Urban Development
Traffic Calming: Making Streets Safer
The concept of "traffic calming," in which urban streets are altered in order to make them feel slower for drivers is discussed in this video from Street Films.
Rethinking Retail Strategies in an Urbanizing U.S.
Writing for Retail Traffic Magazine, David Lynn claims that a renewed urbanization movement in the United States will drive retailers and investors to change their strategies to fit a more urban market.
Holland, Michigan's Heated Sidewalks Bring People Together
A small town in Michigan created a network of underground pipes to divert waste heat from its power plant to downtown streets and sidewalks. Today, the community benefits from sidewalks that remain clear and dry no matter how cold it gets.
Americans Prefer Smart Growth Neighborhoods, Study Finds
A recent study by the National Association of Realtors found that 56 per cent of respondents preferred walkable, mixed-use neighborhoods over neighborhoods that required more driving between home, work, and recreation.
Slum Appreciation Misguided
The slums of the world's megacities have been the subject of much admiration among urban thinkers recently. Joel Kotkin argues that adulation is misguided.
The Burden of Understanding Placemaking
Scott Doyon laments his growing knowledge of what makes great places because of how overly aware it makes him of bad planning and design.
Developer Claims That Public Transit Works For Baseball, But Not Football Fans
An executive of Majestic Realty, one of the developers bidding to construct an NFL stadium in Los Angeles, cited sprawl in the City of Industry as an advantage over AEG's proposal to build a stadium in downtown LA.
31 "Silver Bullet Solutions" for Urban Redevelopment
Rod Stevens, a business consultant specializing in urban ventures, compiled a list of the most common "silver bullet" solutions put in place by city leaders to address redevelopment over the past 60 years.
The Auto Industry's Smear Campaign on Cycling
An article posted on DC Streets Blog claims to explain the relationship between ad dollars from the automotive industry and the media's "bike backlash."
The Hottest Cities for Multifamily Development
Builder Magazine says the construction numbers have been all over the map from month to month, but a pattern is emerging that reveals several markets to be reliable hotbeds for the development of multifamily buildings.
Chinese Megamall 99% Empty
New South China Mall in Dongguan, China has been 99% vacant since it was built in 2005. Is Chinese development running amok? Sarah Goodyear looks at a recent documentary that explains why the mall was built.
Shipping Containers for the Homeless
A project now being considered by the City of Vancouver, B.C., would overhaul a handful of shipping containers to provide housing for the homeless.
Giving Communal Housing A Shot
Seeing an unfilled niche in the housing marketplace, developers in suburban Seattle are trying to build a communal housing development.
Landscape Architects' Influence Grows
As green spaces and public areas increase in demand, more and more projects are being awarded to landscape architects rather than architects, some foresee a potential professional turf war.
Aligning Historic Preservation and Sustainable Design
Sustainable design and historic preservation design have sometimes been at odds. But a group of experts says these two goals can work together to improve building sustainability.
Small is Beautiful (and Necessary)
Building sizes have been creeping upward for centuries, but green building expert Jason McLennan argues that smaller structures are better, more beautiful, and ecologically inevitable.
Chain Retailers Should Benefit From Urban Rebirth
Rocco Pendola says chain stores are starting to adapt and move into downtown Los Angeles, following the population boom and setting a precedent for chain retail in downtowns across the U.S.
Passing A Master Plan in Densityphobic San Francisco
It's urbanists vs. NIMBYs as San Francisco's Planning Commission prepares to vote on a new master plan that calls for more density and more affordable housing.
A Detailed Look at a Model TOD
Rockville Town Square in Rockville, Maryland is a 12.5 acre mixed-use development that, despite being built in 2007 right as the housing crisis happened, is a raging success. Simmons Buntin looks at what developers did right.
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.
Borough of Carlisle
Smith Gee Studio
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
Transportation Research & Education Center (TREC) at Portland State University
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
Municipality of Princeton (NJ)
