Urban Development
Cities See Mixed Returns on Spring Training Investments
While some cities in Florida have shelled out big money to build baseball stadia for professional teams' spring training, many of those teams are moving their spring programs to other cities, raising concerns about the wisdom of those investments.
Regional Planning Begins To Meet CA's Stricter Emissions Standards
Two Bay Area planning agencies have jointly released what they call their "Initial Vision Scenario", a first step in implementing the Sustainable Community Strategy required by state law (SB 375, 2008) to reduce climate emissions from transportation.
A Renaissance in Oakland
An urban renaissance is underway in Oakland, where a population surge and a fleet of trendy shops has revived parts of a formerly crime-ridden city.
The New Urban Design Undergrad
The New School is now offering an undergraduate degree in urban design. Urban Omnibus talks with the program's director about why the program was created and what it intends to accomplish.
The Economic Forces Behind Urbanization
This podcast from The Guardian explores why cities have grown in population and what economic forces are behind this shift.
Zappos CEO Wants to Create Community in Las Vegas
Tony Hsieh, CEO of shoe retailer Zappos.com, wants to change how people think about Las Vegas and create a more people- (and business-) friendly community downtown.
Is China Headed For a Bust?
Analyst Vikram Mansharamani thinks China's construction bubble is going to burst, and he says the number of skyscrapers going up in the country is a clear indicator.
TOD is Greener Than Green
It's official, says the EPA: Living in a TOD reduces greenhouse gas emissions more than living in a green, single family home and driving a Prius. The study places major emphasis on local land use decisions in an effort to fight climate change.
Walt Disney's Unrealized City
Planner Sam Gennawey uncovers the inspirations and influences that Walt Disney was pulling from in designing his unbuilt "Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow," a real city of 20,000 people that was to go where the EPCOT theme park is today.
Russian Olympic City's Vast Transformation
As it prepares to host the 2014 Winter Olympics, the Russian resort city of Sochi has transformed from a "blank slate" into the "world's biggest construction site".
Hypothetical Developments and Urban Interventions
In an effort to encourage thinking about the future of the city, a new group of urban planners/artists has created a series of posters depicting imagined urban developments in New Orleans and posted them around town.
Rethinking the Houston Suburbs
Suburban areas are increasingly in the sights of planners and designers who are thinking of new ways to reform the sprawled out land use patterns. This interview looks at how those efforts relate to Houston.
Top 10 Websites - 2011
Our annual list of the 10 best planning, design, and development websites represents some of the top online resources for news, information and research on the built environment.
Walmart Heads for D.C.
A proposed D.C. development would place hundreds of apartments above a store, but other projects emphasize parking, not pedestrian-friendly streets. Chicago and New York also face Walmart campaigns.
Kansas City Rejects Plaza Project
Kansas City's Plan Commission has denied a 55-acre redevelopment centered around a downtown plaza - a project that had the approval of the Planning Dept. and the local AIA Chapter, but evidently not the community.
Design Solutions for Japan's Recovery
In the coming days and years, Japan needs to address a host of issues related to earthquake recover and design, including damaged infrastructure, population and housing, energy, the economy and global impact.
A Sixth Borough in NYC
Mayor Bloomberg has revealed plans to transform New York City's waterfront, calling it a sixth borough. The city envisions new parks, piers, and promenades across the entire city's waterfront.
Outlook Rosy for Construction in 2011
Three economists with an understanding of the industry say that construction has finally hit bottom across the board (retail, housing, office) and is poised to come back with double-digit growth in 2011.
Abu Dhabi Enlists the Help of Former Vancouver City Planner
Larry Beasley, Vancouver's former chief city planner, was hired to help develop Abu Dhabi's very ambitious Plan 2030.
The Future of Housing in America
In this article from Next American City the author argues for more variety in U.S. housing options in the wake of the mortgage debacle.
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
