Callus city builders in Africa must account for the poor as well as the rich argues Mathias Agbo Jr. in a piece for Common Edge.

Many of the ultra-modern and beautifully designed mega cities of Africa hide the old problems of haves and have nots. In the shadows of impressive new skyscrapers are areas without roads, clean water or modern sewage. "Uneven distribution of public amenities has become distressingly typical of most African cities," Mathias Agbo, Jr. argues in Common Edge.
Worse still, conflicts over annexing land can result in the loss of homes and property, and can become violent. "A few weeks ago the residents of Otodo-Gbame, a fishing settlement in Lagos, awoke at dawn to the sounds of gunfire and the sight of more than sixty policemen, accompanied by bulldozers and a demolition task force, sent in by the Lagos State Government (LASG)," Agbo reports. Justice & Empowerment Initiatives, an advocacy group, claims one man lost his life during the annexation after he was shot in the neck.
"Most residents of low-income communities in Nigeria live in constant fear of eviction," Agbo writes. Many of the Blue Collar workers in these cities have few options for affordable living where they are not squatters. "There are currently at least twenty of these new cities under construction in Africa and about twice that number in the works," Agbo writes. These new cities should represent new opportunities, not stolen property and violence.
FULL STORY: Brutal Backstory Behind Africa’s Emerging Megacities

The Unceremonious Death of a Freeway Expansion Project
The end of an Oregon freeway project didn't get much fanfare, but the victory is worth celebrating.

Converting Golf Courses to Housing Never as Easy as the Market Would Like
Thousands of golf courses have closed in recent years, but the obvious redevelopment opportunity represented by many defunct courses isn’t always easy to realize.

Houston To End Bike Share Program
Lacking the funding it needs to continue, Houston’s BCycle bike share system will end operations in the coming months.

Making Colorado’s Front Range Rail a Reality
Local leaders are scrambling to bring together the funding and political support to create new intercity rail service in the fast-growing region.

How College Campuses Fulfill an Urbanist Dream
Most college campuses in the United States are inherently walkable, mixing various uses with diverse housing options and transit networks.

Austin in Race Against Time to Secure Freeway Cap Funding
With a major freeway expansion project looming, the Texas capital is seeking federal funding to build several freeway ‘decks’ downtown.
Caltrans
Caltrans
Knoxville-Knox County Planning
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
Washington University
Mpact: Mobility, Community, Possibility
Lassen County Planning and Building Services
City of San Carlos
National Capital Planning Commission
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.