Urban Development

Developers Allege Conspiracy to Thwart Waterfront Development in New Jersey

A lawsuit claims that the town of Edgewater and its most prolific developer worked together to defeat a proposal for yet another high-rise development with views of Manhattan

December 24, 2017 - The New York Times

Wine Country Fires

Debating the Future of Development in California's Fire Prone Areas

With the state of California in the grips of its most destructive year of wildfires ever, policy makers are pondering questions about whether it is appropriate to rebuild in places at high risk of burning again.

December 22, 2017 - Los Angeles Times

Hartford Connecticut

No More Parking Minimums in Hartford

Earlier this month, the Hartford Planning and Zoning Commission voted unanimously on a revised zoning code that lets builders forgo parking citywide.

December 22, 2017 - Streetsblog USA

Surveying

Obama Library-Adjacent, Tiger Woods-Designed Golf Course Facing Substantial Challenges

It might have been assumed that the names Tiger Woods and Barack Obama would open doors on the South Side of Chicago. Questions about the former president's vision for the South Side persist.

December 21, 2017 - Chicago Tribune

Seattle Waterfront Condos

Seattle Redoubles its Funding Commitment to Affordable Housing

A new levy and a new housing bond enabled new levels of spending on affordable housing in Seattle.

December 21, 2017 - The Urbanist

Fankfort Pike

Rural Kentucky County Rejects Massive Corporate Development Scheme

After rebuffing a proposal that would land Lockheed Martin, and 3,500 new jobs, its safe to say that Bourbon County, Kentucky probably isn't bidding on the second Amazon headquarters either.

December 21, 2017 - Lexington Herald Leader

Hurricane Sandy

Moody’s: Climate Change Will Affect Your Credit Rating

The agency has created an economic incentive for cities, states and counties to deal with environmental threats.

December 21, 2017 - NPR

Lancaster Central Market

Making the 'Case for Healthy Places'

The Project for Public Spaces recently released a new report titled "The Case for Healthy Places: Improving Health through Placemaking."

December 21, 2017 - Project For Public Spaces

Pharmacy

Boise Residents Revolt Over Planned CVS

A huge public response shows that the booming city is defining a new future with smart growth.

December 20, 2017 - CityLab

Mansion

Home Ownership Subsidy Takes a $250,000 Hit in Final Version of Tax Bill

The current mortgage interest deduction is $1 million. The House version of the tax bill called for a $500,000 cap while the Senate left it untouched. They split the difference and capped it at $750,000. Congress is expected to pass H.R. 1 this week

December 20, 2017 - The New York Times

Commit No Nuisance sign

Alley Dwellings Looking More Attractive

Examining the growing demand for alley homes in Washington, D.C.—where alleys were once considered "evil."

December 20, 2017 - The Washington Post

Washington D.C.

D.C.'s Wharf Makes the City's Housing Problems Worse

Did The Wharf, a new mixed use mega project in Washington, D.C., deliver enough public benefit to warrant its large public subsidy?

December 19, 2017 - Jerrod A. Laber

Salt Lake City

Housing Affordability Prioritized in Recently Approved 'Growing SLC Plan'

The last time Salt Lake City adopted a housing plan, the city's population was declining. Now booming in population, the city is setting a course to build lots of new housing supply.

December 19, 2017 - The Salt Lake Tribune

Los Angeles Skyline

Tall Building Construction Continues to Smash Records and Redefine Skylines

There are 402 percent more tall buildings in the world than there was in 2000.

December 19, 2017 - Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat

Capitol Hill

What the Final Tax Reform Bill Has in Store for Housing and Development

The final version of the tax reform bill included some surprises with regard to housing and infrastructure funding mechanisms threatened in previous version of the bill.

December 18, 2017 - American Planning Association

Los Angeles Residential

Los Angeles Adopts 'Linkage Fee' for Affordable Housing Funding

Los Angeles is the latest city to adopt a "linkage fee" that charges new development to generate funding for affordable housing, joining cities like Seattle, Chicago, and San Jose.

December 18, 2017 - Los Angeles Times

Downtown Phoenix Skyline

In Phoenix, Sustainability Will Be Built by Node

If the desert metropolis wants to survive, it will need a strategy built on something other than a denser, more urban downtown.

December 18, 2017 - Dezeen

Furnicular

Forget 'Smart'—We Need 'Context Cities'

Frequent Planetizen contributor Charles R. Wolfe reflects on reconciling global forces and local context in cities across three continents.

December 17, 2017 - Charles R. Wolfe

Chicago Ferris Wheel

Ferris Wheel Proposed With Big Mixed-Use Plans Near Downtown Pittsburgh

A Ferris wheel has been proposed as a highly visible signal of the North Side of Pittsburgh's role in the city's downtown revitalization.

December 17, 2017 - Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Flood Damaged Suburb

Hurricane Harvey and the Failure of the National Flood Insurance Program

Houston's most recent natural disaster is only the latest example of how a program created to help homeowners has been a greater benefit to the industries that profit from them.

December 15, 2017 - Houston Chroncle

FREE Course: Walkable City 1: Why Walkability?

After describing his path towards focusing on walkability as the essence of good planning, Jeff Speck marches through his five principal reasons for making more walkable places.

Reinventing Malls: Planning Alchemy—Turning Gray Fields Into Gold

The course focuses on the opportunities and imperatives that shape reinvention of mall sites.

Professor of Urban Planning

Harvard University Graduate School of Design

Transportation Planner I

KFH Group Inc.

Director, Strategy and Research

Greater Baltimore Committee

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