Urban Development
British Columbia Buys 'Poverty Hotels'
The provincial government in British Columbia has purchased 11 residential hotels in an effort to improve its handling of a rapidly increasing homeless population.
Back To The Future: The 1970 Los Angeles 'Centers' Concept Plan
Many say Los Angeles is a city that grew without any rational planning. In reality the planning was there -- but much of the best planning never quite materialized.
Two Abandoned Railroads, Two Different Results
Debate over the future of an elevated railway in Philadelphia is missing a key ingredient that has helped pushed New York's High Line project forward -- leadership and vision.
New York City's Latest Infill Strategy
With developable land all but gone in Manhattan, developers are now setting their sights on the open space many modernist housing towers reserved for basketball courts, plazas, and parks.
Town's Smart Growth Vision Remains Unrealized
Residents of one Upstate New York town have spent 4 years trying to transform a former hospital site into an mixed-use town center, without success.
Do We Need To Rethink Gentrification?
A growing number of scholars argue that traditional ideas about the causes of gentrification, as well as the winners and losers, may be unfit to describe the complex processes happening in modern day cities.
Mayor Releases 'Realistic' Plan For New Orleans
The newly released blueprint by Mayor Ray Nagin and Recovery Chief Ed Blakely may be the type of practical redevelopment plan New Orleans has been waiting for all along.
Getting Smart Growth Without Gentrification
Planning activists in San Francisco are working to encourage infill development without neglecting social equity concerns.
Seattle Drops Plans For Developer-Funded Parks
Plans to use fees charged to developers for building parks and open spaces in Seattle have been abandoned.
Retirement Communities That Reach For The Sky
Wealthy retirees who value city living over golf courses are creating demand for new urban, high-rise retirement communities.
The Suburban Vision of 'Radiant City'
A new documentary called Radiant City paints a peculiar portrait of contemporary suburbia.
The Potential of Gentrifying Cities
Neal Peirce explores the capitalist and progressive potential of inner city housing in gentrifying cities.
Newcomers Keep Atlanta Housing Market Healthy
Atlanta's famously high levels of in-migration are propping up the regional housing market, even as other metro areas experience declines - or collapses - of their residential sectors.
Faux-Urban Malls Not So Bad After All?
The new generation of malls like Santana Row in San Jose, which critics accuse of being 'artificial', may indeed be serving a valuable role associated with good urbanism -- public gathering space.
Can Big Box Retail Ever Be Sustainable?
Even with its environmental-friendly pledges, as long as customers keep driving to visit its massive stores, Wal-mart isn't likely to become 'green'.
Growth Threatens Area's Green Plans
Projected growth in British Columbia has many worried about how the region will handle the rise in population and development.
Reining In Tax Breaks For Developers
In Kansas City, Missouri, voters just elected their former city auditor as their new mayor. One of the unlikely campaign issues: the use of tax increment financing for developers.
A 'Bizarre' New Capital City
A journalist says Burma's new secret capital city uses urban planning as insurance against regime change.
New Water Brings End To Development Moratorium
Amid a new regulation that limits development based on the amount of water municipalities can provide, a city in northern Maryland will receive additional allocations of water to allow new development, ending a 6-month building moratorium.
Encouraging Downtown Growth Through A Live-Work District
In an effort to bring a renaissance to its downtown, a city in Idaho has approved creation of a live-work district which encourages development of properties where people can both live and work. City officials are hoping to attract local business.
Pagination
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.
City of Charlotte
Municipality of Princeton
Roanoke Valley-Alleghany Regional Commission
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
Transportation Research & Education Center (TREC) at Portland State University
US High Speed Rail Association
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
Municipality of Princeton (NJ)