Urban Development

How City Planning Can Affect How Diseases Spread
There are many ways that city planning and urban design can mitigate, or exacerbate, the spread of public health risks.

Critics Pounce on $190 Million Proposed for Seattle Mariners Stadium Support
A city grappling with a homeless crisis might rethink its spending habits.

Affordability Concerns Raised Along Vancouver's Planned Broadway Subway
Vancouver is developing a plan to weaken the impacts of real estate speculation along the route of the Millennium Line Broadway Extension.

Houston Has a $1.15 Billion Harvey Recovery Plan
Houston is taking steps to finalize and approve a plan to spend $1.15 billion in federal disaster relief funding after Hurricane Harvey.

Houston Requires Community Benefits for Development Subsidies
Houston joins cities like Philadelphia, Detroit, and Minneapolis in demanding a greater return on public dollars.

The Search for a New Green Building Standard
The need to slash emissions from buildings is increasingly urgent, and critics say LEED won't get us there.

The Definition of Planning Insanity
The new planning and zoning tools needed to achieve a more sustainable and equitable urban form, according to urban planning consultant Howard Blackson III.

Hudson Yards Will Redefine Manhattan
The size and scale of Hudson Yards in the skyline of Manhattan will match the size and scale of public and private investment in the project. The project's effect in the city's economy will be just as conspicuous.

The Vacancy Epidemic
A new report uses terms like epidemic and hyper-vacancy to drive home the point about the effects of vacancies on communities like Cleveland, Gary, Toledo, and Detroit.

There's a Hole Where Ground-Floor Retail Should Be
Mixed-use developments still often operate better in theory than in reality.

Draft Rezoning for Gowanus Released
Planners in New York City released the latest in a series of rezonings of New York City neighborhoods.

Design Review: Revamped Gateway Arch an Urban Success
Pulitzer Prize-winning critic Blair Kamin assesses the remodeled Gateway Arch in St. Louis, prior to its big public opening on July 3.

Buying Flood-Prone Houses an Expensive Proposition in Texas
Harris County has a home buyout program, designed to reduce the amount of residents living in flood-prone homes. But when it comes to home buyouts, a lot of money goes a little way.

Boston to Launch New Downtown Plan
The Boston Planning & Development Agency will hire consultants to craft a vision for its rapidly changing downtown.
Don't Forget the Green Benefits of Accessory Dwelling Units
Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) don't just help mitigate housing supply and affordability issues, they also offer significant sustainability benefits.

Gentrifying Neighborhood Qualifies as a Federal 'Opportunity Zone'
The state of Georgia's Opportunity Zones designations included one choice that raised questions about the purpose of the new federal program.

Seattle Planning Director Pursues Equity Amid a Pro-Growth Agenda
An interview with Seattle Planning Director Sam Assefa for the latest installment of the "Planners Across America" series.

Study: Unbundle Parking for the Most Effective Transportation Demand Management
A new study by Mobility Lab makes a strong case for unbundling parking from rent to inspire more sustainable transportation choices.

Prominent St. Louis Developer Accused of Fraud
The local developer is accused of inflating property values and defrauding a program meant to spur investment in distressed areas.

Editorial Exposes Bay Area Housing Hypocrisy
Cities can't have it both ways on the housing crisis, asserts an SF Chronicle editorial. Case in point: Berkeley passes a resolution to declare homelessness a state of emergency while opposing legislation to allow BART to develop its parking lots.
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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
Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Claremont
Municipality of Princeton (NJ)