Urban Development

Floodplain Development Grows as Regulations Shrink
More Americans are moving to high-risk flood zones as environmental deregulation wins the day.

Honolulu, Pittsburgh Lead the U.S. in Livability
Honolulu and Pittsburgh have made a cottage industry of leading the United States on the quality of life index produced by The Economist.

Envisioning the Chicago Skyline of the Near Future
An already impressive skyline will be gaining some very tall additions by 2023.

BART TOD Bill Advances Despite Opposition from East Bay Cities
Amidst fierce opposition from East Bay cities who want to control the destiny of BART parking lots in their jurisdictions, Assembly Bill 2923, which would partially preempt local land use authority, passed a critical committee last Thursday.

Chicago Could Get More From New Damen El Stop
Steven Vance argues that the city is missing an opportunity to zone for and create housing in and around the new Damen Green Line stop.

A Defense of the National Environmental Policy Act
A reminder of the intended purpose of environmental law.

Empowered Through Design: How a Purposefully Rudimentary Activity Sparks the Imagination
Memory can be an intensely powerful tool when planning for the future.

Austin Approves New Stadium to Lure Columbus' Soccer Team
The Austin City Council approved plans for a new, privately financed soccer stadium to become the future home of the team currently known as the Columbus Crew.
California REITS Have Much at Stake on Election Day
One of the most controversial measures on the November 6 ballot in California is Prop. 10: the repeal of the landmark Costa-Hawkins Act that places limits on rent control. Real estate investment trusts are donating big time to defeat it.

Analyzing the Decision to Rewrite the Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing Rule
Observers have been pointing out the contradictions in Secretary Ben Carson's justifications for a new approach to the Fair Housing Act.

Chart Your City's Street Network to Understand its Logic
The roads in your city might conform to a grid, or they might divert around natural resources or landmarks. A new tool aims to help you visualize the "hidden logic" behind urban growth.

In Limbo: Philadelphia's Construction Tax for Affordable Housing
It's been radio silence from Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney since the City Council approved a dedicated stream of funding for affordable housing.

New Linkage Fee Approved in South San Francisco
The city of South San Francisco recently approved a linkage fee for commercial developments, following the lead of a few other cities that have decided on linkage fees as a similar mechanism to fund affordable housing.

Mapping 25 Years of Urban Expansion
What comparing 25 years of urban expansion on six continents reveals about the changing nature of the built environment.

Bushwick Community Plan Facing Criticism From the Community
The Bushwick Community Plan process is being lead by the members of the community, but has still provoked controversy over issues of gentrification and displacement.

Dallas Hotel Supply Swelling With New Projects
Dallas is experiencing a hotel building boom.

Breaking: HUD Will Rewrite Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing Rule
The Department of Housing and Urban Development will rewrite the Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing rule approved by the Obama administration in 2015. HUD Secretary Ben Carson says the rule is "suffocating" affordable housing development.

Mapping Tax Abatements to Mitigate Controversy
St. Louis politicians are embroiled in controversy over the city's use of tax abatements, which come at the expense of funding for the city's school district. A map is seen as part of the solution.

Lake Erie Town Hopes Waterfront Trail Will 'Put it on the Map'
According to Next City, "Euclid is doing what many Great Lakes cities thought would never be possible."

Housing Construction Slows to a Crawl in Seattle's Suburbs
Seattle's suburbs are no longer leading the region in housing construction, even as Seattle's urban core is building more housing than ever.
Pagination
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.
Borough of Carlisle
Smith Gee Studio
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
Transportation Research & Education Center (TREC) at Portland State University
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
Municipality of Princeton (NJ)