Urban Development

Making the Case for the Redevelopment of Nicollet Mall

Some call it “Minnesota’s Main Street,” but Nicollet Mall in Minneapolis has been the subject of much debate as the city mulls a redevelopment plan for the mall designed by James Corner Field Operations.

April 9, 2014 - MinnPost

High Line Crowds

Amanda Burden Gives TED Pitch for Public Space

Amanda Burden amassed quite a track record during her tenure as planning commissioner for New York City, like rezoning 40 percent of the city. In a recent Ted talk, however, Burden concentrated on the details that make for successful public spaces.

April 9, 2014 - TED

Willamette Falls

Can Access to Willamette Falls Spur Urban Renewal?

State and local officials in Oregon have launched a planning process to develop a public access esplanade to Willamette Falls in Oregon City. City planners could center urban renewal plans around what is expected to be a popular tourist destination.

April 8, 2014 - The Oregonian

Toronto from my room

Website Says 'Yes In My Back Yard'

A website called New York YIMBY is run by a 23-year-old New Yorker named Nikolai Fedak. The site, and Fedak’s pro-development ethos, was recently detailed in the New York Times.

April 8, 2014 - New York Times

Optimism Indicator: Record Number of Building Permits in Philadelphia

Observers of Philadelphia’s economic and social situation can celebrate, and worry, given recent data on issues like poverty, crime, and the job market. One bright spot, however, is 2013's record number of building permits.

April 7, 2014 - philly.com

After Mayoral Scandal, What Next for Charlotte's Permitting Reform, Streetcar Project?

Former Charlotte Mayor Patrick Cannon resigned after taking bribes in exchange for zoning and parking privileges. Will the fallout affect the city's streetcar plans or its efforts to streamline permitting and code enforcement?

April 7, 2014 - Charlotte Observer

Brooklyn Brownstones

Housing is the Key to Family-Friendly Cities

Why housing should take priority in the effort to attract families back to the city (and welcome them to stay awhile).

April 7, 2014 - Bradley Calvert

What Does Lynch’s 5 Elements Reveal About Oakland, CA?

Using Kevin Lynch’s approach to analyzing the image of cities, Los Angeles County Planner Clement Lau explores Oakland and reveals a city that is quite different than it's public image.

April 6, 2014 - UrbDeZine

Southwest Airlines Joins Project for Public Spaces to Activate Parks

Southwest Airlines joins Project for Public Spaces in an initiative to reactivate underused public spaces.

April 4, 2014 - CNN Money - Fortune

Seattle Updating Zoning Regulations for Small Single-Family Lots

Planners in Seattle have responded to controversy over the size and scale of development on small lots in many of the city's single-family neighborhoods, with a new set of zoning regulations.

April 4, 2014 - Seattle Department of Planning and Development

One Possibility for Activating Vacant Storefronts in Small Cities

A post on the blog for Utile, a Boston-based architecture and urban planning firm, recommends the coffee cart as a bit of DIY urbanism for cities like Lawrence, Massachusetts.

April 4, 2014 - Utile's Blog

Height Controversy in the Lower Ninth Ward

Two seven-story buildings, proposed for the former site of Holy Cross School in New Orleans’ Lower Ninth Ward, have created heated controversy in New Orleans' Lower Ninth Ward. In question is the character of the city’s riverfront neighborhoods.

April 3, 2014 - The Atlantic Cities

Brooklyn Bridge Beach

Architecture + Urbanism: Both/And, Not Either/Or

Looking at the trend toward interdisciplinary design practice through the work of WXY Architecture + Urban Design.

April 3, 2014 - Anna Bergren Miller

HUD expected to further ease restrictions on mixed-use financing

The administrative change to follow recent successful FHA standards, according to CNU president John Norquist.

April 2, 2014 - Better! Cities & Towns

Florida Sprawl

Study: Sprawl is Bad for Public Health

Smart Growth America has released the "Measuring Sprawl 2014" report, which updates the 2002 report "Measuring Sprawl and Its Impact."

April 2, 2014 - Smart Growth America

''D.C.'s High Line" Could Transform the Banks of the Anacostia

The proposed elevated park across the Anacostia would be a first for D.C. The group backing it has launched a national design competition to design a bridge that fosters economic development, promotes community health, and cleans the river.

April 2, 2014 - Elevation DC

'People Habitat': Kaid Benfield Takes Smart Growth to a Higher Level

Kaid Benfield has a new book out, which Scott Doyon found positively uplifting. In ways beyond what you might be thinking.

April 2, 2014 - PlaceShakers

Charting the 'Urban Shift' Among Technology Start-Ups

Once upon a time, tech start-ups located almost exclusively in the suburbs. New data reveals the extent to which this pattern has been reversed.

April 2, 2014 - Atlantic Cities

Examining the United States’ Urban/Rural Dichotomy

Governing presents a special series examining the “Rural/Urban Divide” in the United States.

March 31, 2014 - Governing

Produce Aisle

Grocery Stores Require New Business Models in Food Deserts

Nathanael Johnson reports on what makes healthy grocery stores succeed in food deserts.

March 29, 2014 - Grist

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.