Urban Development
$1.6 Billion Shopping Center Planned for Riot-Scarred Section of London
Following successful developments in Stratford and Shepherd’s Bush, Westfield, joined by new partner Hammerson, will build another shopping centre in south London's riot affected town of Croydon.
Predictability v. Flexibility
Just about everything we screw up as individuals and organizations has to do with our determination to optimize both extremes of predictability and flexibility, writes Ben Brown
18 Projects That Could Transform Detroit
Greenways, streetcars, and adaptive re-use projects are among the conceptual, as well as in-progress, initiatives profiled by Ashley Woods.
Frank Gehry Rides to Grand Avenue's Rescue; Will Officials Cheer or Jeer?
Christopher Hawthorne reports that Frank Gehry is back in charge of the design for the quixotic $650-million Grand Avenue redevelopment after a disastrous redesign nearly scuttled the star-crossed project.
San Francisco's Crisis of Affluence
The booming tech industry has brought economic development to the Bay Area. But lavish lifestyles, astronomical housing prices, and rising evictions has put the industry in the crosshairs of a very public backlash. Can the city broker peace?
12 Bold and Bizarre Visions for Cities
There's no shortage of bold and bizarre ideas for how to make our future cities more livable, sustainable, and efficient. Whether many of these ideas are feasible is another story.
27 Ideas for Keeping the Twin Cities Prosperous
A study prepared for the McKnight Foundation’s Food for Thought series has searched far and wide for lessons for keeping Minneapolis-St. Paul a prosperous and livable place.
To Help Clean the City, Amsterdam Gives Alcoholics Free Beer
Should you pay alcoholics in beer? This is the ethical dilemma thrown up by a city project in the famously liberal city of Amsterdam.
How Parking Meters Turned Around a Struggling Downtown
The revival of Old Pasadena is one of the truly great urban success stories from the past few decades. The area's comeback was not based on shifting demographics or "political will", writes Colin Marshall, but a less sexy foundation: parking reform.
10 Ways Cities Are Turning Back Time
It's back to the future for global cities, now that we've realized what a mess the 20th century was.
Covert Coating Destroys NYC Street Art Mecca
In advance of its demolition to make way for a luxury condominium development, the abandoned brick warehouse turned world-renowned street art canvas known as 5Pointz was given a new coat of white paint overnight, shrouding its celebrated graffiti.
Are Older Residents Being Excluded from D.C.'s Revitalization?
There seems to be one common thread linking Washington D.C.'s new bars, restaurants, boutiques, and homes: they're all oriented to appeal to younger residents. Tara Bahrampour looks at D.C.'s struggles to build a multi-generational city.
"Inner Harbor 2.0" Charts a Course for Baltimore's Pioneering Project
As portions of the nation's pioneering waterfront redevelopment and "festival marketplace" turn 40, Baltimore's Inner Harbor is showing its age. A new master plan for the state's premier attraction focuses on improving its public spaces.
Growing Concern over Loss of Canada’s Best Farmland
Amid data showing a dwindling supply of prime Canadian agricultural land, a commencing study seeks to strengthen preservation policies.
Discovery of Ancient Village Complicates Massive Miami Development Project
Archaeologists have discovered what may be "the earliest prehistoric town plan ever found in eastern North America" where the Metropolitan Miami project is to rise. Developers and local officials are discussing how to balance history with progress.
130 Years on, Boston's Emerald Necklace Still a Model Linear Park
Writer Kaid Benfield used a recent trip the American Society of Landscape Architects annual meeting in Boston to reflect on what that city can teach us about designing urban parks.
Could "Impact Bonds" Target Places Rather Than People?
Localities are experimenting with social impact bonds (SIBs) to fund America's social service infrastructure. John Roman asks if such an instrument could be used to help transform blighted areas.
Solutionism in Urban Data Science
Shannon Mattern surveys the new wave of urban data science projects and argues that practitioners are trending toward an obsession with data-for-data’s-sake and an idolization of method.
Commercialism Defeats the Public Interest in Massive Sydney Redevelopments
The redevelopment of more than 100 publicly-owned acres at Barangaroo and Darling Harbour is poised to transform Sydney's western side. By ignoring the lessons of past projects, and bowing to commercial interests, the projects are "civic failures".
In China's Model New Town Urbanization Equals Ghettoization
Outside of Tianjin, in northern China, a model new town has become a symbol of something less exemplary - the country's struggles with urbanization. Broken promises and scant opportunities are creating trying conditions for former farmers.
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.
City of Rosemead
Rutgers University, Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy
One Hundred Miles
University of Michigan School for Environment and Sustainability (SEAS)
Hunter College, City University of New York (CUNY)
The Architects Foundation
City of Cambridge
Montrose County
The Pocatello Development Authority
