Urban Development
New Transit Plan in Juneau, Alaska—TOD to Follow
The Planning Commission of the Alaskan capital city recently approved a transit plan that expands service and increases pedestrian access. As next steps, city leaders are talking about providing incentives for development along the transit routes.
Debunking the One-Size-Fits-All Gentrification Model
Not all gentrification is alike. New research show just how different gentrification is in St. Louis as compared to Seattle or San Francisco.
How Agenda 21 Trumps Planning
Agenda 21, a nonbinding United Nations resolution signed in 1992 by 170 world leaders, was developed to encourage "sustainable development." Now it’s a political talking point that kills planning efforts all over the country.
Ranking America's Safest Suburbs
Movoto Real Estate figured it was time to see just which suburbs can still claim to be safer than their big city neighbors.
Seattle's Growth Patterns Buck Century-Long Trend
According to Census data, the city of Seattle's population is growing faster than its King County suburbs—for the first time since 1910.
12 Strategies for Revitalizing Downtowns
Even cities without an official program for revitalizing their downtowns can take steps to transform their urban cores into a collection of vibrant places. The urbanSCALE website has collected a list of such strategies.
Can Satellite Cities Solve Africa's Urbanisation Problem?
Plans for “satellite cities” are mushrooming across sub-Saharan Africa, in response to rapid urbanization. But these developments will only make things worse, critics say.
Challenging 'Mountain Urbanism, Mountain Modernism'
In a recent editorial, Joe Andrade questions the assumptions underlying the Salt Lake City region's approach to population growth.
Questioning the Power Structure of Downtown Las Vegas’ Revitalization
Has the power and influence of Zappos CEO Tony Hsieh spoiled the good intentions of the Downtown Project in Las Vegas?
Detroit's Bankruptcy Plan Accelerates Blight Reduction
To drastically increase the rate of Detroit’s ongoing transformation, the city's bankruptcy plan, recently filed in U.S. Bankruptcy Court, would spend $520 million on its ongoing blight reduction efforts in the hopes of razing 400-500 homes a week.
Bad Architecture, Good Urbanism in Philadelphia
The Mormon Church released renderings for development plans at 16th and Vine in Philadelphia. The plan's grab-bag of historic architecture styles succeeds in urbanism but roots the area in an unfortunate historicism, according to critic Inga Saffron.
A City that Takes its Planning Seriously (or Not)
Portland is a city that's often better known by the representations of it—like the television show Portlandia—than as an actual working city.
Examining the Merits of St. Louis’ Infill Boom
The central corridor of St. Louis has a host of development projects in the pipeline. With a celebration of the rebirth of the city has also come questions about the new developments’ adherence to faux-historic brick architecture.
Is A Small, Urban Wal-Mart Too Little Too Late?
Recent reports have revealed weaknesses in the big box business model. Will Wal-Mart’s new urban stores be as successful as its outdated model?
Shrinking Cities: The Antidote to Greenfield Development
Developers should be looking to shrinking cities like Detroit and Buffalo, not to greenfields, for future development.
The Future is Cities
Cities are growing faster than you can say megalopolis. But as populations around the world shift to urban areas, cities are also focal points for global challenges—water, energy, health. MIT is working to address these issues.
Boston’s Micro-Apartment Experiment Continues
Boston, like other cities around the country, suffers from a housing shortage. Initial micro-apartment developments met plenty of demand, but whether the model is a panacea for the city’s housing shortage is still in question.
Detroit—Model of Lean Urbanism
The Knight Foundation has announced funding for the Project for Lean Urbanism, led by Andrés Duany. In a recent article, Duany applies concepts from Lean Urbanism in examining the case of Detroit as the next in a line of revitalized urban settings.
Pittsburgh Resets Clock for Steelers’ Open Space Proposal
Pittsburgh hopes for pedestrian-oriented public space at the corner of Art Rooney Avenue and North Shore Drive. The city’s planning commission recently granted its NFL franchise a third extension to develop a plan for the parking lot on the parcel.
Comments Close for CEQA’s Level Of Service Revisions—What Now?
California’s retooling of Level of Service (LOS) analysis is one of the most closely watched regulatory changes in the country. With public comments on the issue closing on Feb. 18, how are planners reacting to the potential changes?
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.
City of Clovis
City of Moorpark
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
Transportation Research & Education Center (TREC) at Portland State University
Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada
Toledo-Lucas County Plan Commissions
