Urban Development
Another Chicago Skyscraper Sign Controversy
Regulations crafted in the wake of the Trump sign controversy of 2014 could be relaxed to let Salesforce leave its mark on the city of Chicago's skyline.
Regional Housing Needs Allocation Reform Bill on Gov. Brown's Desk
The lone survivor of Sen. Scott Wiener's trio of "Housing-First Policy" bills awaits a decision by Gov. Jerry Brown. Senate Bill 828, intended to increase the amount of land zoned for housing in California cities, was weakened by amendments.
Keeping Downtown Main Streets Full
Oakland County, Michigan has announced an initiative to attract and retain retail businesses.
Retrofitting Cities with Accessory Dwelling Units Is a Win-Win
Expensive West Coast cities are looking to these alternative and add-on structures to ease their housing challenges.
Court Reinstates Coastal Commission's Decision on San Diego Harbor Island Project
A long-running legal battle over proposed hotel developments in San Diego appears to have come to an end.
Montreal's Bonaventure Expressway Removal and Redevelopment Earns Recognition
More than one-half mile of elevated expressway was demolished in the heart of downtown Montréal to make way for a spectacular ground-level urban boulevard and over six acres of continuous public space, bookended by two monumental sculptures.
The 3 E's of Sustainability in Local Climate Action: The Portland Clean Energy Initiative
Urban sustainability efforts have historically failed to advance all three E’s of sustainability: environmental action, economic development, and equity. However, a movement is underway to put equity—the oft-ignored E—at the forefront.
Transit Oriented Upzoning Can't Win Local Support in San Diego
Residents are shooting down plans that propose increased density and height in San Diego. The city had planned to cut its carbon footprint by encouraging transit oriented development.
The Key to Effective Neighborhood Development: Scale
Lots of great ideas, but few resources to back them up—the story in Detroit is probably familiar in cities all over the country.
Controversial High Rise Wins Key Approval in Brooklyn
80 Flatbush has been one of the most closely watched, and hotly debated, proposed developments in the country.
Making Privately Owned Public Spaces in New York City More Accessible by Mapping Them
A new map shows where privately owned public spaces are located to encourage more public use.
Rezoning Plan Moves Forward in St. Paul
A plan that would change zoning along a key stretch of Marshall Avenue in St. Paul has been called both an upzoning and a downzoning. It's got a little bit of both.
Checking in With the Trinity River Park Project in Dallas
With a plan to build a Trinity Toll Road a thing of the past, there are now two plans for parks along the Trinity River. One would "rewild" the watershed.
Duplexes Approved for 99 Percent of Vancouver Single-Family Neighborhoods
The city of Vancouver's new density regulations will be the envy of many a YIMBY.
Downtown Cincinnati: Parking Not Required
The Cincinnati City Council voted this week to eliminate parking requirements in vast swaths of the downtown urban core.
Pontevedra, Spain: Where Cars Are Banned
Life is different in Pontevedra.
A Tale of Arts-Driven Gentrification in Northeast Minneapolis
It's a familiar story: artists who flocked to an underused district for the low prices and plentiful space now find themselves inundated by new money, newcomers, and lots of craft beer.
Making the Most of 'Opportunity Zones'
Created to speed investment in struggling communities, the federal Opportunity Zones program could also spur research into how capital can be better deployed on a district-by-district basis.
Is the Urban-Suburban Divide Destined to Disappear?
In a new book, Hans Westlund and Tigran Haas argue that the global knowledge economy is radically reshaping urban development. Eventually, they say, it'll render meaningless our present notions of "urban," "suburban," and "rural."
Big University Expansion Planned in Downtown San Antonio
Aided by state, local, and private support, the University of Texas at San Antonio is planning a major expansion of its footprint in downtown San Antonio.
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.
City of Rosemead
Rutgers University, Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy
One Hundred Miles
University of Michigan School for Environment and Sustainability (SEAS)
Hunter College, City University of New York (CUNY)
The Architects Foundation
City of Cambridge
Montrose County
The Pocatello Development Authority
