Urban Development

Will Social Media Revolutionize the Planning System?

Joe Peach understands "that online technologies and the city are becoming increasingly integrated," and argues that social media should have a democratizing effect on the planning process.

June 12, 2010 - thisbigcity.net

America is Over-Retailed

Are there two many stores? Growing evidence says yes, that the retail market is unlikely to spring back and with the shift to internet spending, it's likely that we've already got more retail space than we need.

June 11, 2010 - ArtVoice

Do You Want a 9-Story Neighbor?

Misleading flyers are being circulated to drum up opposition to a mixed-use, transit-oriented development in the East Falls Church area of Arlington, VA., says Michael Perkins. His answer to the flyer's question? Yes.

June 10, 2010 - Greater Greater Washington

Design Has Room to Grow in Brazil

As it prepares to host the 2014 World Cup and the 2016 Olympics, there's room to grow in Brazil's architecture and design communities.

June 10, 2010 - Architect

Removing Cars to Revive Downtown Cairo

In an effort to regain its stature as a center of culture, Cairo is looking at plans to re-integrate the pedestrian into its now car-dominated downtown.

June 10, 2010 - Egypt Today

Urban Accessibility in India

Infrastructure for pedestrians and cyclists in Indian cities is glaringly absent, says Prof. Sudhir Chella Rajan. India needs to decide between an auto-oriented future like the U.S. or a European, pedestrian model.

June 10, 2010 - TheCityFix.com

The Potato (Oh Wait, Planning) Famine Rises Again

With a new rural planning policy, thousands of backlogged development applications, and severe job cuts, Northern Ireland's planning industry could be facing a grim future ahead.

June 10, 2010 - Inside Housing

Santa Clara Residents Back Stadium Spending

Residents in Santa Clara, California have approved a measure that would direct $937 million in funding towards the creation of a stadium intended to lure the San Francisco 49ers football team.

June 9, 2010 - Sa Francisco Chronicle

The Extent of South Africa's World Cup Infrastructure

The Infrastructurist points to this infographic that outlines the expenditures and infrastructure projects that were built to accommodate the World Cup, beginning this Friday in South Africa.

June 9, 2010 - Infrastructurist

Ten Actions For Cities In Response To Gulf Spill

Grist's Jonathan Hiskes spoke with smart growth leaders to devise strategies that municipalities, as opposed to U.S. government, can take to lessen oil dependency - that are financially sustainable, not overly dependent on technology, and ready to go

June 8, 2010 - Grist

Are Planners Socialists for Trying To Encourage 'Livability'?

Conservative commentators criticize the Obama administration for supporting 'livability' programs, calling them social engineering. Neal Pierce argues that 'livability' is shorthand for a strategy that tackles a number of serious problems.

June 7, 2010 - Citiwire.net

TOD in Peril on Route 66

A planned extension of Los Angeles' Gold Line light rail out through the Route 66 towns of Azusa and Glendora was sold as a way to bring transit-oriented development to struggling towns. With the economy down, will it still work?

June 7, 2010 - Pasadena Star News

Green Urbanism's Affordability Problem

Nature writer David Oates embeds himself in green, urban Portland and finds much to like about the green city movement but also much room for improvement.

June 5, 2010 - Orion

Photographing a Decade of Change in New York City

More than 100 photographers were set out on the streets of New York as part of a six month project to document the changes the city has gone through over the past decade.

June 5, 2010 - The Architect's Newspaper

Free Courses to Improve Russia's Cities

To help change the pattern of development in Russian cities, free courses are being offered to local architects about solving the problems facing the countries growing urban areas.

June 4, 2010 - The Moscow Times

Countering Car-Orientation

Cities around the world are trying to undo decades of car-oriented planning. Lester Brown takes a look at the trend and finds some models for other global cities to follow.

June 3, 2010 - Grist

Cisco Helps Build "Instant Cities"

Cisco is contributing technology to Songdo City in South Korea, a brand new and complete city for a million people. China plans to build hundreds of these "cities-in-a-box" as a massive rural-to-urban migration occurs there.

June 3, 2010 - San Jose Mercury News

Federal Fortresses: How Much Building Security is Too Much?

Maureen McAvey, Executive Vice President with the Urban Land Institute, spoke recently to a congressional committee on the growing problem of federal buildings that are designed with myopic attention to security and ignore urban growth strategies.

June 3, 2010 - Maureen McAvey

Pint-Sized Apartments Hit So Cal

Manhattanites are no stranger to 350 sq ft apartments, but Southern Californians? Tiny apartments in Santa Monica are popular, increasing access to amenities in a very expensive market.

June 2, 2010 - Kansas City Star

Metropolises Aren't Sustainable

Famed architect Leon Krier says that "metropolitan development is a mistake and is unsustainable," calling for a more polycentric approach.

June 2, 2010 - The Urban Vision

FREE Course: Walkable City 1: Why Walkability?

After describing his path towards focusing on walkability as the essence of good planning, Jeff Speck marches through his five principal reasons for making more walkable places.

Reinventing Malls: Planning Alchemy—Turning Gray Fields Into Gold

The course focuses on the opportunities and imperatives that shape reinvention of mall sites.

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.