Urban Development

Planner Faces 'Withering Criticism' on Revitalization Plan

City planners in Charleston, SC would like to see some local malls redeveloped as mini-downtowns, filling in their parking lots with buildings, but local developers think they're insane. 'This really horrifies me,' says one business person.

August 4, 2008 - The Post & Courier, Charleston, S.C.

'Place First' Parking Plans

Wes Marshall and Norman Garrick illustrate the problem with parking plans today, and how to fix them.

August 4, 2008 - Wes Marshall and Norman Garrick

The Eight Aspects of Good Downtowns

As the downtown master plan of Baton Rouge turns ten years old, planners are looking at the next stages of development. They say eight factors play into making this and other downtowns successful.

August 1, 2008 - Baton Rouge Business Report

$300 Million Mixed-Use Coming to Providence

A $300 million mixed-use development is bringing new life to a long-neglected industrial district of Providence, RI.

August 1, 2008 - The New York Times

Toronto's Waterfront: For Cars or People?

Christopher Hume argues that Toronto's planners, in planning for easy vehicle access to the revitalizing waterfront, will be harming it as a pedestrian environment.

August 1, 2008 - The Toronto Star

Urbanity Reaches Oklahoma City

'The Brownstones' is the name of a new housing development in Oklahoma City, an example of how urbanity is becoming a lifestyle choice. The video is highly promotional, but is worth watching to see the 'brownstone style" development in its setting.

July 31, 2008 - The Oklahoman

To Live and Diet in LA

In the face of alarming obesity rates among many of its low-income residents, LA's City Council has voted to approve a moratorium on the construction of new fast-food restaurants in South LA.

July 31, 2008 - The Globe and Mail

Great Allegheny Passage Brings Unexpected Revitalization

Hiking and cycling traffic on the Great Allegheny Passageway has brought jobs and prosperity to small towns along the route.

July 30, 2008 - Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Home Economics

Philip Langdon comments on the the economy of oil and its effects on urban design in the July/August issue of New Urban News.

July 28, 2008 - New Urban News

Hercules Backs 'New', 'Smart' Waterfront

Plans for a "new urbanist/smart growth" development on the waterfront of the San Francisco Bay Area town of Hercules has received unanimous approval from the city council, eliminating the need for inclusion on the November ballot.

July 28, 2008 - The Contra Costa Times

Columnist Neal Peirce Discusses the Past and Future of the Metropolis

Planetizen talks with journalist and syndicated columnist Neal Peirce about the trends he's seen over the course of his career and the future of America's metropolitan regions.

July 28, 2008 - Planetizen

Does HUD Need To Be Modernized?

Professor Sudhir Venkatesh of Columbia believe it is time for HUD to be replaced by a more nimble agency capable of responding to the 21st century city.

July 27, 2008 - The New York Times

NIMBYs On Vacation

Next American City nails NIMBYs for their vacation choices.

July 26, 2008 - The Next American City

Friday Funny: Developers Bad at Naming Streets

Developers often see naming streets as their way of making a mark, naming streets after daughters, alma maters, or the family dog. But they often find themselves tangled up in regulations and the limits of their own creativity.

July 25, 2008 - The News & Observer

Moscow Tops List of World's Most Expensive Cities

Moscow tops an annual ranking of the world's most expensive cities. The survey examines housing, transportation, food, clothing, household goods and entertainment for corporations and government agencies determining living costs for expats.

July 25, 2008 - Forbes

A Portrait of New Urbanism

Terrain.org profiles Bradburn Village, a successful New Urbanist project in Westminster, Colorado. As one resident puts it, 'Bradburn is designed around community.'

July 25, 2008 - Terrain.org

Coconut Grove Looks to Revamp, Modernize Waterfront

Miami's Coconut Grove waterfront neighborhood may receive a makeover if city commissioners approve a new master plan. However, one questions remains: who is going to fund it?

July 25, 2008 - The Miami Herald

Appalachia Creates a 'Suitability Map' to Entice Responsible Development

A key idea of western North Carolina's Mountain Landscapes Initiative is to create a map of land already in conservation, layered with land that should be preserved, so that developers, builders, and residents together can plan responsibly.

July 24, 2008 - New Urban News

A New Downtown for Scottsdale

Scottsdale, Arizona planners have released a new vision for their downtown, in a 'trend toward urban living'.

July 23, 2008 - The Arizona Republic

Black Flight or White Gentrification?

The Wall Street Journal reports that middle-class African-Americans are leaving America's major cities in droves, leaving remaining African-American cultural and religious institutions struggling to adjust to this new demographic reality.

July 22, 2008 - The Wall Street Journal

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.