Urban Renaissance

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

A Rooftop Dog Park With a Downtown View

Downtown urban cores have had to make space for dogs to run and do their business as new residents have flocked to urban settings in recent years.

June 23, 2018 - Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

High Line

Richard Florida: 'The Urban Revival Is Over'

The author of the "The Rise of the Creative Class" and the "New Urban Crisis" says cities have had their moment.

September 5, 2017 - The New York Times

NYC-crosswalk

Crowded NYC Sidewalks Force Commuters Into the Street

In the 1970s, the fear of getting mugged had some NYC pedestrians walking in the street. Nowadays, commuters are sharing space with cars for a very different reason: the sidewalks are too crowded.

July 7, 2016 - The New York Times

Busy Downtown

New Data on the Shift to Cities

It's no secret that urban centers are doing better today than they were 30 years ago. New FHFA data on housing prices confirms the trend and suggests that a changing environment (as opposed to changing preferences) account for it.

July 6, 2016 - The Washington Post

Kids on bikes

Op-Ed: Jane Jacobs Wouldn't Recognize the Cities of Today

Without children at the center of activity, the urban neighborhoods of today offer little compared to the ideals expressed by Jane Jacobs, according to this strongly worded critique of contemporary urbanism.

June 7, 2016 - The American Conservative

Times Square Historic

Conceptual Shift: New York's Growing Again

For decades, New York City's boom times lay deep in the past. Now that the city's growing again, Aaron Renn says New York may need to take cues from the Sun Belt, of all places.

May 16, 2016 - Urbanophile

Downtown Pittsburgh: Back and Better Than Ever

Mark Belko traces downtown Pittsburgh's rejuvenation since bottoming out three decades ago. The area's recent comeback, marked by a surging office market and residential renaissance, has some claiming that Downtown is better than ever.

December 31, 2012 - Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Are Cities Really Growing Faster Than Suburbs?

Last week's census figures were widely used to point to a swelling of urban populations. Chris Briem says that the jury's still out.

July 3, 2012 - Nullspace

D.C. Area Hits Uptick as Recession Peters Out

Carol Morello and Patricia Sullivan explore the recent population spike in Washington, D.C., part of a nationwide trend toward "an urban renaissance."

June 30, 2012 - Washington Post

The Rise And Fall of Cities

Victor David Hanson uses a broad historical perspective to examine the causes of the rise and fall of former world cities. He argues that the computer driven, global age will accelerate the process of growth and decline.

December 11, 2010 - City Journal

Car Factory Revives Georgia City

West Point, Georgia began to decline when the textile industry moved out. Now, it's experiencing a renaissance as a new car factory moves into town, bringing 20,000 jobs by 2014.

May 8, 2009 - BBC

Strenghtening The Center City Is Not Enough

Harald Bodenschatz calls for a radical shift in the urban planning discourse when he claims for a revitalization not only of the downtown, but of the district centers and of suburbia itself, which should be made denser and more valuable.

April 29, 2008 - The Urban Reinventors Online Urban Journal

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Top Books

An annual review of books related to planning.

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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.