Urban Development

How 3D Laser Scanning Helped Save Earthquake Damaged Buildings in Napa

The 3D scan provided a safe and quick solution for potential restoration, rehabilitation, and preservation by capturing thousands of points a second and creates a virtual photograph of the object that it scans.

May 16, 2015 - Preservation Leadership Forum Blog

How Regulatory Changes Facilitate Transit Oriented Development

Darnell Grisby makes the case for focusing on ridership and boardings (rather than travel time) and clarifying joint development rules to better facilitate transit oriented development and transit oriented communities.

May 15, 2015 - Urban Land Magazine

City Parks: The New Playgrounds of the Rich?

Wealthy private donors take the lead in developing New York City projects, such as parks, writes Carol Berens, an architect, author, and real estate agent.

May 15, 2015 - UrbDeZine

Pedestrian Overpass

Walkability 'Growing Pains' in Los Angeles

By many estimates, a city known for its pedestrian unfriendliness is developing pockets of local walkability. Minor disputes over pedestrian rights may add up to something bigger.

May 15, 2015 - CityLab

Eminent Domain Debated in Denver Suburb

A fight over eminent domain has erupted in the Denver suburb of Glendale. At stake are long-time local businesses and a potential $175 million redevelopment project along the Cherry Creek.

May 14, 2015 - The Denver Post

Debate: YIMBY vs. Preservation in New York City

New York magazine recently convened a debate between two leading voices of an ongoing conversation in New York City: what to build and what to preserve.

May 14, 2015 - New York

London Skyline

Metros Seek Balance Between Fragmentation and Amalgamation

As the world's cities grow ever larger, local governments constantly ask themselves which is better: amalgamating into one metro-wide government, or maintaining autonomy among fragmented jurisdictions? The answer remains unclear.

May 14, 2015 - The Guardian

Two Brothers Walk to School

How Developers Can Help Make Streets Safe for Children Again

It will take a broad coalition of interests to once again make it safe for "free-range kids" to walk and bike on the streets of American communities.

May 14, 2015 - Patrick L. Phillips

Brazil's World Cup Legacy Falls Short of its Billing

Evidence is building up that the Brazil's extravagant spending on the World Cup soccer championships last year won’t have the last positive impacts promised by government officials. Next up for Brazil: the Olympics.

May 13, 2015 - NPR

Mount Hood Clackamas

One Suburban County's Search for Land to Support Employment

Amid concerns about lackluster growth, Oregon's Clackamas County plans to create 10,000 new family wage jobs by 2019. But the county lacks the zoned land it needs to accomplish its goals.

May 13, 2015 - OregonLive

Gentrification Concerns Ride Light Rail in Seattle

As Seattle considers a $900 million levy proposed by Mayor Ed Murray, locals are already wondering if new transit investments are precursor of unwanted gentrification.

May 13, 2015 - Seattle Weekly

Cincinnati Moves Mountains for a New Corporate Campus

The $100 million investment by Medpace CEO Dr. August Troendle will add a new hotel in addition to office and commercial space to the neighborhood of Madisonville. The deal that enables the project involves a lot of moving parts.

May 13, 2015 - Cincinnati Enquirer

Denver Skyline

U.S. Cities Find Right Sizes for Their Greenbelts

A favorite in Europe but rare in the United States, urban growth boundaries are intended to keep cities compact and hinterlands green. The few American cities with UGB's are trying to figuring out how to use them effectively.

May 12, 2015 - ASLA The Dirt

ULI Takes the Country's Pulse with 'America in 2015' Report

With the recently released America in 2015 report, the Urban Land Institute undertakes a broad survey to discover what Americans are looking for in their communities.

May 12, 2015 - Next City

Controversial Housing Moratorium Proposed for San Francisco's Mission District

San Francisco Supervisor David Campos, who represents the popular Mission District, has proposed a 45-day moratorium on market-rate, multifamily residential development. A ballot measure is possible.

May 12, 2015 - San Francisco Examiner

Street Market

The Promise of Pop-Up Placemaking

With the support of its executive leadership, Adelaide, Australia's experimentalist city council has encouraged ephemeral projects to enliven streets. "Splash Adelaide" projects can even override council policy.

May 12, 2015 - Citiscope

Planners Reboot Public Health Efforts in South Los Angeles

A law passed to combat obesity and diabetes in South Los Angeles by slowing the proliferation of fast food restaurants has done little to change the landscape of the area.

May 11, 2015 - Los Angeles Times

Seattle Mixed Use Development

Seattle Densification Strategy: Build Apartments Without Parking

Not just any apartments, only those served by frequent transit. Developers will still have a "mobility" requirement: In lieu of a parking space, they'll need to provide tenants with transit passes and memberships in car and bikeshare services.

May 11, 2015 - KIRA 7

Clara Meer

Atlanta Beltline Symbolizes Efforts to Reverse Tide of Sprawl

Famously far-flung Atlanta is finding a comforting psychic barrier in the BeltLine, a 45-mile greenbelt in the place of former railroad tracks. The city and developers are trying to make the urban core more functional and attractive.

May 10, 2015 - The Architect's Newspaper

Park Fountain

Newly Launched Gehl Institute to Study Public Spaces

Gehl Studio, the leading name in people-first design and one of the most influential forces in planning today, has philanthropic backing for a non-profit that will focus studies and work on the public sphere.

May 9, 2015 - Next City

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.

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.