Urban Development

City Officials Try to Thwart Apartment Buildings

Officials in Reynoldsburg, Ohio are pushing through strict design guidelines with expensive requirements in an attempt to encourage high-end condos over rental apartments.

March 11, 2010 - The Columbus Dispatch

How Trying Too Hard Messes Up Main Street

March 11, 2010 - Scott Doyon

Exurbs Will Rise - Again

Grist writer Lisa Selin Davis argues that now is the time to make public transit a priority in serving outer suburbs, because the rebounding economy will inevitably lead to increased demand.

March 10, 2010 - Grist

Auckland to Become "Party City" for Rugby World Cup

Already criticized for its sprawl, the largest city in New Zealand is putting on its game face as it prepares to host its largest sporting event ever - the 2011 Rugby World Cup.

March 10, 2010 - The New Zealand Herald

Inchvesting in Detroit

$1 will buy you one square inch of a vacant lot in Detroit, and membership in Jerry Paffendorf's club of "inchvestors." It may sound like a scheme, but Paffendorf calls it a way to network, invest in Detroit, and attract entrepreneurs.

March 10, 2010 - NPR

Infrastructure Spending, Policy Benefit Suburbs and not Cities

Harvard economics professor Edward L. Glaeser argues that the United States has a long, pervasive pattern of anti-urban behavior that needs to change.

March 9, 2010 - The Boston Globe

Boston Neighborhood Transforms Church into Housing

How grassroots organizers beat out commercial bidders, and overcame zoning hurdles to redevelop Catholic church into affordable housing.

March 9, 2010 - WBUR - Boston public radio

Urbanites Make the Case for Goats as Pets

The don't bite. They don't need much space. They follow kids around like a dog. We're talking about miniature goats. Planning commissions across the country are being asked to moved the hooved animals into the "pet" category.

March 9, 2010 - USA Today

Las Vegas Land Worth 75% Less Than 2007 Peak

About half of commercial mortgage defaults in Las Vegas last year were for vacant land. With loans impossible to get and construction at a halt, vacant land is a hard sell.

March 9, 2010 - Las Vegas Review-Journal

Long Island Can Build Up, Or Out

That's the conclusion of a new report by The Long Island Index. Equal development can be achieved by building into the island's last greenfields or upwards from infill opportunities like underused parking lots.

March 9, 2010 - Grist

A Bust to Follow China's Building Boom?

The economic stimulus of China has focused billions of dollars on building skyscrapers. Some wonder whether a building bust may soon follow.

March 9, 2010 - Business Week

Notable Architecture to Watch in 2010

This piece from Business Week lists the most anticipated architecture projects to watch in 2010.

March 9, 2010 - Business Week

Town Futures in Photoshop

A picture's worth a thousand plans - at least when it's a "photo-realistic visualization." Designer Steve Price's detailed 3D flash animations show towns what empty streetscapes and drab buildings could look like with a little bit of planning.

March 8, 2010 - Grist.org

Container Housing Approved to Aid Haitians

Officials in the Dominican Republic have approved the creation of cities made of home built out of shipping containers -- part of efforts to aid earthquake-rattled Haiti.

March 8, 2010 - Inhabitat

A Flying Tour Through Downtown Tokyo

This video takes a futuristic tour of Tokyo -- through an editing technique that parallels the imagery to give the impression of weightless flight.

March 7, 2010 - nait5

Collage of the Past and Present

Through a photo collage of historical and current pictures, artist Alden Cudanin documents the changes that have happened in Toronto Since the early 1900s.

March 7, 2010 - Spacing Toronto

The Meaning of Authenticity

Architecture critic John King reads Sharon Zukin's new book "Naked City: The Death and Life of Authentic Urban Spaces" and ruminates on the meaning of authenticity in his own hometown, San Francisco.

March 6, 2010 - The San Francisco Chronicle

Massive Redevelopment Plan for Thames Gateway

An extensive redevelopment program is planned for East London, in an area one commenter calls "the land that God forgot."

March 5, 2010 - The New Statesman

Controversy Over Condos in Buffalo

A 12-story condominium proposed for Crystal Beach in Fort Erie, Ontario brought protesters out in droves, but despite the fact that objections outweighed approvals by 2-1, the city council approved the project.

March 5, 2010 - The Buffalo News

Mall of America Weathering Recession Surprisingly Well

Foot traffic is up 3.5%, and even sales are up a little at Minnesota's megamall. Retail Traffic Magazine gleans some lessons from the Mall's success.

March 4, 2010 - Retail Traffic Magazine

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.