Urban Development

Double Texas Rainbow

The Massive Growth Along the I-35 Corridor in Texas

In a Forbes piece, Joel Kotkin details the rapid growth in population and economy (especially jobs) of Austin and San Antonio and the emerging city of San Marcos between the two.

October 21, 2016 - Forbes

The Data Science Behind New Orleans' Blight Reduction Efforts

The BlightSTAT system has helped New Orleans track and improve blighted conditions around the city.

October 21, 2016 - Data-Smart City Solutions

San Francisco Houses

Study: Land Use Regulation Slows Economic Growth

Pro-development advocates have a new study to back up their cause.

October 21, 2016 - The Wall Street Journal

Autonomous Car Mobility Services a $120 Billion Business by 2025

"American households will no longer aspire to own two cars in every garage, but instead will have mobility apps on every phone, to hail self-driving vehicles that they will share rather than own." Jeffrey D. Sachs, Columbia University

October 21, 2016 - EBN

Los Angeles River

Los Angeles County: It's Time to Update the Master Plan for the L.A. River

The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors voted this week to begin the processing of updating the 20-year-old Los Angeles River Master Plan.

October 20, 2016 - Curbed LA

Los Angeles in 1939, as determined by the  Home Owners’ Loan Corporation (HOLC).

Mapping the Racist History of Real Estate in New Deal America

The Mapping Inequality website documents how the liberal ideals of the New Deal devolved into discrimination and inequality.

October 20, 2016 - National Geographic

New York

$100 Million in Air Rights Sold by New York's Pier 40

The kind of air rights deal only possible in New York City will offer benefits for both parties and, hopefully, the public.

October 19, 2016 - Crain's New York Business

Why Can't My Zoning Create a Diversity of Places?

Struggling with zoning that thwarts the construction of new hamlets, villages, towns, and cities? Susan Henderson has a bit of place type inspiration from across the pond.

October 18, 2016 - PlaceShakers

Seattle

'Seattle 2035' Plan Finalized and Adopted

"Seattle’s multi-year process to update the city’s Comprehensive Plan has come to its conclusion finding unanimous consent and approval from the City Council," reports Stephen Fesler.

October 18, 2016 - The Urbanist

Chicago

Chicago TOD Strategies: Sum Of Parts Equal, Greater Than the Whole

A successful TOD will be predicated upon three core elements: 1) development; 2) transit; and 3) transit-friendly amenities. While focus tends to be on the first two elements, this article provides insights on the importance of the third element.

October 17, 2016 - Renewal & Redevelopment (Association for Redevelopment Initiatives)

Replicas of Mid-Century Towns Built to Aid the Memories of Alzheimer's Patients

The Glenner Town Square development in Chula Vista, California will be one of the first "immersive facilities" in the United States, designed to trigger memories for Alzheimer's patients.

October 17, 2016 - CityLab

Leonardo DiCaprio

Why the Disconnect on Climate Change and Urban Density?

Actor Leonardo DiCaprio is also a committed climate change activist. His documentary on the topic airs Oct. 30 on the National Geographic channel. At the U.N., he asked leaders to take bold action. Yet, as an Angeleno, he opposes increased density.

October 17, 2016 - Curbed LA

Pittsburgh

Pittsburgh Launches New Permit and Code Tracking Website

The city of Pittsburgh launched a Buildingeye website to provide new access to the development and approval process in the city.

October 16, 2016 - Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Philadelphia Renaissance Threatens Working Diamond District

Heretofore preservationists in the City of Brotherly Love have been focused on finding new uses for vacant, historic buildings, but the city's economic resurgence now threatens five, occupied low-rise buildings city's in vibrant Jewelers Row.

October 13, 2016 - The New York Times - Real Estate

Pittsburgh Bridge

Pittsburgh Mayor Pitches a New 'P4' Standard for Development Proposals

The city of Pittsburgh could adopt a new set of standards for measuring development projects to focus on people, planet, place, and performance.

October 13, 2016 - Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Denver Skyline

The New Definition of Global City, Fit for a New World

The Brookings Institution's Global Cities Initiative recently released a report proposing a new definition for global cities, which is actually seven definitions.

October 13, 2016 - Brookings

Green

Building Industry Falling Short of the AIA's Carbon Reduction Goals

The American Institute of Architects gave a reality check regarding its ambitious and aggressive carbon reductions targets.

October 12, 2016 - Architect

Brooklyn

Fact Check: What's Really Going on in 'Inner Cities'?

One of the few mentions of cities during the second presidential debate came when Donald Trump described the states of "inner cities" in the country. The explanation didn't sit well with some experts.

October 12, 2016 - The New York Times

Simi Valley

Urban Containment: Sometimes Bad, Sometimes Not So Much

Some commentators on urban containment treat the issue as all-or-nothing: either strict limits on suburban development are good public policy everywhere, or they are good public policy nowhere. Perhaps a more nuanced view is appropriate.

October 11, 2016 - Michael Lewyn

New Capital, Cairo, Egypt

Egypt's New Capital City Development Gets Chinese Backing

Plans for the development of a new, unnamed capital city just east of Cairo has received the financial backing of Chinese investors.

October 11, 2016 - CNN

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

Top Books

An annual review of books related to planning.

Top Schools

The definitive ranking of graduate planning programs.

100 Most Influential Urbanists

The who's who of urbanism, according to Planetizen readers.

Urban Planning Creators You Should Know

A short list of voices on social, video, and podcasting platforms.