Urban Development

Hollywood Developer Self-Imposes Rent Control on New Project
It's an unprecedented move, but developer Champion Real Estate hopes to be "part of the solution" for pricey Los Angeles.

Churches and the Creation Of Landscape
A visit to Tbilisi, Georgia, reveals that churches are crucial elements in the creation of landscape. Their civic functions are at least as important as their theological functions.

New York Pilot Program to Test Expanded Tenant Protections
The political support for an expanded set of tenant protections emerged in response to the program of rezonings underway as part of the de Blasio Administration's housing plan.

Op-Ed: Washington's State Environmental Policy Act 'Off the Rails' in Cities
Drawing on a slew of examples, Dan Bertolet argues that Washington's State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA) has been co-opted in ways that run against its original purpose: protecting the environment.

Spokane Considers Tax Incentive to Redevelop Downtown Parking Lots
It's an idea that has already had some success in Philadelphia: give developers a tax abatement on projects that achieve some desired end, in this case fewer surface parking lots.

Better Land Use Planning: One of the Best Ways to Improve Transportation
Smart growth advocates have been making this point for years, but a new report from the Washington, D.C. regional planning organization provides more evidence for the strategic location of population and job growth.

National Building Museum Exhibition Explores the Changing American Household
The National Building Museum draws attention to the drastic change that has come to the American household. No longer does the nuclear family dominate the housing market, and a new era of housing development must be launched.
'High Line'-Type Bridge Proposed Between Crystal City, Reagan National Airport
The High Line in New York City has inspired ambitious projects all over the country. A pedestrian bridge proposed to connect the Arlington neighborhood of Crystal City to the Reagan National Airport provides the latest example.

Los Angeles Needs More Transit-Oriented Development
Development plans along the Expo Line need more density, affordable housing to achieve city goals

Video: The Housing Market as a Game of 'Cruel Musical Chairs'
The Sightline Institute has created an explainer video to make a supply-side argument in favor of new housing developments—even new market rate housing developments.

Friday Funny: Philadelphia Is Very, Very Confident About its Amazon Bid
The lengths to which cities have gone, or will go, in their bids to attract the second headquarters for Amazon has produced a cottage industry of media coverage. Satire from The Onion follows that trail to its most explosive of possible ends.

The 'Deliberately Unkind' Public Art of the High Line
"You could be forgiven for reading the art as a message to less-than-opulent New Yorkers: You’ve lost your place," writes Michael Friedman.
Tiny Home Village for the Homeless to Expand in Austin
Political support and a new capital campaign are helping to expand the tiny home concept as a solution to homelessness in Austin, Texas.

20-Year 'Plan Houston' Would More Than Double Downtown's Population
The Houston Downtown Management District and Central Houston Inc. have released a new 20-year vision for Downtown Houston.

Study: Economic Displacement Is Bad for Transit Ridership
A TriMet transit agency analysis has identified a culprit in the decline of transit ridership in Portland: gentrification and displacement.

Challenges in Rebuilding Houston Extend Beyond Development
Michael Kimmelman, architecture critic of The New York Times, looks beyond sprawl and development issues that challenge Houston in its rebuilding efforts. An anti-urban, anti-regulation bias from the statehouse isn't helping matters.

The First Year-Round UPS Bike Delivery Route Arrives in Pittsburgh
The electric bicycles appeared in Portland last year, but Pittsburgh will get the company's first dedicated non-truck delivery route.

Study: New York Suburbs Need to Zone for Higher Density Transit Oriented Development
The Regional Plan Association released a new study that recommends steps toward higher density transit oriented development in transit adjacent communities around the New York region. The study also teases a big release coming later this month.

Houston's Latest Push for Walkable Neighborhoods
Building on 2009's Transit Corridor Ordinance, Houston's Walkable Places Committee is creating a process for specific neighborhoods to adopt new rules emphasizing walkability.

Details of Denver's Voter-Approved $937 Million Bond Package
A long list of projects—from roads to projects to libraries and other cultural facilities—will benefit from a $937 million bond initiative approved by voters earlier this month in Denver.
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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.
JM Goldson LLC
Custer County Colorado
Sarasota County Government
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)