Urban Development

Chicago

What to Expect From the Chicago Transit Authority in its 8th Decade

Streetsblog Chicago took a look at the big projects reshaping the Chicago Transit Authority, on the occasion of the transit system's 70th anniversary.

November 23, 2017 - Streetsblog Chicago

Coming Off Record Heights, Multi-Family Construction Expected to Slow

An era of multi-family construction is expected to slow as the housing market recalibrate, according to analysis in Bloomberg.

November 22, 2017 - Bloomberg

Suburban Chicago

Chicagoland's Regional Transportation Authority Helping Deliver Local TOD Results

The Regional Transportation Authority has been supporting transit oriented development planning processes in suburbs like Bartlett.

November 22, 2017 - Chicago Tribune

Empty Retail

Private Equity, Debt, and the Real Causes of the 'Retail Apocalypse'

David Duyen identifies an under-reported culprit in the so-called "retail apocalypse," and challenges policy makers to respond.

November 22, 2017 - New Republic

Washington, D.C. Apartment

Toward a System of Adaptive Reuse Feasibility

A relative lack of conversions from office to residential—the adaptive reuse model driving the housing market in many urban areas—makes the Washington, D.C. region a perfect place to study the factors that make or break an adaptive reuse proposal.

November 21, 2017 - Greater Greater Washington

Greenwich Village

The Lessons Jane Jacobs and Christopher Alexander Still Have to Teach

Robert Steuteville reviews Cities Alive, by Michael Mehaffy, describing the newly released book as "an important analysis for urbanism."

November 21, 2017 - Public Square: A CNU Journal

Bi-State Development Agency

St. Louis Trolley Plans Hit a Snag

The St. Louis trolley revival is running out of cash.

November 21, 2017 - St. Louis Post-Dispatch

Rebuild Foundation

Recognizing the Achievements of Black Urbanists

Blogger and planners Pete Saunders is acknowledging black urbanists from all over the spectrum of civic involvement.

November 21, 2017 - The Corner Side Yard

Seattle Brick Loft

Affordable Housing Near Transit: Seattle's REDI Makes Its First Loan

For a city in the middle of a rent crisis, the Tacoma Housing Authority project can't come too soon.

November 20, 2017 - Curbed Seattle

Hollywood Development

Hollywood Developer Self-Imposes Rent Control on New Project

It's an unprecedented move, but developer Champion Real Estate hopes to be "part of the solution" for pricey Los Angeles.

November 20, 2017 - Curbed LA

Narikala Castle

Churches and the Creation Of Landscape

A visit to Tbilisi, Georgia, reveals that churches are crucial elements in the creation of landscape. Their civic functions are at least as important as their theological functions.

November 20, 2017 - Common Edge Collaborative

East Harlem

New York Pilot Program to Test Expanded Tenant Protections

The political support for an expanded set of tenant protections emerged in response to the program of rezonings underway as part of the de Blasio Administration's housing plan.

November 20, 2017 - Politico

Seattle

Op-Ed: Washington's State Environmental Policy Act 'Off the Rails' in Cities

Drawing on a slew of examples, Dan Bertolet argues that Washington's State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA) has been co-opted in ways that run against its original purpose: protecting the environment.

November 19, 2017 - Sightline Institute

Spokane Parking Lot

Spokane Considers Tax Incentive to Redevelop Downtown Parking Lots

It's an idea that has already had some success in Philadelphia: give developers a tax abatement on projects that achieve some desired end, in this case fewer surface parking lots.

November 19, 2017 - The Spokesman-Review

Washington Monuments

Better Land Use Planning: One of the Best Ways to Improve Transportation

Smart growth advocates have been making this point for years, but a new report from the Washington, D.C. regional planning organization provides more evidence for the strategic location of population and job growth.

November 19, 2017 - Greater Greater Washington

Old houses with large porch and colorful siding

National Building Museum Exhibition Explores the Changing American Household

The National Building Museum draws attention to the drastic change that has come to the American household. No longer does the nuclear family dominate the housing market, and a new era of housing development must be launched.

November 18, 2017 - National Building Museum

'High Line'-Type Bridge Proposed Between Crystal City, Reagan National Airport

The High Line in New York City has inspired ambitious projects all over the country. A pedestrian bridge proposed to connect the Arlington neighborhood of Crystal City to the Reagan National Airport provides the latest example.

November 17, 2017 - Urban Turf

Expo Line LA Skyline

Los Angeles Needs More Transit-Oriented Development

Development plans along the Expo Line need more density, affordable housing to achieve city goals

November 17, 2017 - Los Angeles Times

Alamo Square

Video: The Housing Market as a Game of 'Cruel Musical Chairs'

The Sightline Institute has created an explainer video to make a supply-side argument in favor of new housing developments—even new market rate housing developments.

November 17, 2017 - Sightline Institute

Philadelphia Center City

Friday Funny: Philadelphia Is Very, Very Confident About its Amazon Bid

The lengths to which cities have gone, or will go, in their bids to attract the second headquarters for Amazon has produced a cottage industry of media coverage. Satire from The Onion follows that trail to its most explosive of possible ends.

November 17, 2017 - The Onion

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.

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.