Urban Development
The Chinese Alternative to Home Ownership
In this article the author describes the Chinese practice of assigning individuals apartments which are little more than shells. He claims that the act of customizing the shell creates a sense of ownership similar to that of homeowners in the U.S.
Tel Aviv's Controversial Skyline Plans
Once low-slung, Tel Aviv has seen a number of towers shooting up randomly around the city. A new master plan gives the green light to more towers, but tries to pull them into a more coherent urban form.
Return to Treasure Island
This Thursday, San Francisco's Planning Commission is expected to approve one of the most anticipated developments in the city's history: the reconstruction of the former naval base on Treasure Island into living space for 19,000 residents.
Urban Grocery Stores a Hot Market
Grocery stores are having a renaissance, with new, smaller stores being built in urban areas and new ideas in store layout and design to attract pedestrians, not just drivers.
The LEED Silver, Prefab, Quick-to-Build Apartment Building
When one thinks of prefab, its usually a lowslung modernist building sitting by itself on a lot. A group of designers and engineers are debuting a plan for multi-story prefabricated buildings.
China's Ghost Cities
The Australian documentary series Dateline examines the enormous and unprecedented property bubble building in China [video].
The Complex Game of Public-Private Partnerships
John Calimente reviews a new book that aims to explain the complicated back-and-forth that happens when government teams up with private interests on development projects.
Debate Over New Condos, Hotel in Brooklyn Bridge Park
The plans for the newly-opened Brooklyn Bridge Park included a 150-room hotel and two 30-story to 40-story condos buildings, which planners say were necessary to make the project pencil out. As construction nears, some locals are upset at the plans.
$100 Million for HUD Sustainability Program Survives Budget Cuts
Congressional budget cuts spare some favorite programs of transportation reformers and smart growth advocates.
Greenfield Economics Explained
Aaron Renn of Urbanophile explains the allure of "greenfield economics" and that the process of urban and suburban decay is cyclical in nature.
EPA Moves Regional Head Quarters to the Suburbs
The EPA is moving its regional headquarters from downtown Kansas City (Kansas) to a suburb 20 miles outside the city, a move which "could nearly triple transportation carbon emissions associated with the facility," according to Kaid Benfield.
Urban Design Marathon Comes to Los Angeles
The 72 hour event is intended to challenge the idea that creating change in public space is long and difficult, explains the event's founder, Karem Halbrecht.
Political Skirmish Over Redevelopment Agencies in Indiana
Indiana State Sen. Luke Kenley thinks the state's redevelopment agencies have too much freedom to approve spending on large projects and has proposed a bill to curb their power, but the state House has refused to hear the bill.
Breathing Better In NY's Pedestrian Plazas
Manhattan's pedestrian plaza's are associated with increasing vitality, reducing congestion, and now this new study shows, improving air quality be reducing concentrations of nitrogen oxide (NO) and nitrogen dioxide (NO2)
Parks Vs. Density
In Toronto, a developer is balking at the zoning that would force him to build a podium-style building out to the sidewalk, and wants to build a park with a tower instead. Can open space and density coexist?
The Potential for Rail Station Overlay Districts
A House bill in Maryland that would have created overlay districts around train stations failed to pass, but N.J. Slabbert writes that the ideas were solid and should find new life in a different form.
A New Downtown for Tuscaloosa
Well-designed cities share a common characteristic: they each have a center. Tuscaloosa, Oklahoma’s center is being reformed after falling victim to the shopping mall like many other cities over the past decades.
Funds to Demolish Abandoned Buildings Grow
The city of Youngstown, Ohio, is heavily reliant on funding from grants and outside sources to help pay for the clearing of abandoned properties. Those funds have grown since last year.
Brownfields Become Solar Fields
Cities across the country are re-utilizing brownfield sites as solar farms.
Demand Grows for Housing That's Smaller and Closer
The demands of the housing market are shifting to smaller homes that are in denser locations and closer to jobs, according to a new survey from the National Association of Realtors.
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 Moorpark
City of Tustin
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
