Urban Development
Why Some BIDs Succeed Where Others Fail
An in-depth study of business improvement districts (BIDs) in two Los Angeles neighborhoods examines the factors behind their success or failure.
The Walking City
What implications does pedestrian activity have on urban design? Creating walkable environments for pedestrians can improve urban conditions according to Arup architect Demetrio Scopelliti. We spoke to him about upcoming research on the topic.
Debunking the Data Behind Seattle's 'Explosion of Demolitions'
According to an article by The Urbanist, some Seattle publications might have been caught telling people what they want to hear, rather than offering clear perspective on the building trends of the city.
The Motown Sound Came From Single-Family Homes
Would the Motor City have produced Motown without pianos in every living room?
Coming Soon to Dallas-Fort Worth: 8 Million Square Feet of Office Buildings
Large corporations are making huge investments in new office parks in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, reflecting a desire to attract young talent with Google- and Facebook-like workplaces.
New Releases: A Field Guide for Transforming Vacant Lots
Detroit Future City has released a guidebook for the process of redeveloping, renovating, and remediating neighborhoods full of vacant and blighted properties.
Scaling Up Local, Sustainable Food Production
The local food production industry so far has mostly been constrained to a niche market—expensive and available only to a small percentage of consumers. A project in Portland is working to change that.
Survey: Residents of Public Housing Don't See the Benefits of Gentrification
Conventional planning think says that mixed-income development benefits low-income neighborhoods. But a survey finds that residents of public housing in New York don't agree—rather, they feel left behind by newcomers to the neighborhood.
One Year Later: What has Cards Against Urbanity Taught Planners?
Reflection on the education provided by the irreverent game called Cards Against Urbanity has led the game's creators to create a new, less snarky version of the game.
Change Is Coming to Wrigleyville (Other Than Playoff Baseball)
The Wrigleyville neighborhood of Chicago will have a national audience this week for the first time since 2003. The neighborhood has changed, and is poised for even more change.
When a Summer Resort Town Finds Year-Round Success
Northern Michigan's "premier summer resort town" finds itself embroiled in a heated development controversy, reflecting that town's changing population.
Looking to the Skyscraper: Two High-Rises Proposed for Camden Waterfront
Camden, New Jersey, is not known for its skyscrapers, but that could change if the development of a site just south of the Benjamin Franklin Bridge is approved.
The Urban Character of Nashville's Building Boom
Nashville has 100 new projects, worth more than $2 billion, underway or in the pipeline for the next year. What does the building boom mean for city's future.
What Makes a Great Public Space?
The question is often asked and answered by urban planners and placemakers. The perspective offered here boils the essential qualities down to centrality, connectivity, and cachet, with a strong dose of urban "commoning."
Minnesota History Center Exhibit Makes Room for Suburban Romance
"Suburbia," opening today at the new Minnesota History Center in St. Paul, allows a portrait of suburban living that goes well beyond the mundane. By redefining the history suburbia, the exhibit also tracks the contemporary evolution of suburbs.
Transit Use Thrives on Destination Density
If jobs, services, and other urban amenities are concentrated downtown, suburbanites can use transit to get there quickly without a car. Job sprawl makes transit useless outside central districts.
On the Eventual Energy Efficient Future of 'Solar Suburbs'
Experts say it's only a matter of time until suburbs enter a new era of energy efficiency that redefines the landscape of residential living.
Manhattan Institute Presses Policy Innovations for 'The Next Urban Renaissance'
A new book from the Manhattan Institute, available for free download, argues that cities will have to full embrace experimentation and evaluation to be true laboratories of innovation.
Atlanta's Dwindling Supply of Affordable Housing Units
Analysis shows that Atlanta is building a lot of new rental units, but most are priced at luxury levels, while the city's supply of low cost rental units are shrinking in the neighborhoods they're needed most.
Explained: East New York's Big Zoning Changes
Some residents of East New York argue that mandatory inclusionary zoning and other changes proposed for the neighborhood will only help displace low-income residents.
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.
Eagle County Government
Harvard University Graduate School of Design
Nashville Planning Department
The Architects Foundation
University of Cincinnati Online
The Pocatello Development Authority
The Urban Renewal Agency of the City of Pocatello
Journal of the American Planning Association
