Urban Development

'Urbane Future' For California's Inland Empire

Southern California's Inland Empire, once a blue-collar bedroom community, is transforming itself with upscale housing, new amenities, and jobs. "

April 17, 2006 - The Los Angeles Times

Can Architecture Help Housing?

Architects can no longer ignore housing issues.

April 15, 2006 - Business Week

Phoenix, Vegas New Real Estate Hot Spots

Investors are turning away from Southern California and looking to other "hot" areas for the next boom.

April 14, 2006 - Los Angeles Times via Chicago Tribune

Katrina Rebuilding Rules Released

After a long wait, the Bush administration releases guidelines for new construction after the disaster.

April 13, 2006 - The Washington Post

Gila River Indians Develop 11,000 Acres In Arizona

Another link joining the Phoenix and Tucson megalopolis is planned on Indian land near Chandler.

April 13, 2006 - The Arizona Republic

The Bricks And Mortar Of Urban Voyeurism

In Washington, D.C., "siteseeing" has proved increasingly alluring as construction projects abound.

April 12, 2006 - Washington City Paper

Community Gardens And Property Values

Community gardens add value to neighboring properties in New York City, especially in disadvantaged neighborhoods, according to this NYU Law School publication.

April 12, 2006 - New York University School of Law , NYU Center for Law and Economics

L.A.'s Homeless Plan Encounters NIMBYism

Some communities are not so keen about Los Angeles County's plan to relocate homeless services to suburban regional centers.

April 10, 2006 - The Los Angeles Times

Salt Lake City's New Environmentally Sensitive Megasuburb

Kennecott Utah Copper Corp., a multinational mining company, plans a new megasuburb twice the size of San Francisco, for a half-million residents. The development is planned on the largest piece of private-owned land in the U.S.

April 10, 2006 - Environmental News Network

Seeking New Urbanism In Acme, Michigan

How will the town balance community priorities and developer demands?

April 10, 2006 - Michigan Land Use Institue

Is Annexation 'Smart Growth'?

Cities call annexation an effective tool for managing growth at the local level. Counties disagree. Who's really in control?

April 9, 2006 - The Baltimore Sun

Massachusetts Town Bans Chain Retailers

Nantucket makes an effort to preserve its quaint, historic character.

April 7, 2006 - The Boston Globe

El Paso Moves To Redevelop Historic Downtown

El Paso is one of the last Southwest cities to turn its downtown around, but will the proposed plan work?

April 7, 2006 - El Paso Inc.

Who Is Rebuilding New Orleans?

Thousands from Mexico and Central America are rushing to New Orleans where work is easy to find and no one is checking illegal workers' documentation.

April 6, 2006 - The Los Angeles Times

Car-Free Development Proposal Seeks Supporters

A development of 1,000 homes designed for car-free living has been proposed for a 30-acre site in Hayward, California.

April 6, 2006 - Oakland Tribune (via reprint at cicle.org)

17 Projects Win New Urbanism Awards

Congress for the New Urbanism honors 17 diverse projects in affordable housing, transit-oriented development, high-density infill plans, wilderness preservation, and freeway-taming strategies, with the 2006 Charter Awards.

April 5, 2006 - Abhijeet Chavan

Small Cities' Tax Systems Kowtow To Developers

Through reliance on tax revenue and tax increment financing (TIF) projects, small cities must attract developers to sustain themselves, according to this op-ed.

April 5, 2006 - St. Louis Post-Dispatch

Environmentalists, Republicans Stave Off Florida Keys Development

The Everglades-adjacent islands will remain under close watch by state government at least until 2009.

April 5, 2006 - The Miami Herald

Up, Up, And Beyond In Seattle

The Seattle city council passes sweeping changes to downtown height limits, allowing for taller buildings.

April 4, 2006 - The Seattle Times

Suburbs: Walk This Way

Can a walking lifestyle really make it in the 'burbs?

April 3, 2006 - The New York Times

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.