Urban Development

Passing A Master Plan in Densityphobic San Francisco

It's urbanists vs. NIMBYs as San Francisco's Planning Commission prepares to vote on a new master plan that calls for more density and more affordable housing.

March 28, 2011 - The San Francisco Chronicle

A Detailed Look at a Model TOD

Rockville Town Square in Rockville, Maryland is a 12.5 acre mixed-use development that, despite being built in 2007 right as the housing crisis happened, is a raging success. Simmons Buntin looks at what developers did right.

March 28, 2011 - Terrain.org

A Debate Over 'Fully Contained Communities'

Rural Kitsap County, Washington, has been debating over a policy change that would allow new communities to spring up in the area.

March 25, 2011 - Kitsap Sun

Reusing Empty Office Space

Through a rule that allows landlords to financially benefit from allowing charities and non-profits to use their spaces, empty office buildings in the UK are being utilized by groups for a variety of projects, including an art exhibition.

March 24, 2011 - This Big City

Detroit Census Confirms Unprecedented Desertion

Detroit's population plunged by 25% over the last decade, according to census figures - the largest decline of any major city in American history.

March 23, 2011 - New York Times

Interactive Map Tracks Growth of Manhattan Grid

This interactive map from The New York Times overlays historic maps with modern-day maps of the city, and shows how the city and its street grid has developed.

March 23, 2011 - The New York Times

Traffic Plan Offers Potential for Downtown Cleveland

Traffic plans for a new casino in downtown Cleveland could create a major improvement for the neighborhood -- or an indelible sore spot.

March 23, 2011 - The Cleveland Plain Dealer

The "Socialist Developer"

Greg O'Connell has been called that, for his community-developing strategies that helped transform Red Hook. His new target: the small town of Mount Morris in upstate New York.

March 22, 2011 - The New York Times

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.

March 22, 2011 - Governing

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.

March 22, 2011 - Mercury News

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.

March 21, 2011 - Los Angeles Times

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.

March 20, 2011 - Urban Omnibus

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.

March 20, 2011 - Guardian

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.

March 19, 2011 - Las Vegas Sun

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.

March 19, 2011 - Tech Ticker

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.

March 18, 2011 - New Urban Network

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.

March 18, 2011 - MiceAge

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".

March 18, 2011 - Business Insider

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.

March 18, 2011 - Places

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.

March 18, 2011 - Transportation Nation

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.