Downtowns

A photo of the downtown skyline in Milwaukee, along the Milwaukee RIver.

Project Team for Milwaukee's New Downtown Area Plan Takes Shape

A new plan for Milwaukee's downtown will build on a "major renaissance" in the area since the approval of the last version of the plan in 2010.

September 7, 2021 - Urban Milwaukee

Downtown Cincinnati

Why Central Business Districts Need Diverse Users

Central districts benefit from diversity, but a century of disinvestment and exodus has put many in a precarious position.

July 8, 2021 - The New York Times

Manhattan Construction

The Future of Central Business Districts

Urbanist Richard Florida assesses post-pandemic possibilities for neighborhoods that once relied on 9-to-5 workers.

May 24, 2021 - Bloomberg CityLab

Downtown Milwaukee

Downtown Milwaukee Area Plan Update Kicks Off

Billions of dollars in investment and thousands of new residential units later, Milwaukee is ready to update the plan for its downtown.

March 4, 2021 - Urban Milwaukee

Paris Skyline

What Is a Central Business District (CBD)?

A central business district (CBD) is a geographic area sometimes referred to as downtown, but with key distinctions critical to an understanding of city and regional planning.

December 22, 2020 - James Brasuell

End of the Mall

The End of the Mall? Navigating the Shifting Retail Landscape

More online shopping means fewer consumers are spending money at brick-and-mortar stores, with suburban malls hit especially hard. But municipalities are looking for creative strategies to navigate a post-mall world.

December 27, 2019 - Land Lines

Yonge Street Toronto

A Pedestrian-Forward Vision for Toronto Roadway

Toronto’s iconic Yonge Street is heavily used by pedestrians, and, according to this article, it's time for a revamp that acknowledges all of the street's users.

November 24, 2019 - The Star

Downtown Boston Waterfront

600-Foot Tower Proposed for the Boston Waterfront

A proposed high-rise would transform the downtown Boston waterfront, and the city's skyline.

November 22, 2019 - The Boston Globe

Oakland California

As Housing Units Multiply, Local Businesses Struggle to Hang On in Downtown Oakland

The city of Oakland, across the bay from San Francisco, is the rare California city quickly adding housing units to the urban core. Local businesses are struggling to hang on as construction changes the fabric of the neighborhood.

August 20, 2019 - San Francisco Chronicle

Wisconsin

With 2020 Democratic National Congress on the Way, Downtown Milwaukee Revitalizes

Downtown Milwaukee is getting makeover, from high-profile new buildings on the skyline to ambitious adaptive reuse projects and an emerging entertainment district.

July 14, 2019 - Curbed

San Jose, California

For Lack of Free Parking, Downtown San Jose Loses a Grocery Store

Why isn't there a place for a major grocery store brand in the downtown of one of the most economically active cities in the country?

June 14, 2019 - The Mercury News

Arizona

A Car-Centric Past and a More Vertical Future in Phoenix

Phoenix has the zoning for more height in its downtown, and future development might finally yield a more recognizable skyline.

April 9, 2019 - Arizona Republic

Texas

'Urban Luxury' Housing Skyrockets in Texas and Beyond

An explosion of upscale multifamily development in Texas cities reflects trends in the national housing market.

March 18, 2019 - Curbed

San Jose, California

Editorial: Raise Height Limits to San Jose's Proper Stature

The city of San Jose has the "least distinctive" downtown skyline of the nation's major cities, according to editorial board of The Mercury News. The City Council has a chance to change that.

March 12, 2019 - The Mercury News

Downtown Construction

Tracking the Skyward Progress of Western U.S. Cities

A Washington Post feature analyzes the changing skylines of cities from the Rocky Mountains to the Pacific Ocean.

February 6, 2019 - The Washington Post

Seattle Multi-Family and Downtown

How Do Downtown Homes Prices Compare?

After a decade of shifting market preferences and an ongoing urban renaissance, how do downtown home prices compare in cities around the country?

January 20, 2019 - Property Shark

Bus Stop and Bike Lane

Downtown Seattle Corridor Gets Visioning Treatment

A stakeholder group hopes to create a pedestrian- and business-friendly streetscape in Downtown Seattle.

January 4, 2019 - The Urbanist

Downtown Denver

Millennials Choose Cities for First Homes

New research suggests that millennials are remaining in urban areas as they transition from renting to homeownership.

November 24, 2018 - CityLab

Downtown Phoenix Skyline

Pace of Transformation Quickens in Downtown Phoenix

The Arizona Republic spent the week fêting the "rebirth" of Downtown Phoenix, covering the evolution of the urban core of this sprawling metropolis from several angles.

October 28, 2018 - Arizona Republic

MATA Trolley

Memphis Downtown Boom Highlights the Potential of Adaptive Reuse

The city of Memphis, Tennessee is in the middle of an understated boom focused on downtown development and adaptive reuse.

October 5, 2018 - Curbed

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.

Top Books

An annual review of books related to planning.

Top Schools

The definitive ranking of graduate planning programs.

100 Most Influential Urbanists

The who's who of urbanism, according to Planetizen readers.

Urban Planning Creators You Should Know

A short list of voices on social, video, and podcasting platforms.