Urban Development

Toronto Confronts Challenges of Extreme Intensification

For Ken Greenberg, it's clear Toronto is "going through a metamorphosis of extraordinary proportions," comparable to the development of New York in the mid-20th century. He examines how the city must prepare for an unprecedented scale of development.

October 4, 2012 - The Globe and Mail

Will Development Squeeze the Life Out of Queens' Flushing Meadows-Corona Park

Shaped by two World's Fairs, the long-neglected, but intensely used, park is targeted for redevelopment. City officials plan for a new mall, a soccer stadium, and more parking, upsetting some in the local community.

October 4, 2012 - The New York Times

A New Frugality Invades Las Vegas

Frugality is probably not the first word one would associate with a city known for sin and excess. But in the wake of the global financial crash, Matthew Garrahan examines how Las Vegas is pursuing a conservative path to recovery.

October 3, 2012 - The Financial Times

Can Strategic Urbanism Heal Broken City Governance?

Alex Steffen, a "leading voice in planetary futurism," muses on what he believes could be a way to move beyond NIMBYism and incremental urban planning, to provide an antidote to fundamentally broken city governance.

October 2, 2012 - Planetary Thinking

Why Some Cities are Using Eminent Domain to Save Mortgages

Some cities are fighting back against the mortgage crisis, using eminent domain to seize and write down troubled mortgages, keeping homeowners in their homes and keeping local economies afloat, writes Peter S. Goodman.

October 2, 2012 - Huffington Post

For Cycling Advocates, One Question Reigns: Got Networks?

As the level of sophistication in cycling infrastructure increases, the value of networks becomes even more apparent.

October 1, 2012 - PlaceShakers

Is it Too Soon to Consider Replacements for Redevelopment in California?

Although the state's legislators were ready to move on from the closure of CA's redevelopment agencies by approving several bills designed to replace aspects of redevelopment or otherwise help cities, Governor Brown vetoed each one over the weekend.

October 1, 2012 - California Planning & Development Report

The Flawed Plan to Fill the Lower East Side's 'Black Hole'

David Bergman argues why plans recently approved by New York's Community Board 3 and City Planning Commission for the development of the Seward Park Urban Renewal Area (SPURA) are a step backwards for the area.

October 1, 2012 - The Architect's Newspaper

Small Screens Make for Better Cities

News out last week that big-box retailer Staples plans to reduce its square footage by 15 percent heralds a larger trend of smaller screens necessitating smaller boxes. Lydia DePillis examines why this will be a boon to cities.

October 1, 2012 - The New Republic

New Jersey's Transit Stations Serve as Beacon for State's Future

With the second highest share of transit usage in the U.S., a new study three years in the making assesses the development opportunities around the New Jersey's 243 transit stations.

October 1, 2012 - The Star-Ledger

Will Auckland Pass Up Yet Another Opportunity to Transform its Waterfront

After many, many, many failures-to-launch, Auckland may finally be taking its waterfront seriously. A series of articles in The New Zealand Herald explores the waterfront's disappointing past and promising future.

September 30, 2012 - The New Zealand Herald

New York City Struggles to Retain What's Left of its Manufacturing Industry

During the last two decades, New York City has continued to shed manufacturing jobs. But recent efforts led by the city, in partnership with private developers, are looking to retool some of New York's largest legacy sites for a new breed of tenant.

September 30, 2012 - The New York Times

Data Documents Divine Decade for Downtowns

Nate Berg looks at new data released by the U.S. Census Bureau that puts hard numbers behind what people across the country have observed: America's downtowns are booming again.

September 28, 2012 - The Atlantic Cities

Buds of LEED-ND Begin to Bloom

LEED for Neighborhood Development (LEED-ND) hasn't exactly unleashed a flurry of new sustainable, dense development. But, as the economy strengthens, innovative projects in Oakland, Syracuse, and Milwaukee are beginning to take flight.

September 28, 2012 - Urban Land Magazine

As L.A. Stadium Mega-Project Goes for Final Approval, Architects Slam Design

As L.A.'s massive downtown stadium and convention center project hurtles towards final approval, the questions regarding its design and feasibility grow to a roar.

September 28, 2012 - Daily News

New Orleans Reborn: Development Returns to the Big Easy

New Orleans is shaking its distressed-city status as an influx of investment heads to town. National retailers and developers, many of them first-time investors in the city, are looking to set up shop.

September 28, 2012 - The New York Times

Chicago's Landmark Merchandise Mart Gets New Life as Tech Hub

As Chicago's River North area continues its transformation, the area's historic, behemoth Merchandise Mart has become a hub for high-tech businesses. The adaptive reuse success story was the largest building in the world when it opened in 1930.

September 27, 2012 - The New York Times

Los Angeles Considers How to Close its 'Missing Link'

Long Beach's Press Telegram explores the options for completing a 4.5-mile stretch of the Long Beach (710) Freeway connecting Alhambra to Pasadena, a controversy that's been brewing for five decades.

September 27, 2012 - Press-Telegram

Taking Health into Account

Do you know the effect your spiffy new development will have on the neighbors' health? Aaron Wernham and the Kresge Foundation think you could use a health impact assessment.

September 27, 2012 - Shelterforce Magazine

Beleaguered NY Housing Authority Turns to Private Sector to Raise Needed Cash

Beset by daunting challenges, and a summer of stinging articles and reports, the chairman of the New York City Housing Authority has announced a controversial plan to raise hundreds of millions of dollars by leasing land to private developers.

September 27, 2012 - The New York Times

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.

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.