Urban Development
Niagara Falls, New York: The Epitome of Bad Urban Planning
An extensive piece in Bloomsburg BusinessWeek uncovers the bad ideas and worse decisions that led to the downfall of Niagara Falls, New York. Step one? Replacing the historic downtown with "a bunch of modernist follies."
D.C. Juggles Overhead Wires and Historic Views
Washington D.C. is planning to build a citywide streetcar network, but the overhead wires required for those plans would affect the city's historic views.
Cairo 2050 Plan Makes Big Shifts in City
The Egyptian government is undertaking a broad plan to reimagine Cairo. The plan would redistribute the city's people and shuffle its industries to the outskirts of town. Some there see the plan as too much of a change.
Inside China's Ghost Towns
This post from Business Insider collects satellite imagery and pictures of ghost towns in China.
Futuristic Ideas for Smarter Cities
This piece from the Guardian lists a handful of ideas that could shape the future of cities and city design.
Israel's Urban Outlier
Capitalism and bourgeois values built the city of Tel Aviv, which stands today as an outlier in Israel, according to this article.
A Planned Community for Artists
Artists are flocking to a town in Turkey that promises "authentic village life." The architect behind the plan says that the project has attracted creatives who "miss natural and pure human relations."
High Line, Part Two
The next section of New York City's elevated linear park known as the High Line is expected to open next spring. The New York Times offers a preview.
"Ghost Towns" Emerge from Spain's Economic Crisis
With tens of thousands of unoccupied housing units on the market, the full impact of "problematic" real estate investments on the country's economy remains to be seen.
Protecting Views of Natural Landscapes
With new skyscrapers planned for Vancouver, some citizens are getting worried about preserving the mountain views. Not to worry, says planning director Brent Toderian.
Physicist Tackles Urban Theory
Physicist Geoffrey West of the Santa Fe Institute applied his talents to unraveling urban issues like population growth in a similar vein that he did earlier with biology. He found answers that explain how all cities work if enough data is supplied.
Downtown L.A. Stadium Plans Fall Flat
Proposed designs for a possible football stadium in downtown L.A. leave a lot to be desired -- both architecturally and urbanistically, according to this review.
The Political History of Asia's Mega-Cities
By looking at Seoul, Beijing and Shanghai, this article from City Journal explores how politics and different governmental ideologies have shaped the growth of these mega-cities.
Signage Issues Resolved, Skyscrapers Get Approved in L.A.
Previous renderings of the building proposed for the two-tower, 42-story building on L.A.'s Wilshire Blvd. showed almost the entire structure wrapped in advertising. With a more modest space for signage, the project gets the thumbs-up.
The More Cars You Own, The More Likely You'll Default
That's the conclusion of a new study published in the Journal of Sustainable Real Estate. Higher WalkScores also show a decrease in defaults, unless you're in a low-income area, which results in an increase in defaults.
Jersey City's 'High Line' Spurs Controversy
A proposal to redevelop an abandoned rail embankment in Jersey City has pitted preservationists and smart growth proponents against each other.
Vancouver Considers Higher Skyline
The city of Vancouver is considering a plan to increase maximum building height restrictions in certain parts of town by 100 feet and more.
India Plans 24 'Green' Cities
India, in partnership with Japan, is planning to build 24 "green" cities along a corridor between the major urban areas of Delhi and Mumbai.
The Office Goes Urban
Motivated by factors such as municipal incentive packages and the changing preferences of younger workers, many companies are relocating to central business districts, reversing a post-war trend that based the American workplace in the suburbs.
Move Over Suburbia... For "Prefurbia"?
Twin Cities developer and software guru Rick Harrison believes that, through innovative urban design configurations such as 'coving,' suburban areas can be transformed from "disdainable to sustainable."
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)
