Urban Development

U.S. Court Of Appeals Rules 'Sprawl Fee' Lawful

A U.S. Court of Appeals has upheld a 2008 District Court ruling allowing a regional air quality district to manage land use for the improvement of air quality. CA's Central Valley Air Dist. now has a lawful Indirect Source Review or sprawl fee rule.

December 9, 2010 - AP via The Fresno Bee

More Immigrants Moving to Midsize Cities

According to new research, immigrant homeownership is shifting from large cities like New York and Los Angeles to smaller ones like Las Vegas and Minneapolis.

December 8, 2010 - Miller-McCune

Rio's Slums to See Massive Redesign

Ahead of the 2014 World Cup and 2016 Olympics, officials in Rio de Janeiro are taking on a massive upgrade project in the city's slums.

December 8, 2010 - Guardian

Urban Planning Musical Takes the Stage in Brooklyn

A new musical comedy, "In the Footprint: The Battle Over Atlantic Yards," brings song and dance to the conflict over the redevelopment of the Atlantic Yards in Brooklyn. The NY Times reviews it as "fresh, inventive"...and "entertaining."

December 6, 2010 - The New York Times

A Giant of a Book on Urban Design

Ben Brown reviews Dhiru Thadani's new book, The Language of Towns and Cities. Weighing in at 800 pages, this encyclopedic urban design dictionary defines planning terms with extensive graphics.

December 6, 2010 - PlaceShakers

Walkable Cities, Walkable Neighborhoods

New neighborhood-level data from the walkability rating website Walk Score has broadened the view of what it means to live in a walkable city.

December 6, 2010 - Nate Berg

Smaller Homes Coming to Smaller Towns

The small town of Tofino, British Columbia is looking to the Vancouver model of "micro homes" and laneway housing to increase its stock of affordable housing.

December 6, 2010 - Westerly

Portland's Latest Plaza

Linda Baker reviews the new Simon and Helen Director Park in Portland, Oregon, which she says "resembles an elegant Italian piazza."

December 5, 2010 - Metropolis Magazine

AEG Making Downtown L.A. NFL Stadium Pitch

Having brought the Staples Center, L.A. Live, and a convention center hotel complex to the South Park neighborhood in Downtown Los Angeles, Tim Leiweke, is now pitching an NFL stadium that will double as an addendum to the convention center.

December 5, 2010 - The Planning Report

China's Cities Growing Beyond the Second Tier

The urbanization of China and the growth of new labor-rich cities is only just beginning, according to this piece from Dan Steinbock.

December 4, 2010 - New Geography

The Most Dynamic Cities in the Post-Crash World

A new report from the Brookings Institution lists the 30 most dynamic cities in the world -- cities that are recovering from the global economic downturn with growth in employment and income.

December 3, 2010 - The Atlantic

Property Taxes Discourage Density

Local property taxes are often levied disproportionately on multifamily developers, resulting in higher taxes for apartment-dwellers, says Stephen Smith.

November 30, 2010 - Market Urbanism

The State of Development in Abu Dhabi and Doha

Nicolai Ouroussoff, architecture critic for The New York Times, offers this lengthy look at the state of development and design in Abu Dhabi and Doha.

November 30, 2010 - The New York Times

A Very High Density Future for Cities

Architect Peter Weingarten discusses the importance of high-rise buildings, and why the future of cities will be very high density.

November 30, 2010 - Gensler on Cities

Who Will Save the Skyline of Paris?

November 29, 2010 - Mary Campbell Gallagher

Critiquing The Landscape Urbanism

As landscape urbanists hover in the exalted world of the designer-hero-genius, Emily Talen asks — where are the people?

November 28, 2010 - New Urban Network

Five Alternatives to the Mall Worth Looking At

With malls failing around the country, America may want to consider innovative new projects from international sites like Morocco or the Philippines.

November 28, 2010 - Retail Traffic Magazine

Commercializing the Landscape

When an Apple Store wanted to move into the Georgetown neighborhood in D.C., the Design Review Board pushed for a more fitting facade. After a backlash from residents eager for an Apple, the trademark building went in. Is Georgetown better off?

November 28, 2010 - Planning Commissioners Journal

The Modern-Day Reality of New Deal Utopias

This slideshow from Design Observer takes a look at New Deal-era utopian cities as they exist today.

November 25, 2010 - Design Observer

Changing Federal Politics, But Potential at State and Metro Levels

In this episode of Next American City's podcast, the Brookings Institution's Bruce Katz discusses the future of federal policy as the country's political makeup changes after the mid-term elections.

November 25, 2010 - Next American City

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.