Urban Development

Evidence of Peak Sprawl in the New York Region

"A new report out of Rutgers University reveals that since 2010, the fringes of the New York region have lost population as the core has grown," according to an article by Stephen Miller.

October 6, 2014 - StreetsBlog NYC

Miami Moving Forward with Showy, $1.5 Billion Worldcenter Development

Last minute changes allowed the $1.5 billion Worldcenter development to move forward into the planning stage.

October 5, 2014 - Miami Herald

Making the Most of Cleveland's 'Opportunity Corridor'

Officials planning the divisive Opportunity Corridor in Cleveland are working to catch land use considerations up with transportation considerations for a proposed road connection to cut through the city's East Side.

October 5, 2014 - The Cleveland Plain Dealer

City Planners

How Planners Can Help Cities Thrive

For planners, the key to moving a city’s vision for development forward is to value public as well as private investment in projects, according to urban planner and author Howard M. Blackson III.

October 4, 2014 - UrbDeZine

Luxury Condos Saturating New York City's Housing Market

The housing market in NYC has seen a 98.5 percent increase in luxury condo construction since last year. Market experts are concerned there is not enough demand to meet supply, causing developers to build upper to middle-income housing instead.

October 4, 2014 - New York Times

L.A. Streetcar

The Great Streetcar Debate

David Alpert and Jarrett Walker go head to head debating the merit of streetcar systems in many United States cities and suburbs and their efficiency at creating urban, walkable communities.

October 3, 2014 - CityLab

Master Plan to Revitalize Salt Lake City's Struggling West Side

The Poplar Grove and Glendale neighborhoods in Salt Lake City perform poorly on the federal government's "opportunity index." A new master plan, however, would focus on transportation and nodes of activity to revitalize the area.

October 3, 2014 - The Salt Lake Tribune

San Francisco Considers a 'Facadectomy'

One possible frame though which to consider the ongoing evolution of cities like San Francisco: the measures (sometimes) taken to preserve the historic fabric of the city.

October 3, 2014 - Socket Site

Skateboard Park

Skateboard Urbanism on the Rise

More cities around the country are embracing skateparks as a vital part of park design, leading to a new wave of urban design standards tailored for skateboarders.

October 3, 2014 - Next City

Anti-Growth Measures Adopting Pro-Growth Language to Survive

John King has reason to believe a cultural shift toward taller buildings and mixed-use neighborhoods is underway in the Bay Area. How? The language used by opponents of those causes.

October 2, 2014 - San Francisco Chronicle

Leadership Change, Layoffs for Las Vegas Downtown Project

The high-profile Downtown Project in Las Vegas, led by Zappos CEO Tony Hsieh, made the wrong kind of news this week.

October 2, 2014 - Re/code

The Case for Selling Air Rights

Scott Beyer argues that more compact, vertically-oriented cities, like Seattle, San Francisco, Chicago, and Washington D.C., should sell the air rights above public projects.

October 1, 2014 - Governing

Flat Tops No Longer Required for Los Angeles Skyscrapers

Emily Alpert Reyes reports that Los Angeles has overturned a long-standing requirement for its skyscrapers to have flat roofs to accommodate the fire department's helicopters in the event of an emergency.

October 1, 2014 - Los Angeles Times

The Look and Feel of 'Inherently Urban'

Greek orators, current solution-based efforts, and 25 photographs remind us of the central role of human opportunity in the urban environment.

October 1, 2014 - The Huffington Post

Republican Party Logo

A Conservative's Response to Joel Kotkin

A column by Reihan Salam takes exception to Joel Kotkin's recent portrayal of "anti-suburban conservatives."

October 1, 2014 - National Review Online

Can Boston Change its 'Wink and Nod' Development Process?

A reborn plan to raze the Winthrop Square parking garage and replace it with the tallest building in Boston will provide a test for new Boston Mayor Martin J. Walsh.

September 30, 2014 - The Boston Globe

Bangkok Thailand

Bloomberg Donates $125 Million for Urban Transportation

In his second global transportation donation meant to reduce death and injury from transportation, the former NYC mayor will take a decidedly urban focus by directing his foundation to select ten cities to receive $125 million, he announced Monday.

September 30, 2014 - The Wall Street Journal

A Call to Protect Cultural Institutions from Urban Renewal

While considering plans for a large urban renewal project in Hollywood, Los Angeles struggles to avoid throwing out the baby with the bathwater—that is, saving a place for small cultural institutions when redeveloping neighborhoods.

September 29, 2014 - The Architect's Newspaper

San Francisco View from Dolores Park

Report: Cities Segregating by Employment Type—Not Just Income Level

New analysis from Richard Florida and the Martin Prosperity Institute maps segregation by employment type, finding the darker effects of the creative class.

September 29, 2014 - The Washington Post - Wonkblog

Critic's Review: Los Angeles Union Station Master Plan

Christopher Hawthorne details the finalized master plan for Los Angeles' remodel of its historic Union Station, saying the master plan positions the station to be a hub of activity in a remade city.

September 29, 2014 - Los Angeles Times

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.