Urban Development
Is Sluggish Single-Family Housing Construction Slowing the Economy?
The Wall Street Journal implies a take on the U.S. economy that might make some urbanists uncomfortable: more single-family construction is necessary for a full economic recovery.
Proposed Parklet Divides San Francisco Gay Neighborhood
A small cafe in San Francisco's gay neighborhood, the Castro, proposed a parklet on two parking spaces that is dividing merchants. Some see it as a potential haven for homeless and illegal activity, as well as objecting to the loss of parking.
With Texas Sprawl: Fewer Places to Roam
An outdoors enthusiast laments the explosive sprawl that is quickly sucking up places to hunt and fish in the state of Texas.
Philadelphia's Open Data Reveals Land Use Trends
A trove of data from the Office of Property Assessment has been released to the public. It's like Christmas day for zoning wonks in the City of Brotherly Love.
On the Benefits of Streetcar Suburbs
Peter Saunders knows of the Corner Side Yard knows a good thing when he sees it, and that is good thing is the streetcar suburb.
From Net Zero Energy to Net Zero Water: A New Frontier in Sustainability
The Net Zero Water Toolkit helps individuals and organizations make water resource planning decisions based on local conditions rather than targeting historical demand and allowing water quality impacts to flow downstream.
Land Sparing Protects Urban Ecosystems Better Than Land Sharing
A study of two cities at opposite ends of the urban spectrum demonstrate how density matters for a number of ecological services.
Surgeon General Warning to Local Governments: Stop Being So Auto-Centric!
No, those will not be the precise words of the forthcoming "Call to Action" by Surgeon General Vice Admiral Vivek H. Murthy, but he will call on cities to "design and build roads and public places to make walking easier, safer, and more pleasant."
10 of the Best Adaptive Reuse Projects
A list of adaptive reuse projects completed in the last five years includes a diverse collection of breweries turned hotels, a dry dock turned into a museum, and much more.
Pittsburgh Project Could Include Corridor for Driverless Vehicles
A massive redevelopment project moving forward in Pittsburgh would provide in-demand office and tech space near local universities. An innovative transportation infrastructure project could be a part of the deal.
Denver's Cherry Creek North Not Just for Shopping Anymore
A neighborhood known as a shopping district is quickly transforming into a live, work, play destination in heart of Denver.
Chicago Infill Rail Stations Showing Outsized Benefits in Ridership, TOD
An analysis of infill transit stations built since 2012 along "L" routes in Chicago shows clear increases in ridership and transit oriented development.
Is 'Brain Drain' a Legitimate Problem?
According to analysts like Aaron Renn, the exodus of educated Millennials from what some perceive to be less-glamorous cities shouldn't signal impending doom. For one thing, brain drain might not be happening at all.
An Equitable Recovery? New Orleans Ten Years After Katrina
University of New Orleans Professor Dr. Anna Livia Brand writes about the shortcomings in the recovery planning process in post-Katrina New Orleans caused by unaddressed racial inequality.
Florida Counties Alter Development Fees to Encourage Compact, Mixed Uses
Hillsborough County, home to Tampa, has already shifted its "transportation concurrency fees" to encourage compact development and a mix of uses. Nearby Osceola County is following their lead.
The Battle for Times Square—Why It Matters, Even Outside New York
The piece begins not in New York but three thousand miles west in Seattle with Janette Sadik-Khan explaining how she triumphed over auto interests by taking back precious road space and returning it to the people in the form of plazas and bike lanes.
How Growth and Neighborhood Protection Coexist in Pasadena
Pasadena recently elected its first new mayor in 16 years, and the city is completing a 20-year General Plan Update that aims to continue animating downtown Pasadena by addressing growth and mobility simultaneously.
What If Seattle Had a Century-Old Subway?
Virgil Bogue's 1911 Plan of Seattle called for a centrally-planned metropolis with efficient transit, parks, and a cap on building height. It was voted down, but remains an interesting study on planning for the long term.
Zaha Hadid Reimagines the Sidewalk Shed
Attempts to make over the conventional sidewalk shed are pretty but costly. Will Hadid's High Line canopy catch on?
Big Money Floods Venice Beach
Is a gentrified Venice Beach still Venice Beach? With median home prices topping $1.4 million, the area's eclectic characters can't afford to stay. Investors and the tech industry say the change is only natural.
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
