians are packed shoulder to shoulder.

NYC renovations for dangerous, ‘mercilessly crammed’ street delayed until 2027

Construction was supposed to begin this fall.

November 11 - Gothamist

A rendering of Midway Rising that shows people mingling in a green space between apartment buildings.

San Diego’s Midway Rising project gets greenlight from city council

The project looks to become the largest affordable housing development in California's history.

November 11 - KPBS

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.