Urban Development

U.K. Pins Economic Growth on Metropolitan Areas

A new plan is afoot in Britain that will devolve centralized power away from central government and out into metropolitan areas. Bruce Katz sees lessons for the United States in the experience of United Kingdom.

October 28, 2014 - Brookings

Gentrification

The False Choice in the Gentrification Debate

The income of original residents is more important to the gentrification debate than any opposition to luxury development or price controls. We need to begin to embed income inequality within the gentrification debate.

October 28, 2014 - Reuben Duarte

Miami Considers Ending Parking Minimums on Transit Corridors

Notoriously car dependent Miami will consider a zoning code amendment exempting small multi-family developments within a quarter mile of transit corridors from parking minimums.

October 27, 2014 - Miami Herald

Recalling Our Basic Pride of Place

In the fifth of his "place-decoding" series from France, Chuck Wolfe recalls how we carry with us the ability to mine pride from place, even in places that are, perhaps, least expected to shine.

October 25, 2014 - The Huffington Post

Portland's Planning Challenge: Better Jobs-Housing Balance

The Oregonian editorial board writes an op-ed that sums up Portland's many perks as well as the challenges. At the heart of the op-ed's concerns: how to bring jobs closer to where people live (and vice versa).

October 25, 2014 - The Oregonian

Idiot brigade

Op-Ed: End the Pejorative Use of 'NIMBY'

Harvard University professor Naomi Oreskes writes a defense of NIMBYism, asking that we rethink he use of the term by considering the community-protecting motives of many NIMBYs.

October 25, 2014 - The Washington Post

Researchers Pushing for Even Bigger Chinese Cities

Research suggests China’s current urbanization policy forgoes $2 trillion in growth over the next ten years. That is, unless the government funnels even more migrants into major population centers and develops for density.

October 24, 2014 - Bloomberg News

Opportunities Found for Redesign of Philadelphia's Famed JFK Plaza/LOVE Park

As the redesign for LOVE Park begins, Ashley Hahn reminds us of the park's role in supporting and maintaining civic life in the city of brotherly love.

October 24, 2014 - PlanPhilly

Massive Detroit Foreclosures Push Out Black Homeowners

A Detroit reborn sounds great, but what if the residents of “blighted” areas don’t want to leave? Many feel they have no choice in a process that has been compared to racial relocation. Meanwhile, activists scramble to give residents options.

October 24, 2014 - The Atlantic

Shanghai Shopping

Study: Urbanization Not a Silver Bullet for Economic Growth

A study comparing urbanization and per capita GDP between 1980 and 2011 questions common assumptions about the connections between economic growth and cities.

October 23, 2014 - PLOS ONE

Los Angeles Embraces Urban Agriculture

A motion passed earlier this month calls for landowners to receive tax breaks for leasing vacant property for agriculture and farming.

October 23, 2014 - The Los Angeles Times

Student Housing Developments Provoke Down-Zoning in Philadelphia

The Philadelphia City Planning Commission approved a series of bills to implement portions of the Lower North District Plan. Although the bills include downzoning, planners believe the area's vacant land is sufficient to bear new development.

October 23, 2014 - PlanPhilly

San Francisco Approves Airbnb-Enabling Regulation Despite High Profile Opposition

None other than U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein, former mayor and native of San Francisco, penned an op-ed opposing a recent action by the San Francisco County Board of Supervisors to legalize short-term stays in private homes.

October 22, 2014 - San Francisco Chronicle

Employment Growth in Large, Dense Cities Paces Recovery

A study from the Oregon Office of Economic Analysis finds evidence that large, dense metropolitan areas have experienced the most complete recovery following the Great Recession.

October 22, 2014 - CityLab

Denver's 'Healthy Corner Store Initiative' Up and Running

Denver joined cities around the country this summer by targeting its corner stores as potential solutions for its food desert challenges.

October 22, 2014 - The Denver Post

Green Belt

Green Belts Cure Sprawl, Cause Problems

Touted as a solution to mindless suburban expansion, the vast green belts around U.K. cities create new challenges. Among them: less affordable housing, longer commutes, and dubious environmental benefits. What happens if these spaces get developed?

October 22, 2014 - The Guardian

How 'Just Green Enough' Adds the Equity to 'Green'

A Fast Co. Design article explains the "just green enough" concept as advanced by Jennifer Wolch, dean of the College of Environmental Design at the University of California, Berkeley.

October 21, 2014 - Fast Co. Design

Calling on Urban Designers to Lead the Fight Against Climate Change

Alan G. Brake writes an editorial calling on the architecture and urbanism fields to push even further to reduce carbon emissions by designing (and upgrading) efficient buildings.

October 21, 2014 - The Architect's Newspaper

Attention C-Suite: Place Matters

Mark Murro urges executives to further explore and understand the concept of "return on ecosystem" achieved by locating in particular, well situated places.

October 21, 2014 - The Wall Street Journal

Report Collects and Shares Lessons from New York's Land Banks

Practical lessons and best practices will be helpful in empowering land banks to curb the spread of blight, foreclosures, and abandoned properties.

October 21, 2014 - Center for Community Progress

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.