Urban Development

Shopping malls are rarely architectural gems. Architects, especially big-name architects, typically try to stay away from designing them. But now architects are rethinking how malls should be, and looking to examples of the distant past for guidance.

October 30, 2008 - Metropolis Magazine

Preservationists say that there are better ways to use buildings along Brooklyn's industrial waterfront than to demolish them.

October 30, 2008 - The New York Times

The UK's "eco-towns" are feeling the hurt of the current economic situation, with only one or two likely to move ahead.

October 30, 2008 - Guardian

As more and more people move to the cities, the prevalence of economic and racial segregation becomes more and more apparent.

October 29, 2008 - Next American City

Decades of plans and interventions have failed to improve the Downtown East Side of Vancouver, one of Canada's most notorious neighbourhoods. The two mayoral candidates have very different visions for the DETS.

October 29, 2008 - Globe and Mail

Dawanna Williams of Dabar Development Partners discusses the narrower options for mid-sized developers in the current financial climate.

October 28, 2008 - The Architect's Newspaper

In Nov, 2006, the residents of Berkeley approved a measure requiring the city to reduce GHG emissions by 80% by the year 2050. The draft plan has been released, and unlike an earlier version, this one emphasizes transit oriented development as key.

October 28, 2008 - The Berkeley Daily Planet

Next American City chats with Randal O'Toole -- the "Anti-Planner" -- about the problems of planning and what makes the ideal city.

October 28, 2008 - Next American City

October 27, 2008 - Nate Berg

As part of its series on creating a sustainable future, the San Francisco Bay Guardian has outlined a list of steps for improving land use in the city, and argues that current plans from the mayor won't be enough.

October 25, 2008 - The San Francisco Bay Guardian

A reporter goes undercover as a homeless person to find out what happens when the indigent pay a visit to L.A.'s first corporate-controlled public park.

October 24, 2008 - LA Weekly

The last empty lot in Boston's posh Back Bay neighborhood will soon be developed into a luxury, contextually appropriate, condominium.

October 23, 2008 - Boston Globe

A California-based architecture firm has been selected by a Sichuan planning department to rebuild the city of Dujiangyan after the deadly earthquake in the province earlier this year.

October 23, 2008 - Architectural Record

A melting economy and struggling suburbs may mean it's time to reconsider how we model our cities and development patterns, according to this column.

October 23, 2008 - Chicago Tribune

Critics of California's proposed high-speed rail system say that big cities are too spread apart for it to work as well as it has in Europe and Asia. Additionally, Californians will have to learn to adapt to density and public transportation.

October 22, 2008 - The San Francisco Chronicle

Olafur Eliasson’s "Waterfalls" public art installations around New York Harbor's waterfront generated an estimated economic impact of $69 million, exceeding the initial estimate of $55 million.

October 22, 2008 - The New York Times

A new piece of legislation rewards local governments in California that build affordable housing with money to build and maintain parks.

October 22, 2008 - Marketwatch

According to Neal Payton, Santa Monica's Proposition T, intended to cut traffic growth, is useless.

October 21, 2008 - Streetsblog

Builders are creating online educational programs to help potential buyers clean up their credit and obtain loans.

October 21, 2008 - The Wall St. Journal

In the mid-1900s architect Le Corbusier designed a grand sports complex for Baghdad as part of the city's bid for the 1960 Olympics. That bid failed and the project was never built. Now, original drawings and designs are on display.

October 20, 2008 - Building Design