Urban Development

Connecting Smart Growth and Economic Development

A new report uses eight different case studies to illustrate the connections between smart growth development and a community's employment sector, wealth, and quality of life.

August 7, 2006 - The International Economic Development Council

Urban Fables: The Role Of Storytelling And Imagery In Successful Planning Movements

New Urbanists and pro-property rights advocates have made good use of both allegory and myth to capture the attention of planners and the public.

August 7, 2006 - Leonardo Vazquez, AICP/PP

How The Casinos Hit The Jackpot In Biloxi

Despite a critical housing shortage and badly needed road repairs, the city of Biloxi sees an influx of casinos due to a change in state legislation.

August 7, 2006 - The Wall Street Journal via The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Wal-Mart Struggles, Pulls Out Of Europe

After struggling for years in Germany, Wal-Mart is discovering that its formula for success struggles in cultures not wholly dependent on the automobile.

August 6, 2006 - The New York Times

Building Green Has Become Mainstream

With officials demanding more sustainable development and consumer interest at an all time high, a critical mass of developers are starting to see the value in building "green".

August 5, 2006 - USA Today

Gentrification: The New York Experience

A new book from Columbia University Professor Lance Freeman documents the changes of two African-American communities in New York City.

August 4, 2006 - National Public Radio

Maryland Housing Market Shows Signs Of Cooling

Following closely behind Northern Virginia and Washington DC, condo conversions in Baltimore are now halted.

August 3, 2006 - The Baltimore Sun

India's Hot Housing Market

A recent story about the nation's largest and most successful developer highlights the acceleration of India's urban development.

August 3, 2006 - Bloomberg

New Urbanism Hits The Mainstream In Britain

Backed by government support, Britain's land use laws are bringing new urbanism to the mainstream.

August 3, 2006 - The Economist

Ten Principles for Rethinking the Mall

These ten principles, part of a report from the Urban Land Institute, will help you determine how to 'rethink' existing mall developments as well as provide guidance when new shopping malls are being developed.

August 3, 2006 - Urban Land Institute

Toronto Project LEEDs City And Developer To Green

A new green project near Toronto is fostering a LEED-ing of the city. The 243-acre development will be Canada's largest LEED-certified project yet, and though the developer hadn't planned on going green, it turned out to be more profitable.

August 3, 2006 - The Globe and Mail

Sex-Offender Free Subdivisions

New trends in home development and technologies are helping people avoid living near a sex offender.

August 3, 2006 - The Christian Science Monitor

Wal-Mart Testing New Format To Lure Urban Shoppers

In an effort to compete with discount chains that appeal to a more urbane demographic, Wal-Mart may change its store format for a new Chicago area store.

August 2, 2006 - The Chicago Tribune

Message To Toronto: Make Big Plans

The City of Toronto lacks a grand design, and needs to "think big" if it wants to fulfill its promise, argues a recent column in the Toronto Star.

August 2, 2006 - The Toronto Star

Can Developers Help Limit Obesity?

Should new communities can be designed to help encourage children to spend more time outdoors in physical activities?

August 2, 2006 - Nation's Building News

Central Florida Going From Suburban To Urban

High land prices in the Orlando area have helped encourage higher density development. Urban planners applaud the new trend, but some residents worry about the change in the region's character.

August 1, 2006 - The Orlando Sentinel

Convention Center Quandry in Boise

Controversial Boise convention center plans face location and financing hurdles.

August 1, 2006 - The Idaho Statesman

Is The Cul-De-Sac An Endangered Species?

More cities are calling for an end to dead ends, to the dismay of residents and developers.

August 1, 2006 - The Seattle Times

Moscow Goes British

A new housing development in Moscow takes its inspiration from the Russian elite's affection for all things British. The largest housing development since the fall of Communism will recreate an English village with a view of the Kremlin.

August 1, 2006 - Telegraph UK

Parking Crunch Coming To Downtown San Francisco

New Bloomingdales and related retail uses planned for downtown San Francisco's extremely dense retail district--with exceptional transit access--is bringing parking worries among merchants and the small minority of downtown shoppers who drive.

August 1, 2006 - The San Francisco Chronicle

FREE Course: Walkable City 1: Why Walkability?

After describing his path towards focusing on walkability as the essence of good planning, Jeff Speck marches through his five principal reasons for making more walkable places.

Reinventing Malls: Planning Alchemy—Turning Gray Fields Into Gold

The course focuses on the opportunities and imperatives that shape reinvention of mall sites.

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.