Master-Planned Communities

A hot springs in a low-lying desert area, with mountains in the distant background.

Blockchains Inc Wanted a Massive ‘Smart City’ in Nevada but Couldn’t Muster the Water Rights

California Forever isn’t the only tech-investor-driven mega-project to make news in recent weeks. Blockchains Inc had designs on remaking a massive swath of land near Reno until water got in the way.

September 19, 2023 - The Nevada Independent

A rendering of the Utah City master planned, mixed-use development.

700-Acre Master-Planned Community Planned in Utah

A massive development plan is taking shape for lakefront property in Vineyard, Utah—on the site of a former U.S. Steel Geneva Works facility.

August 31, 2023 - Daily Herald

Celebration Florida

Disney Plans New Residential Developments

Despite the less-than-magical results of its experiment in Celebration, Florida, Disney has announced plans to build a chain of master-planned communities around the country.

February 17, 2022 - The Verge

Plan for Cross Creek West

New Master-Planned Community Will Bring Thousands of Homes to Houston Suburbs

A 1,258-acre development is beginning construction near Fulshear, one of Houston's fastest-growing suburbs.

February 2, 2022 - Houston Chronicle

Garden City

What Is the Garden City Movement?

Born as a reaction to the crowded, dirty conditions in turn-of-the-century London and other industrial cities, the Garden City movement offers an idealized planned community designed to join elements of town and country.

December 27, 2021 - Diana Ionescu

Florida Retirement Community

The Best-Selling Master-Planned Communities of 2020

Two industry consulting firms released new reports on the best-selling master-planned communities in the United States.

January 12, 2021 - RCLCO

The Villages Florida

The Best-Selling Master Planned Communities of 2019

Real estate advisors RLCO released their end-of-the-year sales report for master-planned communities, completing a year of strong sales growth.

January 14, 2020 - RCLCO

Grand Canyon National Park

Grand Canyon-Adjacent Development Revises Plans to Pave Roads Through National Forest

Developers want to build roads through the Kaibab National Forest to serve a controversial development, including a resort and hundreds of homes, planned for a location just South of the Grand Canyon.

September 7, 2019 - Arizona Republic

Master-Planned Cittes

Master-Planned Cities in the Spotlight

The Guardian last week published a series of articles and interactive features on the subject of the master-planned communities of the world.

July 15, 2019 - The Guardian

The Villages Florida

Report Ranks the Best-Selling Master-Planned Communities

Real estate advisors RLCO have been compiling data on sales at master-planned communities since 1994. The mid-year report for 2019 shows strong sales growth in the sector.

July 11, 2019 - RCLCO

Georgia Agrihood

Agrihoods Still Proving Popular

Agrihoods emerged in the 1990s as a master-planned alternative to the golf-centered communities of the past. Many of these developments are going strong, and gaining in popularity.

August 13, 2017 - Realtor

Austin Sends Big Planned Unit Development Back to the Drawing Board

The Austin Parks and Recreation Department put the proposed Grove at Shoal Creek Planned Unit Development on a short timeout earlier this month, but only to negotiate final details of the massive project.

June 7, 2016 - Austin Monitor

Houten Train Station

Houten, Netherlands: Where Cars and Bikes Coexist

Well-known in transportation planning circles, Houten's suburban multi-modality can be found almost nowhere else. Perimeter ring roads, train access, and bike-friendly features have cut car trips down to 44 percent.

June 29, 2015 - CityLab

South Lake Shore Drive Extended in Chicago; Huge Mixed-Use Development to Follow

The October opening of a new 1.9-mile stretch of road on Chicago’s Southside anticipates a 40-year master plan for the Lakeside development—600 acres of new development in the middle of one of the country’s largest cities.

January 24, 2014 - The Architect's Newspaper

Eco Cities Becoming Reality

A panel of experts met in Los Angeles last month to discuss 'eco' cities in terms both abstract and practical.

February 13, 2011 - The Planning Report

Ten Master-Planned Communities That Bucked the Trend

Builder Magazine looks at ten master-planned developments that sold well in a market that has dwindled through the recession.

August 29, 2010 - Builder Magazine

Master-Planned Mixed-Use in Central Ohio

While the goal of these walkable communities is to attract young urban professionals, the benefits, of course, extend beyond that.

November 19, 2008 - The Columbus Dispatch

The Wildflower Wars

A dazzling wildflower season spells trouble for master-planned communities across the West.

May 16, 2008 - The Next American City

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HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research

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Top Books

An annual review of books related to planning.

Top Websites

The best of the Internet—since 2002.

Top Apps

Planning apps for a brave new world.

Top Schools

The definitive ranking of graduate planning programs.

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.