Urban Development

Miami's Foreclosure District

The Brickell District in downtown Miami is fast becoming the epicenter of condo unit foreclosure in southern Florida.

January 9, 2008 - The Miami Herald

Beltline Needs A Guiding Vision

Plans are moving forward for Atlanta's broad Beltline project, including parkspace, mixed use development and transit. But this piece from the Atlanta Journal-Constitution argues that a grand vision is needed to harness the momentum.

January 9, 2008 - The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

L.A.'s Public Squares Leave Much To Be Desired

This piece from the Los Angeles Times Magazine looks at the recent trend of including public squares in high-profile L.A. projects, and examines why they don't really work in the traditional sense.

January 8, 2008 - Los Angeles Times Magazine

Exurban Growth Without Sprawl?

Johnson County's rural residents fear the expansion of nearby Overland Park is a land grab that will perpetuate suburban sprawl, thereby diminishing their quality of life.

January 7, 2008 - The Kansas City Star

Sub-Prime Crisis + Expensive Gas = End Of Sprawl?

This op-ed by Eduardo Peñalver, a Cornell professor of property and land-use law, suggests that escalating gas prices and declining home prices may drive development inward, presenting a great opportunity to end sprawl using regional planning.

January 7, 2008 - The Washington Post

Who You Callin' Walkable?

Seattle was recently named as one of the most walkable cities in the country, but one local disagrees.

January 7, 2008 - Crosscut

Questions Surround Blocked Development In St. Paul

An upscale mixed use development near downtown St. Paul, Minnesota, has been blocked by a city council vote, leaving many to wonder if the ruling was really the correct decision for the city.

January 7, 2008 - The New York Times

Kansas City to Require LEED-Platinum City Buildings

The tornado-ravaged Kansas city of Greensburg has announced plans to become the first city to require that all city-owned buildings achieve the Platinum rating level of the U.S. Green Building Council's LEED building standard.

January 6, 2008 - U.S. Green Building Council

Australian High-Rise Projects Prompts Protests

A $1.7 billion high-rise development proposal that would jut out into the Brisbane River has prompted the protests of many planners and architects in Brisbane, Australia.

January 5, 2008 - The Australian

The Evolution of San Francisco - Winners & Losers

San Francisco is in flux - more than just the sky-line is changing. Middle-class families, blacks, even Latinos may be in flight while whites and Asians are on the rise, and the young and old rich fill the new high-rises.

January 5, 2008 - The San Francisco Chronicle

New Jersey Tax Credit To Encourage Transit-Oriented Locations

New Jersey Governor Jon Corzine is pushing a bill that would offer tax credits of up to $75 million to businesses that locate within a half-mile of a transit station.

January 4, 2008 - The Star-Ledger

From Strip Mall to TOD

In suburban Salt Lake City, Utah, plans are underway to replace an old strip mall with a mixed use, transit oriented development.

January 4, 2008 - The Salt Lake Tribune

Waterfront Redesign Should Be Model For Rest of City

The team chosen to redesign Toronto's waterfront has plans for updating the area with a better balance of car and foot traffic. Architecture critic Christopher Hume looks at the plans as a model of development the rest of the city should follow.

January 4, 2008 - The Toronto Star

Is There a Point to Public Participation?

After some underwhelming proposals have come in for a project at New York's Hudson Yards, this editorial asks whether the public participation is even necessary for a project that will most likely evolve with little public interaction and oversight.

January 3, 2008 - The Wall Street Journal

No Zoning, But Many Restrictions

Houston may lack zoning restrictions, but the city has taken a number of steps over the course of the year to limit the extent and flavor of development.

January 3, 2008 - The Houston Chronicle

Resistance Surrounds Portland's Ambitious Green Building Standard

Rules mandating higher energy efficiency in all new Portland buildings are slow to catch on in the city, but officials are hoping to gather support.

January 2, 2008 - The Oregonian

Real Estate Slowdown Expected to Continue in 2008

Many economists are predicting the continued slowing of the commercial real estate market across the country.

January 2, 2008 - The Washington Post

Keeping Pace With The Real Estate Market Slowdown

Condo developers in Milwaukee are responding to the slowdown in the housing market by slowing down development.

January 1, 2008 - Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

Green Building Requirements Proposed in Israel

Israel has announced plans to require green building standards on new constructions, but some say the requirements don't go far enough.

January 1, 2008 - Haaretz

San Francisco's Historic Gem Returned To Life

San Francisco's latest and perhaps most glorious restoration is the 1890 De Young Building that was the original home of The Chronicle has now been converted to a Ritz Carlton after having been an undignified office building for the last 43 years.

December 31, 2007 - The San Francisco Chronicle

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.