Urban Development

As a Houston Suburb Urbanizes, How Long Can it Avoid "Big-City Issues"?

The Woodlands was conceived four decades ago as a new style of suburb, mixing the urban and pastoral. And by all accounts it has remained a "special place" as it has matured. But as it nears full build-out, some wonder if its bubble might soon burst.

September 10, 2013 - The Houston Chronicle

What is the Key to Improving New York City's Livability?

The candidates competing to emerge from today's mayoral primary confront a host of challenges that threaten the quality of life in the Big Apple. Five experts identify the issues they believe are key to improving the city's livability.

September 10, 2013 - The New York Times

Photo of Calgary skyline from Edworthy Park

Despite Urban Building Binge, Canada Remains a Country of Suburbs

A high-rise residential building boom has transformed the skylines of Vancouver and Toronto over the past two decades. But despite the evident rise in the popularity of urban living, Canada's suburbs and exurbs continue to dominate growth trends.

September 9, 2013 - The Vancouver Sun

Does NYC Mayoral Front-Runner's Friendliness to Developers Betray His Message?

As New Yorkers prepare to vote in tomorrow's mayoral primaries, Democrat Bill de Blasio's "tale of two cities" critique of the Bloomberg years has resonated with voters. But when it comes to land use, do his policies promise more of the same?

September 9, 2013 - The Wall Street Journal

Why Cities Should Aim Beyond Carbon Neutrality

Keynote at Future of Cities Forum conference argued that carbon neutrality is not enough, He urged cities to adopt regenerative urban development that mimic natural processes and actively improve the environment.

September 6, 2013 - Future Cities

Developers Hack Conventional Office Spaces to Attract Corporate America

The decline of the 9 to 5 business district and changing corporate culture have landlords and tenants clamoring "to make their offices less square" and architects and planners eager to help transform conventional office spaces.

September 6, 2013 - Los Angeles Times

A Never-Ending Map Of Imaginary Cities

Artist spends decades creating an always-growing hand-drawn paper map of an imaginary place. Development is determined by drawing a random card from a custom deck of cards.

September 5, 2013 - Visual News

New York Skyline Fisheye

How To Make A City Great

Respected consulting firm McKinsey & Company offers a detailed report on the steps city leaders around the world take to transform their cities into great places to live and work.

September 5, 2013 - McKinsey & Company

From Suburbs to "Urban Burbs"

Eric Jaffe of The Atlantic Cities talks with writer Leigh Gallagher about her new book, The End of the Suburbs: Where the American Dream Is Moving, and her opinions on the rapidly evolving American housing market.

September 4, 2013 - The Atlantic Cities

Image of 20 Fenchurch Street, London

London's 'Walkie-Talkie' Skyscraper Melts Cars

The new "Walkie-Talkie" skyscraper at 20 Fenchurch Street in London has been accused of using the sun to melt cars, damage bikes, and blind pedestrians.

September 4, 2013 - Future Cities

Has Asia Hit Peak Mega-Mall?

Asia's mega-malls have been booming for over a decade, many built atop former park space, and now are suffering from high vacancy rates and low consumer spending.

September 3, 2013 - Quartz

Cargo Cult Urbanism?

In many exurban locations, planners and developers are often enticed by the idea of building urban environments, but without the necessary markets to support them, argues a real estate consultant.

September 3, 2013 - Baltimore Business Journal

An Argument Against “Skyscraper Phobia” in the Big Apple

Kenneth T. Jackson of the New York Times expresses his opposition to recent density concerns in New York City, which he believes are compromising its future as the world’s greatest city.

September 3, 2013 - The New York Times

Electric Will Supplant Fossil Fuel Cars on Safety

Advocating safety for the successful electric replacement of internal combustion engine cars solves many of the challenges of an automobile-inclusive future urbanity, and there will be no other kind.

September 1, 2013 - Ian Sacs

Proposed Basketball Arena Energizes Downtown Sacramento

Ever since a tentative deal for a new sports arena was struck between the City of Sacramento and new owners of the Sacramento Kings, real estate activity around the proposed downtown location has increased including deals for long empty storefronts.

August 31, 2013 - The Sacramento Bee

An image of Transit Oriented Development in Saltillo Lofts, Austin, Texas

Retaining Affordable Housing Near Transit Just Got Easier

Changes to the criteria for evaluating applications for the federal New Starts program could have a significant impact on efforts to preserve and expand affordable housing in close proximity to transit.

August 31, 2013 - Rooflines

Urban Revival Drains Life out of London Suburbs

In an echo of the urban inversion confronting many of America's cities, London's phenomenal economic growth over the past decade has come at the expense of the city's suburbs, where unemployment and poverty are growing. Could this be a good thing?

August 31, 2013 - The Economist

Can Transit Oriented Development be Effective in India?

TOD as a planning tool is new to Indian cities, where the idea is being championed as a solution to congestion, environment quality and housing equity. Can this concept, developed for the North American city, be successful in Indian cities?

August 30, 2013 - The City Fix

Attractive New Park Makes Angelenos Realize How Ugly Downtown Buildings Are

Since it opened last year, throngs of Angelenos have flocked to downtown's Grand Park. With those crowds now paying attention to the massive public buildings that form the park's boundaries, some are wondering if they need to be replaced.

August 29, 2013 - Los Angeles Downtown News

Urban Revival Increases Need for Places for Mental Renewal

Kaid Benfield argues that amid our focus on placemaking, density, transit, and walkability we need to find room to talk about how to create sanctuaries, or peaceful places, 'where one can get away and be quiet and still'.

August 29, 2013 - NRDC Switchboard

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.