Urban Development

Heat Islands or Hot Air?

Sprawlmeisters take warning, advises Rob Steuteville's red-sky-at-night commentary from New Urban News. Your days of high pressure spin are numbered.

December 5, 2007 - New Urban News

TOD Should Not Be Transit Agency's Business

This editorial from the Rocky Mountain News argues that the Denver-area Regional Transportation District needs to stay true to its promise that it will not use eminent domain to acquire land for transit oriented development.

December 5, 2007 - The Rocky Mountain News

Criticism Causes San Diego Politicians To Rethink Plan

California Attorney General Jerry Brown's criticism of San Diego's regional transportation plan has some politicians in the area considering a major revision of the region's smart growth strategy.

December 5, 2007 - The North County Times

After City Inaction, Philadelphia Casino Construction Approved By Court

Calling out the Philadelphia City Council for "deliberate inaction" on a casino developer's zoning requests, the state Supreme Court has overstepped the city authority to approve the casino's construction.

December 5, 2007 - The Philadelphia Inquirer

Project Approved Under Measure 37 To Test Measure 49

A subdivision project enabled by Oregon's Measure 37 and already under development when the state's voter passed the counteractive Measure 49 in November may be allowed to continue, raising questions about how to interpret to competing measures.

December 5, 2007 - The Oregonian

Your Land Is Now My Land: The Doctrine of Adverse Possession

Squatters' rights dispute in Colorado causes public outrage.

December 4, 2007 - The Los Angeles Times

Nevada's Federal Land Sale Fuels Growth

Federal land in Las Vegas has been sold off by the government, creating a fund worth billions of dollars. The fund has been used for many public service and preservation projects in the state. But some say it opens space up for unchecked growth.

December 3, 2007 - The New York Times

Trump Eyes Massachusetts For Next Casino Venture

As Massachusetts warms to the idea of casino gambling, Donald Trump is scouring the state for prime development opportunities.

December 2, 2007 - The Boston Globe

More Land Freed Up For Development Around Mumbai

In response to sharply rising real estate prices around Mumbai, the Maharashtra state government has eased restrictions on land ownership and development, creating more supply to meet the growing demand.

December 2, 2007 - Forbes

Checks Are Sought, But Florida Continues Growth

Efforts to improve oversight to keep the state's growth in check in Florida are being lauded, but development continues across the state and shows little sign of a slowdown.

December 2, 2007 - Palm Beach Post

A Fire Chief's View Of Smart Growth

A recent post on a fire chief's blog provides insight on the challenges that clustered, higher-density housing developments present to firefighers.

December 1, 2007 - Mutual Aid Blog

Going Green Is An Uphill Battle In The 'Burbs

Eco-friendly developments are struggling to achieve approval due to zoning restrictions in the suburbs of New York and New Jersey -- a story that is more and more familiar in suburbs across the country.

November 30, 2007 - The New York Times

Clamping Down On Urban Noise Could Help Fight Climate Change

Could the secret to getting more people to adopt higher-density (and therefore more sustainable) living be designing a soundproof apartment?

November 30, 2007 - Multi-Housing News

Venezuela Plans New Cities As Socialist Utopias

President Hugo Chávez is guiding government plans to create several brand new cities to serve as models of social and environmental harmony.

November 30, 2007 - The Washington Post

Two Projects, 20 Years Apart, Constitute One CEQA Project

A court of appeal in California ruled that a decades-old plan to realign a road and a two-year-old plan to build a big box improvement store nearby only need to undergo one environmental impact analysis under the state's Environmental Quality Act.

November 29, 2007 - California Planning and Development Report

Investing In A City's Rebirth

With urban areas on the rise, investors are taking a closer look places like Detroit and Philadelphia, where depressed real estate values can equal opportunity for those with local knowledge.

November 29, 2007 - Inman Real Estate News

The Suburbs Keep On Growing

Even with increased awareness of global warning and more focus on urban living, the process of outward development continues in cities across America -- driven by homebuyers' continuing desire to own a piece of the American Dream.

November 29, 2007 - The Chicago Tribune

How To Quench Atlanta's Growing Thirst

A severe water shortage is threatening Atlanta, and critics blame the region's unchecked growth as a primary cause for the its current predicament.

November 29, 2007 - The Tennessean

'Green' Cities Are Great Cities

A recent editorial argues that creating cities that consume less energy and emit less pollution will also help us create attractive and healthy places to live.

November 29, 2007 - Edmonton Journal

Which Cities Are Set To Make A Comeback?

History tells us that cities ebb and flow. This first of a three part series looks at a number of U.S. cities that have been in decline, and begins to explore which cities are poised to return to prosperity.

November 28, 2007 - Inman Real Estate News

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.