Urban Development

Infrastructure Bill an Opportunity to Redesign Transportation to Move People, not Cars
By focusing on traffic safety, the Biden administration's proposed $2 trillion infrastructure has a chance to make good on its potential to shift the nation's infrastructure planning for the benefit of the people and the planet.

Can Mall Redevelopment 'Urbanize the Suburbs'?
Local leaders in Virginia are banking on mall redevelopment projects to revive their tax bases and create more mixed-use neighborhoods.

Opinion: Philadelphia Mayor is Failing Transit Riders
By staying conspicuously absent from the controversy over the closure of the Somerset El station, the mayor has avoided involvement in an issue that affects the whole city, according to Philadelphia's leading architecture critic.

One Berkeley Resident's Fight to Desegregate the City
Dorothy Walker has spent decades working to eliminate housing discrimination. In February, the city council finally agreed.

Austin City Council Urges TxDOT to Reconsider I-35 Expansion
In a letter to the department, the city called for an increased focus on shifting demand away from single-occupancy vehicles and boosting other forms of transportation.

What Is Upzoning?
Upzoning is a term used to describe changes to a zoning code made to increase the amount of development allowed in the future.

Warehouse Sprawl Prompts Calls for Regional Planning
As e-commerce giants like Amazon build more and more facilities, advocates say a regional approach is needed to prevent sprawl and look beyond local benefits.

What Is the Future of London's 'Low-Traffic Neighbourhoods'?
As local councils debate making permanent changes implemented last year, can pedestrian and cycling advocates hold on to their victories?

Californians Seek Normalcy by Relocating to Taiwan
As the pandemic continues to disrupt life in the United States, some Taiwanese Americans are rebuilding their lives abroad.

Colorado Springs Drafts New Regional Annexation Plan
A regional planning proposal in El Paso County, Colorado calls for uniform standards for unincorporated developments, which would make it easier to receive city services if annexed in the future.

HUD Has Money for Tenant Organizing. Why Isn’t the Agency Spending It?
HUD can provide $10 million to tenant organizers each year, but the funding has largely gone unspent since the early 2000s. Will that change with a new administration and newly approved HUD secretary?

Cleveland Wanted Townhomes, What it Got Was 'Slot Homes'
Members of the Cleveland Chapter if the American Institute of Architects are raising awareness about the unintended consequences of zoning changes made in 2018 to make it easier to develop townhomes in the city.

Los Angeles Passes New Rent Relief Package
The city will offer a new round of rental assistance to eligible families who owe back rent.

3D-Printed Neighborhood Coming to the California Desert
The developer of the 15-home community claims they will produce homes with a tenth of the waste of traditional construction in record time.

As Luxury Rents Drop, Low-Income Tenants Pay More
With increasing pressure on the nation's supply of affordable housing, low- and middle-income renters are seeing their rents go up while higher-quality apartments drop prices to lure back remote workers.

Revised Requirements for Sidewalks and Bike Lanes at MassDOT
The new guidelines call for pedestrian and bike infrastructure as part of the design of new state-run projects.

Five Principles for Good Infrastructure
American policymakers could improve the effectiveness of infrastructure projects by focusing on five key elements.

Dan Gilbert Announces $500 Million Investment in Detroit Neighborhoods
Dan Gilbert, the billionaire credited with the revitalization of development interest in and around Downtown Detroit, made a bombshell announcement in his first in-depth interview since suffering a stroke in 2019.

A New Metropolitan Blueprint for Texas
Traditionally associated with its wide-open spaces, Texas is now, undeniably, defined by the cities and suburbs that comprise its built environment.

Opinion: America's Infrastructure Doesn't Need a Federal Spending 'Binge'
Despite alarming claims about the nation's roads and bridges, a column in the Chicago Tribune argues that the administration's proposed infrastructure spending doesn't match actual needs.
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.
Smith Gee Studio
City of Charlotte
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)