Urban Development

Michigan Economic Development Ideas Include Innovation Districts

Stakeholders in Michigan have bought in to the innovation district concept.

January 19, 2015 - Crain's Detroit Business

Manhattan FAR

Outcry Over Manhattan's Latest 'Supertall' Developments

An article in The Guardian argues the side of New Yorkers opposed to a new round of high-rise development proposed for Manhattan.

January 18, 2015 - The Guardian Cities

Can the 2024 Olympics Help Boston Plan for a Better 2124?

Can the Olympic bid provide an impetus for long-range planning for the Boston metropolitan area?

January 18, 2015 - CommonWealth

The Evolution of Austin—Found on Sixth Street

A Dallas Morning News column illustrates the evolution of Austin by exploring the changes in the neighborhoods along the city's famous Sixth Street corridor.

January 17, 2015 - The Dallas Morning News

Qualcomm Stadium

Debunking Myths about NFL Stadium Construction

Political leaders in San Diego have spent years characterizing the city's NFL team as a regional asset, requiring a new stadium to keep in place. A column debunks some of the logic behind how and why behind some of that reasoning.

January 17, 2015 - Voice of San Diego

Critic: Development Proposal to Close for Comfort to Philadelphia's Rodin Museum

Architecture Critic Inga Saffron decries the development proposal making progress through the approval process in Philadelphia—a large, glassy residential building that would encroach on the tiny serenity of the Rodin Museum.

January 16, 2015 - Philadelphia Inquirer

Bucktown and Wicker Park, Chicago

When 'Gentrification is Good'

Looking a little closer at a city not called New York, San Francisco, or Boston, one writer argues that gentrification is often a good thing.

January 16, 2015 - The Corner Side Yard

Checking in on New York City's Affordable Housing Efforts

First, a new report from NYU's Furman Center details the evolving characteristics of subsidized rental housing in New York City. Second, the results from Mayor Bill de Blasio's affordable housing efforts are in from his first year in office.

January 16, 2015 - NYU Furman Center

Plan Portsmouth

A Small Town's Game-Changing Approach to Mapping

Portsmoth, New Hampshire has created textured, 3D maps of its historic district to help illustrate development impacts during the approval process.

January 15, 2015 - Next City

Cleveland Aerial

Cleveland Skyscraper Design—with a Bridge at the 18th Floor—Raises Zoning Issues

A 54-story building currently under review in Cleveland would be city's the first skyscraper in a quarter-century—if it gains approval for some unique design components.

January 15, 2015 - The Cleveland Plain Dealer

Can Atlantic City Rebound as a Family-Friendly Destination?

An ambitious Florida real estate developer has a plan to remake Atlantic City into a family-friendly destination by investing $500 million of his own money.

January 15, 2015 - The Wall Street Journal

Philadelphia Italian market

Three Cities Where New Immigrants Revitalized Main Street

Fusion lists three cities as examples of new immigrants becoming the face of community businesses in neighborhoods needing a boost.

January 14, 2015 - Fusion

Boston Aerial

Boston Getting a 61-Story Addition to its Skyline

Signaling Boston's new role in the global real estate market, a new $750 million high-rise began construction this week.

January 14, 2015 - The Boston Globe

Bikeshare in Eugene Looking Like a Winner for 'ConnectOregon' Grants

Bike Portland reports that a state committee recommended a Eugene bikeshare system as a top priority for a new round of "ConnectOregon" grants.

January 14, 2015 - Bike Portland

Los Angeles Smog

A History of Non-Planning (and its Contemporary Effects)

An article by Woodbury University Professor Anthony Fontenot examines the effects of a history of opposition to planning as a centralized arm of the state, and proposes a way forward.

January 13, 2015 - Places Journal

New Guide Provides Advice for Successful Regional Planning

Transportation for America has released "The Innovative MPO"—a guidebook of sorts that provides lessons in successful regional planning.

January 13, 2015 - Streetsblog USA

Boston transit station

Study: For Transit Proximity, Think Beyond a Half-Mile

A recent study suggests that people consider transit proximity to be more flexible than planners often allow.

January 13, 2015 - CityLab

East River

Never Built: The 1912 Plan to Expand Manhattan, Fill the East River

The blogosphere caught wind of a plan from 1912 that would have completely altered the geography of New York City as we know it. Make no little plans, indeed.

January 13, 2015 - Gothamist

Report: 2014 the 'Tallest Year Ever' for New Skyscrapers

The heights of the building envelope saw unprecedented expansion in 2014.

January 13, 2015 - Dezeen

In Support of the Trinity Toll Road in Dallas

The Trinity Toll Road project in Dallas is one of the most controversial ongoing infrastructure and highway projects in the country. A Dallas Morning News columnist suggests the project's opponents should act like adults.

January 12, 2015 - The Dallas Morning News

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.