Urban Development

California Has 8 of the 10 Most Polluted Cities in the U.S.
Despite ever-stricter air-quality regulations and dropping emissions, the American Lung Association once again finds the state to have some of the worst air in the nation.

Growth Centers on Philadelphia's Downtown, But Poverty Persists Elsewhere
An opinion piece points out the inequities of growth in contemporary Philadelphia.

Four Interest Groups Contributed to the California Transit-Housing Bill's Defeat
Two journalists discuss what led to the defeat of the SB 827, the controversial bill which garnered national attention and lots of in-state opposition from groups that one would think would support the effort to address the state's housing crisis.

How SB 827 'Cleaved the California Environmental Movement'
Even before the bill was defeated, it exposed a major generational divide between anti-development environmentalists and their pro-density, pro-housing heirs.

Public Space Arms Race
Battles for inclusion and exclusion in the life of the city more often end in stand-offs than in skirmishes.

BART's Transit-Oriented Development Bill Sets Disturbing Precedent, Says APA
AB 2923, which would allow the Bay Area Rapid Transit District to rezone their properties near stations for transit-oriented development, passed its first committee. The California chapter of APA objects to the preemption of local land use authority.

Dallas Housing Proposal Aims for Equity, Finally
Not only does the plan promise more affordable housing, it’s also supposed to deliver “access to more upwardly mobile communities."

Friday Eye Candy: Tour New York City in 1911
Witness the public realm of yesteryear.

Mapping the Decline of the New York City Subway
A writer weaves a "decade by decade" story, complete with diagrams, of how not to manage a public transit system.

Nokia Launches $1.5 Billion 'Smart Cities' Initiative in Canada
The new program offers cities access to $2 billion CAD in financing as well as a network of technical support.

Seattle Plans Remodel of World’s First Freeway Cap Park
The Brutalist design by a famed landscape architect will be preserved, but not without better visibility and improved lighting.

California's 'Aggressive' Housing Bill Dies Quickly, Not Quietly, in Committee
SB 827, the controversial housing bill proposed by State Senator Scott Wiener, had a very brief run in the California State Legislature.

Where Big Money Gets Spent on Apartment Construction
Between 2000 and 2016, developers spent more than $10 billion on apartment construction in more than half of the country's largest cities.

Dallas Breaks Ground on Yet Another Downtown Park
Pacific Plaza will the fourth park built in the center of the city in the last decade, and there are still plans for three more.

No Two Property Taxes Are Alike
The annual "50-State Property Tax Comparison Study" is available examines the imbalances across jurisdictions, and even within jurisdictions, when it comes to property taxes.

New York City Council Wants More Funding to Go After Airbnb Scofflaws
New York rules have rules about short-term rentals are supposed to work. That doesn't mean everyone is following them.

Pushing Back on 'Suburban Triumphalism'
Interested observers have been predicting a crest of the American "back to the city" movement for years now—the idea that as Millennials come of age they will lose interest in urban lifestyles and seek the comfort of the suburbs.

The Amazon Opportunity to Revitalize Urban Communities
If corporations continue to be able to take public subsidy as the price of locating in an area, maybe the debate isn't whether to offer subsidies but simply how and for what to offer them. Here’s one incentive that might actually benefit communities.

Regional Planning for Growth on Display in the Pacific Northwest
The Puget Sound Regional Council (PSRC) released a new "Regional Centers Framework."

Growth and Change Take Hold in Boise
Rapid growth is now the trend in a region that faced some of the worst effects of the Great Recession.
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
Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Claremont
Municipality of Princeton (NJ)