Chicago
Cost Concerns Linger Over Chicago's Olympic Bid
Organizers claim city money won't be needed as Chicago edges closer to securing the 2016 Summer Olympics, but locals are wary about the costs that could fall on them. The recession is exacerbating concerns.
Vacationland: Chicago?
With a housing market full of new condos and converted loft buildings, Chicago is becoming a popular place to purchase a vacation home.
The Burnham Plan Was Also the Bennett Plan
The 1909 Plan of Chicago is widely credited to Daniel Burnham. But Burnham's right-hand-man, Edward Bennett not only played a big role in writing the plan, he also helped put it into action.
Report Calls Chicago-St. Louis High Speed Rail Doable
High speed rail advocates in Chicago have released a study that says building a 220-m.p.h. train between Chicago and St. Louis is an achievable goal.
Rediscovering the River
Chicago's river has often played second fiddle to its lakefront. A new riverwalk hopes to change that.
City Living Is Greener
Cities produce more CO2 per acre, but much less per person than other types of living, according to a new study by The Center for Neighborhood Technology.
Walking On Air
SOM designs observation platforms that allow visitors to walk on the air. A new platform is planned for Chicago's Sears Tower.
Former Chicago Post Office to be Sold
After the Postal Service moved to a new building on Harrison Street, the 14-story, 77-year-old building has been vacant since 1995. Now it is to be auctioned.
End Of The Infrastructure Privatization Craze
It was hailed as the solution to America's infrastructure spending deficit, but the influx of private funds has come to halt along with the failure of banks and the huge investment from the Recovery Act. Plus, many schemes aroused taxpayers wrath.
Troubled Landmarks Rule in Chicago Could Upset Preservation Across U.S.
Chicago's historic landmarks ordinance is being challenged in the courts and is expected to be ruled unconstitutional. Blair Kamin discusses the impact the rule change could have on historic preservation in Chicago and beyond.
Don't demolish a Mies van der Rohe building in Chicago
See the building and the walls in the lower left? They're designed by Ludwig Mies van der Rohe. They're part of the ensemble he designed at the Illinois Institute of Technology (IIT). Mies and his office designed this corner around the same time they were designing the masterpiece on campus - Crown Hall.
Chicago Sees Boost in Transit Ridership
More Chicago area residents are riding transit when compared to figures form 2003, and they're riding more often.
Buildings Going Green, On Top At Least
This piece from National Geographic looks at how green roofs are sweeping across the tops of buildings all over the world.
Why Did Burnham's Chicago Plan Work?
A thoughtful look at what made Daniel Burnham's plan for the City of Chicago so successful.
Urban Gardening and Quality of Life
According to this article, community gardens can reinvent struggling neighborhoods by causing its residents to "band together."
Who Really Needs A World Cup
Whether you've realized it yet or not, soccer is a big deal in this gloabalizing world. And every four years it's a huge deal for one country: the host of the FIFA World Cup. All eyes are on the host country for the 32-team tournament, which is the most-watched sporting event in the world. And though showtime is just one month long, the host spends years vying, preparing and investing for the tournament. It has major potential to spur broad countrywide improvements and economic development. So when the U.S. made news recently by offering forth 70 stadia as possible host sites for either the 2018 or 2022 World Cup (along with a reputation booster from President Barack Obama), I had to filter out my national pride. Sure, the U.S. would make a good and clearly able host for the event, but it seems that the potential of the World Cup could be better directed towards a country that really needs large-scale civic improvement and investment.
Burnham Memorial Planned, But Designs Are Secret
A memorial to famed planner Daniel Burnham will be built on the lakefront in Chicago, and three finalists were recently chosen to design it. The designs haven't been made public yet, to the frustration of some locals.
Unofficial International Olympic Committee Tours Chicago's 2016 Venues
The Chicago Tribune formed its own panel of international judges -- made up of tourists -- to tour and evaluate the city's proposed venues for the 2016 Summer Olympics.
Chicago's Spire May Get Union Funding
The site of the Chicago Spire, now an undeveloped eyesore, may soon see progress, as its developer and AFL-CIO negotiate for funding.
Unbuilt Skyscrapers Mean Sky-High Unemployment
No work has been done on the Chicago Spire, the city's latest planned skyscraper, since the credit market froze up in January. A brief look at the blow to the building industry, in which joblessness is at a rate of 21.4%.
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
