Urban Development

Slow-Growth Santa Monica Poised for Rapid Redevelopment

With 30 projects totaling nearly 3 million square feet of development in the pipeline, L.A.'s famously laid-back neighbor is in for an intense period of growth. Will new development enhance or alter the city's alluring character?

November 7, 2013 - Los Angeles Times

One of D.C.'s Prime Parcels Gets a Developer and a Vision

Two years after the historic Walter Reed Army Medical Center closed its doors, the transformation of one of the city's prime development parcels took a giant leap forward this week with the selection of Hines Interests to lead the redevelopment.

November 7, 2013 - The Washington Post

Why New Yorkers Should Prepare for a de Blasio Building Boom

If you liked the pace of development during the Bloomberg administration, you're going to love Bill de Blasio. Development-related revenues will be necessary to fund the new mayor's priorities and inherited challenges explains Josh Barro.

November 7, 2013 - Business Insider

As Cities Benefit from Streetcar-Spurred Development, Atlanta Asks: Where's Ours?

New streetcar lines in cities like Kansas City, Tucson and Cincinnati are already generating residential development, long before the first passengers hop on board. As Atlanta lays the track for its new system, ATL Urbanist asks: Where's ours?

November 6, 2013 - ATL Urbanist

Milwaukee Riverwalk

The Metros Where Millennials Have the Most Opportunities

Uninterested in outdated suburbs and excluded from the most desirable places, Millennials are in need of alternative options for establishing themselves. Nona Willis Aronowitz's new series examines four types of cities where Millennials can make it.

November 6, 2013 - The Atlantic Cities

D.C.'s Metro Pursues Joint Development Opportunities Around Five Stations

With developers clamoring to build near D.C.'s expanding subway network, the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (Metro) is seeking to cash in on its real estate holdings.

November 6, 2013 - The Washington Post

NYC: 7 Things at Risk, Post-Bloomberg

As Mayor Bloomberg gets set to leave office in New York, here are 7 things that may dramatically change under a new administration.

November 6, 2013 - Future Cities

An Urban Resurgence Driven by Tweets

The arrival of "one of the technology industry’s next big things" has been just the medicine needed to help turn around one of San Francisco's most stubbornly downtrodden areas.

November 5, 2013 - The New York Times

10 Traits of 'Globally Fluent' Cities

City leaders are constantly told technology is making the world smaller, and they need to make sure their city competes on a world stage, but how? Here are 10 traits cities must have in order to be "globally fluent."

November 4, 2013 - Future Cities

The Urban Election Onstage in Seattle

Chuck Wolfe comments on this week's mayoral election in Seattle, suggesting the pending populist model for New York City is already on display.

November 4, 2013 - myurbanist

TOD in L.A.'s Low-Income Communities Gets $100 Million Boost

With L.A.'s transit system expanding its footprint and growing its ridership, $100 million in development capital from a national philanthropic organization will help fund projects around stations in the city's underserved communities.

November 3, 2013 - The Architect's Newspaper Blog

Hong Kong to Get a Carbon Labelling Scheme to Fight CO2

The Construction Industry Council is launching a Carbon Labelling Scheme for Construction Materials in December 2013, the purpose of which is to communicate verifiable and accurate information on the carbon footprint of construction materials.

November 3, 2013 - Future Cities

Will Walkable Urbanism Transform a Pioneering New Town Into a "Real City"

Visionary developer James W. Rouse always wanted his planned community in Howard County, Maryland to be a "real city". As Columbia nears 50, a 30-year plan and new development seeks to fill in the community's "doughnut hole" with walkable density.

October 30, 2013 - The Baltimore Sun

Cleveland Caught Between Dreams of Revival and Reality of its Woes

Are the grand plans for reviving Cleveland put forth by city leaders - and hyped by the architecture critic at the city's main newspaper - fantasies masking the city's elemental problems or goals worth pursuing?

October 30, 2013 - Cleveland Magazine

Phoenix Preps for Social-Powered Bike Share

Phoenix is getting set to roll out a regional bike-share program, in partnership with CycleHop and Social Bicycles. After its initial rollout, the city will expand the service to reach Mesa and Tempe.

October 29, 2013 - Future Cities

Breakthrough Building is Assembled Like an Airplane Engine

In Brooklyn's Navy Yard, the largest modular high-rise building in the world is being assembled one floor at a time by teams of 10 to 15 union workers. Sydney Brownstone tours the milestone in modular construction.

October 28, 2013 - Fast Company Co.Exist

Mumbai's Airport City: Catalyst for Development

Roger Duffy, design partner at Skidmore, Owings & Merrill, discusses the firm's forthcoming airport and airport city in Mumbai, and how this new development differs from 20th century airports.

October 27, 2013 - Future Cities

How the Routing of Washington's Metro Led to Arlington's Success

In the premier episode of NPR's special series, "U.S. Commutes: The Way We Get To Work", host David Greene explores the background of the D.C. suburb of Arlington, Va., and how a planning decision in the 1960s was crucial to its vibrancy today.

October 26, 2013 - NPR

With Vote by City Council, Sacramento to Become Healthier and More Bike Friendly

More bike corrals, bike sharing, and parklets are on the way to the Golden State's capital thanks to the city council's unanimous vote on Oct. 22 with support from cyclists, pedestrians, businesses, and the regional air district.

October 25, 2013 - The Sacramento Bee

China Confronts Troubling By-Product of Urbanization: Mountains of Construction Rubble

China's rapid rebuilding effort has produced mountains of debris as old cities are replaced with gleaming new metropolises. Illegal dumping is coming under fire as it gets more and more difficult to conceal the evidence.

October 25, 2013 - The New York Times

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.