Urban Development

Pittsburgh Then and Now
Take a tour of early 20th century Pittsburgh.

Airbnb Suing Boston Over New Regulations
The front lines of the short-term rental wars shift to the city of Boston.
Smart Cities World Congress Opens its Biggest Event
Organized by Fira de Barcelona at its Gran Via venue, the event is the largest to date, with over 840 exhibiting companies, 700 attending cities and a 31% increase regarding exhibition space, occupying two pavilions for the first time.

New Virginia Tech 'Innovation Campus' Helped Woo Amazon to Arlington
According to an announcement by Virginia Tech yesterday, their plans to build a $1 billion innovation campus in nearby Alexandria helped win the HQ2 prize for Northern Virginia.

Opinion: Environmentalism Is Good for Business
A thriving natural environment creates opportunity for private developers and local economies, an economist argues.

Speculation Leaves 50 Million Homes Empty in China
Experts say China has the highest vacancy rate on residential units of any country in the world. The roots of the problem lay in housing speculation, according to China's leaders.

Updated: Complete Coverage of Amazon's HQ2 Decision
The official news of Amazon's choices for its second location broke this morning, but hot takes were streaming in all day.

The Problems With Tax Increment Financing and How to Fix Them
Tax increment financing (TIF) districts are common in municipalities across the country. However, the economic development tool is also poorly understood and often the target of criticism.

Real Estate in the U.S.: More and More 'Million-Dollar Neighborhoods'
A new report from Trulia reveals the quickly increasing number of neighborhoods in the country that have a median home price touching seven figures.

Study Finds Fewer Young People Want Cars
Driving is often marketed as fun and liberating, but millennials aren’t buying it.

Amazon Makes It Official With New York and D.C.; Throws Another Curveball With Nashville
The reported selection of New York and Washington, D.C. as the dual winners of the Amazon HQ2 competition was officially announced this morning. Still, Amazon wasn't done with the surprises.

Citing Lack of ADU Development, Ann Arbor to Refine its ADU Ordinance
After legalizing accessory dwelling units in 2016, the city of Ann Arbor hasn't added many accessory dwelling units. Some regulations designed to limit the number of ADUs developed have made the building type impossibly cost prohibitive.

Field Operations-Designed Domino Park In Brooklyn Reviewed
The long-anticipated Domino Park, located in front of the former Domino Sugar refinery on the East River in Brooklyn, was designed by James Corner Field Operations (JFCO).

Land Bank Trends in 2018
An economic development professional shares three key takeaways from a recent conference focused on land baking practices.

Houston’s Growth Poses Service Challenges
The Houston region continues to grow, and local regional governance is struggling to meet residents’ needs.

Chicago Parklet Designed to Be Flexible and Cost Effective
A newly installed parklet in Chicago is part of a larger program to engage the city’s public spaces.

San Diego Could Scrap Parking Requirements in 'Transit Priority Areas'
The mayor of San Diego has introduced a major parking reform initiative.

Sunday Fun: New Video Game Explains Land Use Politics
We're not sure if planners will find this game, since it's so close to real life, but maybe it will make a good recommendation for friends and family members?

Mobility Plan Outlines Street Design Changes Around New Seattle Light Rail Station
The plan proposes both immediate and longer-term improvements for the area, including development of a pedestrian mall.

Philadelphia Project Seeks Diverse Array of Investors
A development project in Philadelphia is raising funds through a combination of Opportunity Zones benefits, federal tax credits, and crowdfunding.
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.
Borough of Carlisle
Smith Gee Studio
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
Transportation Research & Education Center (TREC) at Portland State University
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
Municipality of Princeton (NJ)