Urban Development

Six Methods for Understanding Transit Users
SPUR has a created a toolbox of resources and ideas for how to figure out what transit users want, because not all transit users are the same.

Setting Aside Transit Sales Tax Revenue for Affordable Housing
With a new wave of transit and active transportation investment coming to Atlanta, thanks to two new sales taxes, advocates are mobilizing to ensure that the investments won't leave low-income residents behind. It's a concept worth considering.

Denver to Fund Convention Center Expansion With a New 'Tourism Improvement District'
Denver has approved a new Tourism Improvement District to help cover the cost of the $233 million expansion project at the Colorado Convention Center in Denver.

As Medical Cannabis Grows, So Does the Space Needed for It
Despite its medicinal benefits, cannabis will negatively impact the environment if we don’t plan accordingly.

Los Angeles' New Tower and the Silly Rules That Govern Building Height
Los Angeles' new Wilshire Grand tower is tall and impressive. But, in reality, it's about 100 feet shorter and perhaps less impressive than the arbiters of skyscrapers say it is. Whatever the definition, it might be time to quit venerating height.

Union Strike Halts Construction in Philadelphia
Operators of cranes, bulldozers, hoists, and all kinds of other heavy equipment walked off construction sites around the Philadelphia region earlier this week.

Louisville's Sprawl Threatens One of its Last Clean-Running Streams
New subdivision planning and construction is expected to expand the footprint of the Louisville metropolitan area. The question is whether those new developments will protect or harm the beloved Floyds Fork.

$6 Million: The Cost of Removing the Trump Brand from Toronto Hotel
JCF Capital ULC wanted so badly to reboot the branding at the Trump International Hotel & Tower in Toronto, it paid $6 million to start over.

A Church Playground Controversy Grew Into a Supreme Court Decision
A decision by the U.S. Supreme Court this week could reframe the separation of church and state, especially with regard to the flow of public funding and aid programs.

Bloomberg Announces $200 Million 'American Cities Initiative'
The former mayor of New York is launching the "American Cities Initiative." The initiative comes with a scathing critique of the federal government's treatment of urban areas.

Amazon Files Patent Application for a Hive-Like Structure for Urban Drone Deliveries
Recode reveals a radical idea for how Amazon could consolidate delivery services in urban areas.

The State of Affordable Housing
An in-depth feature in Architect magazine surveys the affordable housing landscape and finds architects, planners, and developers trying to find a better way through an inefficient system.
Controversy Over Proposed Zoning Changes for Philly's Delaware Waterfront
Along comes a developer, wanting to build something that doesn't conform to a 2013 plan, with the support of the local councilmember, and local stakeholders aren't happy.

An Expanding Vision for San Francisco's Treasure Island
San Francisco is starved for ideas for ways to meet growing demand for housing, and skyrocketing prices. Here's a big idea: how about building space for some 20,000 new residents on Treasure Island, located in the middle of the bay?
Prop. 13 Will Blunt the Property Tax Windfall as Boomers Transfer Property to Millennials
The benefits of Prop 13's limit on property taxes will pass from generation to generation in California, at the expense of state and local coffers.

Evidence of Softening Rental Markets
According to Joe Cortright, a slowing pace of rent inflation in most large cities in the United States, combined with decreasing rents in many cities, shows how adding supply can help balance the market.

New Tallest Building West of the Mississippi Now Open
Friday was the first day the public could walk into Los Angeles' new iconic skyscraper. The Wilshire Grand is noteworthy for more than just its height.
The New Apple Store in Chicago Looks a lot Like a Laptop
Looking for a new laptop? Go to the building that resembles a laptop.

Bamboo Regulations Almost as Popular as Bamboo in New Jersey
People usually plant bamboo as a privacy screen, but it can quickly turn into an invasive nightmare for everyone else. Cities around New Jersey are passing regulations that allow the removal of bamboo if it gets out of hand.
Cap Park Planned for I-579 Near Downtown Pittsburgh
The city of Pittsburgh has ambitious plans for a $27 million cap park over Interstate 579, built to reconnect the Lower Hill neighborhood with the rest of the city.
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.
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)