Urban Development

A New Era in California for Evaluating Transportation Emissions

An appellate court's rejection of SANDAG's $200 billion sustainable communities plan holds far-reaching implications for how regional planners evaluate greenhouse gas emissions from transportation to meet SB 375 requirements to the year 2050.

December 8, 2014 - San Diego Union-Tribune

Report Finds Doubled Concentrations of Poverty Since 1970

A new report from City Observatory analyzes urban poverty and gentrification using census data from 1970 to 2010.

December 7, 2014 - Next City

Remodel of the Village Arcade a Sign of the Urban Times in Houston

The Houston Chronicle presents a lesson in how (and why) to convert the aesthetic of a university-adjacent retail center from suburban to urban.

December 6, 2014 - Houston Chronicle

Gentrification

3 Strategies for Controlling Gentrification

Sandy Smith summarizes a recent "Gentrification, Integration, and Equity" event hosted by Next City in Philadelphia.

December 6, 2014 - Next City

End of the Mall

Life, Death, and Repurposing of the Great American Mall

A PBS Newshour economic correspondent visits the sites of former malls in Ohio and Massachusetts, some successfully repurposed, others in construction, and one in decay, speaking with economic experts along the way about the future of the mall.

December 5, 2014 - PBS NewsHour

The Promise of Renewal in Massachusetts Gateway Cities

Massachusetts is funding a placemaking initiative to renew its old industrial gateway cities. Available funds are only $16 million, but there's a plan to make the money go a long way.

December 5, 2014 - Boston Globe

'High Tech Highway' Emerging in Phoenix

In an area more known for retirement communities and fixed incomes—Phoenix's Easy Valley—corridor of high tech companies has emerged along the Loop 101.

December 5, 2014 - Phoenix Business Journal

Ivy Covered Green Building

The Coolest Buildings Aren't Green

Creating 'greener' buildings will help address climate change... right?

December 5, 2014 - YouTube

Calatrava Bridge, Dallas

35 New Cities Named as 100 Resilient Cities Members

After its 2013 announcement of support for the first 33 of the 100 resilient cities, the Rockefeller Foundation has announced its next round of member cities: 35 cities, including six from the United States.

December 4, 2014 - 100 Resilient Cities

Designing Permeable Cities for Drought Resilience

Take a kayak trip on the Los Angeles River with KQED science reporter Amy Standen to understand why cities were built on the premise of endless potable water and how we can build cities sustainably in regions that receive low rainfall.

December 4, 2014 - KQED Science

Food Deserts Won't be Quenched by Mobile Markets

While mobile food markets can bring healthy produce to neighborhoods without grocery stores, their current model for driving food around cities is not financially sustainable.

December 4, 2014 - Fast Co.Exist

Eight 'PlacePlans' for Michigan Cities

The PlacePlans project—led by the Michigan Municipal League and the Michigan State University School of Planning, Design and Construction—recently released plans for placemaking efforts in eight Michigan communities.

December 3, 2014 - Holland Sentinel

El Paso Approves Second 'SmartCode' Development

The El Paso City Council approved a $100 million SmartCode development.

December 3, 2014 - El Paso Times

Los Angeles Arts District Residents Resisting Plans for More Density

The Arts District in Downtown Los Angeles has seen plenty of chic newcomers in recent years—high-end cafes, restaurants, and expensive lofts. But a recently revealed plan that would allow new, dense construction has sparked controversy.

December 3, 2014 - Los Angeles Times

How Images Shape our Understanding of Places

An article by Ben Campkin, Marina Mogilevich, and Rebecca Ross examines how images shape ideas about cities—from "John Snow’s Cholera map to Le Corbusier's plan for a contemporary city and Moose's 'clean graffiti.'"

December 3, 2014 - Guardian Cities

Exposé: the $4 Billion World Trade Center Transportation Hub

Now that 1 World Trade Center has opened for business, more attention will go to another building with conspicuous civic purposes—the Oculus pavilion at the World Trade Center Transportation Hub.

December 3, 2014 - New York Times

2015: Year of the First-Time Homebuyer

New data released by online real estate marketplace Zillow suggests that 2015 will be a breakthrough year for first-time homebuyers.

December 2, 2014 - Zillow

New York Housing

Interview: Edward Glaeser Makes the Case for Cities

In a lengthy discussion shared by Marquette University, author and Harvard Economics Professor Ed Glaeser lays out the thinking behind his book "Triumph of the City," as exemplified by cities around the country and the world.

December 2, 2014 - Medium

facades of victorian style residences in San Francisco

Do Urban Neighborhoods Need Homeowners?

Alan Mallach describes the decline of and need for homeownership in urban neighborhoods.

December 2, 2014 - Shelterforce/Rooflines

On the Symbolism of Highway Protests

Freeways have a rare ability to symbolize both a mundane convenience and a bulwark of segregation. One columnist notes the powerful act of protesting racial injustice by closing freeways.

December 1, 2014 - nextSTL

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.