Urban Development

Cambridge Looking to Value Capture Transit Funding

The city of Cambridge is proposing a new transportation enhancement fund that would charge developments to fund upgrades Red Line’s Kendall/MIT Station or enhanced bus service.

September 10, 2015 - The Boston Globe

Shopping Carts

Making Big Box Stores More Walkable

June Williamson, co-author of Retrofitting Suburbia, spoke with Streetsblog about the challenge of making that most auto-centric of development typology—the big box—friendly to pedestrians and bicyclists.

September 9, 2015 - Streetsblog USA

Development Brings Educational Component to Mixed-Use Project

New mixed-use Prairiefire development in Overland Park, Kansas, combines a museum with retail, entertainment, and housing space to respond to strong demographics in an increasingly-competitive environment.

September 9, 2015 - ULI Urban Land Magazine

Affordable Housing Overhaul Proposed Amid Jersey City Building Boom

Jersey City Mayor Steven Fulop is pushing for an ambitious program to overhaul the city's development subsidies, even as building permits are flying off the shelves.

September 9, 2015 - Politico New Jersey

Poll: Utah Residents Strongly Support Mixed-Use, Transit, and Walkability

Density isn't always a dirty word, apparently—as residents of Utah have voiced their support of more urban typologies to support its expected population growth over the next several decades.

September 8, 2015 - The Salt Lake Tribune

Is Sluggish Single-Family Housing Construction Slowing the Economy?

The Wall Street Journal implies a take on the U.S. economy that might make some urbanists uncomfortable: more single-family construction is necessary for a full economic recovery.

September 8, 2015 - The Wall Street Journal

Proposed Parklet Divides San Francisco Gay Neighborhood

A small cafe in San Francisco's gay neighborhood, the Castro, proposed a parklet on two parking spaces that is dividing merchants. Some see it as a potential haven for homeless and illegal activity, as well as objecting to the loss of parking.

September 8, 2015 - Bay Area Reporter

Texas Outdoors

With Texas Sprawl: Fewer Places to Roam

An outdoors enthusiast laments the explosive sprawl that is quickly sucking up places to hunt and fish in the state of Texas.

September 7, 2015 - The Dallas Morning News

Philadelphia's Open Data Reveals Land Use Trends

A trove of data from the Office of Property Assessment has been released to the public. It's like Christmas day for zoning wonks in the City of Brotherly Love.

September 6, 2015 - PlanPhilly

On the Benefits of Streetcar Suburbs

Peter Saunders knows of the Corner Side Yard knows a good thing when he sees it, and that is good thing is the streetcar suburb.

September 5, 2015 - The Corner Side Yard

From Net Zero Energy to Net Zero Water: A New Frontier in Sustainability

The Net Zero Water Toolkit helps individuals and organizations make water resource planning decisions based on local conditions rather than targeting historical demand and allowing water quality impacts to flow downstream.

September 4, 2015 - Brendle Group

View of Portland, Oregon from Pittock Mansion

Land Sparing Protects Urban Ecosystems Better Than Land Sharing

A study of two cities at opposite ends of the urban spectrum demonstrate how density matters for a number of ecological services.

September 4, 2015 - Pacific Standard

Kids Crossing the Street

Surgeon General Warning to Local Governments: Stop Being So Auto-Centric!

No, those will not be the precise words of the forthcoming "Call to Action" by Surgeon General Vice Admiral Vivek H. Murthy, but he will call on cities to "design and build roads and public places to make walking easier, safer, and more pleasant."

September 4, 2015 - T4America Blog

NPR Headquarters

10 of the Best Adaptive Reuse Projects

A list of adaptive reuse projects completed in the last five years includes a diverse collection of breweries turned hotels, a dry dock turned into a museum, and much more.

September 3, 2015 - Urban Land Magazine

Pittsburgh Project Could Include Corridor for Driverless Vehicles

A massive redevelopment project moving forward in Pittsburgh would provide in-demand office and tech space near local universities. An innovative transportation infrastructure project could be a part of the deal.

September 3, 2015 - Pittsburg Post-Gazette

Denver's Cherry Creek North Not Just for Shopping Anymore

A neighborhood known as a shopping district is quickly transforming into a live, work, play destination in heart of Denver.

September 2, 2015 - The Denver Post

Chicago Infill Rail Stations Showing Outsized Benefits in Ridership, TOD

An analysis of infill transit stations built since 2012 along "L" routes in Chicago shows clear increases in ridership and transit oriented development.

September 1, 2015 - Metropolitan Planning Council - The Connector

Graduation Ceremony

Is 'Brain Drain' a Legitimate Problem?

According to analysts like Aaron Renn, the exodus of educated Millennials from what some perceive to be less-glamorous cities shouldn't signal impending doom. For one thing, brain drain might not be happening at all.

September 1, 2015 - Next City

Hurricane Katrina

An Equitable Recovery? New Orleans Ten Years After Katrina

University of New Orleans Professor Dr. Anna Livia Brand writes about the shortcomings in the recovery planning process in post-Katrina New Orleans caused by unaddressed racial inequality.

September 1, 2015 - JPER

Florida Counties Alter Development Fees to Encourage Compact, Mixed Uses

Hillsborough County, home to Tampa, has already shifted its "transportation concurrency fees" to encourage compact development and a mix of uses. Nearby Osceola County is following their lead.

August 30, 2015 - Next City

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.

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.