Urban Development

Japan's Development Pace Threatens Environment

Rapid building and public works projects are destroying much of the natural environment in Japan, a country that lays 25 to 30 times more concrete than the U.S.

October 11, 2007 - NPR

Locals Displaced By Tourism In Mayan Riviera

The tourism industry is booming along the Mayan Riviera on Mexico's Yucatán Peninsula. Many are worried that the ever-increasing supply of hotels and the flood of tourists will displace most of the area's local residents and hurt the environment.

October 11, 2007 - The Christian Science Monitor

Freeways Hard To Avoid As L.A. Builds Schools

This report form NPR looks at the threats associated with building schools near freeways, and how those threats are not easy to avoid in Los Angeles.

October 11, 2007 - NPR

A Working Class Neighborhood Battle With Foreclosure

In the struggling city of Lawrence, Massachusetts, sub-prime mortgage foreclosures are threatening the community's stability and the longterm viability of the city's minority and working class neighborhoods.

October 10, 2007 - The Boston Globe

A New Model Of Development In California?

Planners at the recent California APA chapter conference were asked whether they thought the state is ready for "complex urban development". As John King explains, most said "no".

October 10, 2007 - The San Francisco Chronicle

Hawaiians Unite Against Development

Residents on the Hawaiian island of Kauai are rallying together to oppose the island's overdevelopment. Their main rallying point is the contentious inter-island "Superferry".

October 10, 2007 - The Los Angeles Times

New York's Bike Measures Earn Award

New York City has been honored by the League of American Bicyclists for its citywide improvements in bike lanes, parking, and safety.

October 9, 2007 - Associated Press via The Hartford Courant

New York Suburbs Lure TOD For Revitalization

Officials in suburban New York towns are putting more effort into luring developers to build housing near their transit stations -- a revitalization method that has shown success around the country.

October 9, 2007 - The New York Times

Will New York Force Homeowners To Plant A Tree?

To help reach its goal of planting 1 million new trees by 2030, the city is contemplating a new rule that would force homeowners and developers to plant new street trees when buildings are remodeled.

October 8, 2007 - The New York Sun

Activists, Planners Battle Over Street Trees

Neighborhood activists are fighting plans to remove ficus trees from the streets of Southern California cities.

October 8, 2007 - The Los Angeles Times

A New Model For The Eco-Town

This article from Building looks at a new environmentally sustainable suburb near Stockholm and weighs its applicability in England as a model for Prime Minister Gordon Brown's proposed eco-towns.

October 7, 2007 - Building

APA Lists Best North American Neighborhoods

APA has published a list of its "Top Ten Neighborhoods". The list tends towards the coasts, but includes two inland outliers.

October 6, 2007 - San Francisco Examiner

Housing Slowdown Impacts Baltimore's Rebirth

The housing bubble helped the city spur redevelopment of its central core. With the downturn, officials wonder if Baltimore can hold onto the progress it made towards revitalization.

October 5, 2007 - The New York Times

Unlevel Playing Field Riles Georgia Development Team

The results of a competitive RFP process to redevelop Georgia's historic Jekyll Island has been deemed unfair by the Jekyll Island Revitalization Group. A formal challenge to the State's decision has been issued and a lawsuit may follow.

October 4, 2007 - Daily Report

Will South Florida's Development Tap Run Dry?

An ever-decreasing water supply threatens growth in South Florida's final development frontier.

October 4, 2007 - South Florida Sun-Sentinel

Filling Winnipeg's 'Dead Zones'

More than 40 years of revitalization efforts have failed to "fix" downtown Winnipeg. Now a host of new developments -- many of them private or the result of downtown campus expansion plans -- may finally create a vibrant core for the city.

October 3, 2007 - The Winnipeg Free Press

Mixed Feelings Over New Town In Hanoi

A $7 billion new town is being planned in Vietnam, across the Red River from capital city Hanoi. And though the creation of thousands of new houses is welcomed, many are concerned about development along the sensitive riverfront.

October 3, 2007 - VietNamNet Bridge

America's First Suburb Turns 60

Levittown, Long Island held a 60th birthday bash for itself on Sept. 30, complete with parades, to celebrate its creation from a potato field for GIs returning from World War II. It would go on to become America's iconic suburb.

October 2, 2007 - Yahoo News

Mall Hybrids Expand Downtown Character

Enclosed malls are out of vogue, but new mall-condo hybrids are gaining popularity, and bringing what was once an exclusively "downtown" character out to the 'burbs.

October 2, 2007 - The New York Times

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.