Urban Development

The Suburban Tale of Texas Growth
The state of Texas is expected to double its population between 2010 and 2050. Just how, though, is worthy of more scrutiny.

Is Portland the Next San Francisco?
Now that tech companies have "discovered" Portland, Oregon, longtime residents question whether the progressive city has done enough to protect them from displacement. Sound familiar?
Who is NYCxDESIGN?
NYCxDESIGN, New York City’s annual celebration of design, recently wrapped up its fourth season. To learn more about who makes up the design community, photographer Charles Aydlett asked attendees how they would like to see design evolve in the city.

Conflicting Views on How Best to Combat Gentrification, Explained
Two new reports, and one older one, assign unequal significance of the ability of new market rate housing to filter older housing into affordability.

Op-Ed Supports Value Capture-Enabled Transit Investments
Two USC professors argue that Los Angeles would be better served if Metro could recapture some of its investment in the county's expanding rail system.

Federal Agencies Investigating the Rising Costs of Detroit's Blight Program
Detroit's aggressive blight reduction strategy, to demolish vacant homes by the thousands, is coming under scrutiny for rising costs. The FBI and the U.S. Inspector General are investigating.

A Chicago Bike Path Goes Underused
While a federally-funded network of bike paths is in the works elsewhere in the city, the Major Taylor Trail gets little use from Chicago residents. The main problems are a lack of awareness and the South Side's fearsome reputation.

Op-Ed: Talking Resilience Isn't the Same as Being Resilient
Resilience, as such, isn't a problem. But Alex Beam takes issue with the current flood of resilience-related jargon. Can you blame him?

10 Ways to Make Cities Livable for the Elderly
How can the New Urban Agenda respect the elderly—and make cities better for all of us in the process?

The Arts District and the 'Missed Opportunity' of Planning in L.A.
Downtown L.A.'s Arts District transformed from an industrial sector to a vibrant, mixed-use neighborhood. Now, the community's attempts to protect their vision from haphazard development illuminate Los Angeles's broken planning process.

Talking Point in D.C. Homeless Housing Debate: 'Homeowner Lives Matter'
An already controversial proposal to disperse homeless shelters and service around Washington, D.C. is finding new ways to be controversial.

Planetizen Week in Review: May 27, 2016
Planetizen Managing Editor James Brasuell shares some of the biggest news and announcements from the week in planning, land use, and related topics.

Fresno's Troubled Housing History
The crisis facing many Fresno renters is nothing new. A history of housing in the city shows how, since the late 19th century, poor housing conditions have been "ingrained in Fresno's culture."
The Good Old Days of Suburban Development (or Not)
Numerous popular and academic writers from the 1950s and 1960s critiqued suburban development patterns and found them wanting.

Tampa Approves Big Riverfront Park Renovation
The Tampa City Council approved a big, ambitious park proposal for 23 neglected acres along the Hillsborough River.

A Visit to D.C.'s Museum for the Built Environment
Washington, D.C. has many great museums. One of its least known may be the most interesting to architects, planners, builders, and others. The National Building Museum is all about the built environment.

Has Portland Lost its Way?
Oregon's poster child for livable planning is embroiled in new controversies over destructive growth, skyrocketing prices, and back-room cronyism.

Arlington Reveals $1 Billion Baseball Stadium Proposal
For a little while there, it looked like the Texas Ranger were going urban.

Plans to Create a Community of Start-Ups in Las Vegas Hits Speed Bumps
The Downtown Project was envisioned as a five-year plan to develop a hub of start-ups, small businesses, and cultural attractions in Downtown Las Vegas, but things haven't gone according to schedule.

Bringing By-Right Affordable Housing to California
Reviewing Governor Jerry Brown's recent proposed legislation to permit projects that provide affordable housing to be approved as-of-right.
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.
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
Transportation Research & Education Center (TREC) at Portland State University
Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada
Toledo-Lucas County Plan Commissions