Urban Development

Developers Move In On Protected Farmland

For 30 years, a farmland conservation program in Long Island was able to keep farmers farming land that was becoming increasingly valuable and sought by developers. But now, the land is being bought by developers and is not being farmed.

August 7, 2007 - The New York Times

Long Ignored, Sleepy Wine Valley Town Gets Champagne Treatment

Nestled in the world famous Napa Valley, the City of Napa, California, is undergoing a rapid transformation from an affordable industrial town into an increasingly upscale community.

August 6, 2007 - The New York Times

The Redevelopment Of Asia's Largest Slum

The Dharavi neighborhood of Mumbai -- home to 600,000 residents -- is set to be razed and rebuilt under a massive redevelopment scheme.

August 5, 2007 - The Independent

Drinking The 'Downtown Revitalization' Kool-Aid

Boosters like to sell downtown revitalization as crucial to a region's economic interest -- but for most cities, that's rarely the case.

August 4, 2007 - East Valley Tribune

The Left-Leaning NIMBY

In Marin County and other wealthy, liberal enclaves, many residents are vocally supportive of affordable housing and other causes -- unless its in their neighborhood.

August 3, 2007 - Mother Jones

California's Best and Worst Downtowns

San Francisco and San Diego are the No. 1 downtowns in California, according to California Planning & Development Report. L.A. is #4, behind Long Beach. Last? Fresno, Fresno, Fresno.

August 3, 2007 - California Planning & Development Report

Salt Lake Sky Bridge Becomes Political Hot Button

The controversy over the proposed sky bridge in downtown Salt Lake City has worked its way into the race for mayor.

August 2, 2007 - Salt Lake City Weekly

Creating A Sense Of Place With Modern Day Main Streets

In Missouri, towns are embracing New Urbanism and reviving main street districts or even creating new downtowns where they didn't exist.

August 2, 2007 - St. Louis Post-Dispatch

Why Gentrification Is Good

Opponents to gentrification often have a romanticized view of neighborhoods that prevents them from seeing how development is beneficial to everyone in a community -- rich and poor.

August 1, 2007 - American Thinker

The Rise Of The Surburban Slum?

William Fulton observes that while high-income households are flocking to the inner-city and gobbling up pricey condos, poor families are having to double and triple up just to afford a home in the suburbs.

July 31, 2007 - The Los Angeles Times

A 'Giant Step Forward' For Downtown Los Angeles

City officials are considering ordinances that will allow builders to construct more housing units downtown.

July 31, 2007 - The Los Angeles Times

Georgia Hill Country A Case Study For Stopping Sprawl

Planners and environmentalists are hopefully that the use of transfer development rights (TDR) in the Chattahoochee Hill Country south of Atlanta can serve as a model for land conservation efforts nationwide.

July 31, 2007 - USA Today via Builder Online

$500 Million Trailer Park Sale Falls Through

A developer that had offered to make the residents of a Florida seaside community overnight millionaires has walked away from the deal after negotiations stalled.

July 31, 2007 - AP via ABC News

A Turning 'Ponte' for Jo-Burg?

Johannesburg's Ponte City, a once-exclusive whites-only address now at the center of a dangerous, abandoned part of the city, will undergo a major renovation project featuring affordable housing, with the aim of turning the neighborhood around.

July 31, 2007 - The Globe & Mail

New Orleans Riverfront Plan Sparks Excitement, Worries

An ambitious plan to redevelop the Mississippi Riverfront in New Orleans has locals excited about the prospect of a huge boost to the economy, but some are leery about the negative impact the project could have on the city's unique character.

July 29, 2007 - The Clarion-Ledger

The Importance Of Eco-Cities In An Urbanizing World

As urbanization increases, the importance of ecologically-considerate city building techniques has become more pronounced. Several examples of planned "eco-cities" are laying the foundation for embracing this model of growth and development.

July 28, 2007 - GLOBE-Net

Suburb And City Battle Over Airport Expansion

With expansion of nearby O'Hare Airport planned and moving forward, the suburban Chicago community of Bensenville is being slowly drained of residents and buildings to make way for the project. But some residents aren't going without a fight.

July 28, 2007 - The Chicago Tribune

What Happened To Phoenix?

The once "model city" that promised good jobs and inexpensive housing now offers clog roads, poor schools and rising crime.

July 27, 2007 - The Economist

School District Developing Housing Subdivision

Trying to make the most of a real estate deal gone bad, a school district in North Carolina is building a new 88 home subdivision next to a new school.

July 27, 2007 - Charlottle Observer

Developers Look To Diversify Area Near Casinos

Developers in Connecticut look to Las Vegas as an example of how to most successfully develop land around nearby casinos.

July 26, 2007 - The Hartford Courant

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.