Urban Development

In Atlanta, Using Social Media for Code Compliance

Suffering from widespread blight from foreclosures and absentee owners, a new "unofficial" Facebook page lets Atlanta residents play code compliance officer.

August 26, 2012 - The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Finding Mayor Bloomberg's Fingerprints on a Transformed New York

As the end of the Bloomberg Era in New York draws to a close, The Architect's Newspaper goes agency by agency exploring how the Mayor has steered the forces of NYC real estate to meet goals for a cleaner, greener, and more equitable city.

August 26, 2012 - The Architect's Newspaper

Super Rich Drive Residences to New Heights

The number of super-tall residential buildings continues to grow globally, with top floor residences fetching nine-figure prices. Historically, the world's tallest buildings housed offices.

August 26, 2012 - The Wall Street Journal

What is the World's Most Vulnerable City to Flooding?

Based on a range of data, including 19 different components, a new study examining cities located on river deltas has determined that Shanghai is the most vulnerable to major flooding.

August 25, 2012 - BBC News

New Zoning Code Debuts in Philly

This week, Philadelphia officially enacted the long-overdue replacement to its antiquated 1962 zoning code. City leaders hope the simplified and modernized code will encourage development.

August 24, 2012 - The Philadelphia Inquirer

America's Best Small Cities

Money Magazine lists the top 20 best 'small cities' (pop. 50,000 to 300,000). Located in all corners of the U.S., these cities offer small town charm with big city amenities.

August 23, 2012 - Money

USC's $1.1 Billion Makeover Halted Over Fears of Displacement

A massive $1.1 billion plan to develop residential and retail uses on land adjacent to the University of Southern California's South L.A. campus was halted by a committee of the Los Angeles City Council this week over concerns about displacement.

August 23, 2012 - Los Angeles Times

Will 2012 be the Year of CEQA Reform in California?

If two major business and labor groups have their way, the 1970 CA Environmental Quality Act will be 'modernized', to quote the CEO of the Silicon Valley Leadership Group. The CA Alliance for Jobs has joined SVLG, as has a top aide of the governor.

August 23, 2012 - Capitol Alert (Sacramento Bee blog)

Turning Vacant Lots from Eyesore to Opportunity

Vacant lots in American cities consume vast amounts of land, which many are now recognizing as places of opportunity. Some cities and citizens are transforming once empty urban spaces into vibrant community-fostering places.

August 23, 2012 - The Nature of Cities

Suburban Canada Dreams of Density

As one of North America's largest suburbs, Mississauga is joining some of its neighbors in the Greater Toronto Area in planning an unprecedented effort to replace its suburban roots with something more urban.

August 23, 2012 - The Globe and Mail

Imagining a Future Without Freeways

Giving new meaning to the phrase "take back the streets," Neal Peirce writes about the arguments in favor of a "freeway free" future for the world's cities, which was the subject of a recent Rockefeller Foundation Conference held in Bellagio, Italy.

August 22, 2012 - Citi Wire

What Ottawa Has to Teach Us about Great Urbanism

Hazel Borys concludes her popular photo series on lessons from Canadian urbanism with a look at Ottawa, whose charming historic character is illegal to reproduce today in its more auto-centric outskirts.

August 22, 2012 - PlaceShakers

Florida Celebrates Florida

In an indication that the "creative class" era may have finally jumped the shark, the city of Miami is reveling in the arrival of Richard Florida himself as a sign of the area's arrival as a "Creative City."

August 20, 2012 - The Miami Herald

Apartment Building Boom In Portland - Without Auto Parking

OPB investigates the flood of new apartment buildings going up in downtown Portland and finds that two-thirds lack any motor vehicle parking - which is great for renters without cars seeking affordable housing, but can anger the neighbors.

August 19, 2012 - Oregon Public Broadcasting

Indian Town Struggles to Balance Architectural Heritage and Living Heritage

Recent events in the southern India town of Hampi, recognized as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO, expose the struggle to balance the needs of historical tourist sites and those who make their livelihood from them, writes Rachel Proctor May.

August 19, 2012 - The Global Urbanist

What Canadian Towns Have to Teach us About Great Urbanism

When we think urbanism, we often think cities. But small towns embody many of the elements of walkability that are illegal in most places. This pictorial review offers some palatable insights.

August 19, 2012 - PlaceShakers

Radiation Threatens Massive Bay Area Development Project

According to a new U.S. Navy report and other documents obtained by The Bay Citizen, radiation contamination on Treasure Island is worse than previously acknowledged. Will the findings alter plans for a massive 20,000 resident development?

August 18, 2012 - The Bay Citizen

Massive Media Hub Could Transform Historic Brooklyn Navy Yard

The focus of a series of failed proposals, a 20-acre corner of Brooklyn Navy Yard known as the Naval Annex Historic Campus is set to be converted into a $400 million media, technology and film hub in a plan announced this week.

August 18, 2012 - The New York Times

Lessons from L.A. on the Benefits of Being Big

Back from a recent field trip to L.A., Sarah Karlinsky, Deputy Director of SPUR, the San Francisco Planning + Urban Research Association, explores the benefits and challenges offered by the region's size, and what lessons it can provide the Bay Area.

August 17, 2012 - The Urbanist

Home at Last: Creative Communities Become Their Own Developers

Emily Badger explains how a Minneapolis-based non-profit organization is working to break the cycle of gentrification within artist communities by helping to create and preserve affordable space for artists and arts organizations.

August 17, 2012 - Fast Company

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.