Urban Development
Chilly Kazakhstan Building Indoor City
In the capital city of Astana, temperatures can drop to -40F. Kazakhstan's president Nursultan Nazarbayev says the city is fighting the cold by building an entirely indoor city, under a dome 2 kilometers across.
Amid a Slow Recovery, Frustration Grows in Haiti
Frustration and anger are rampant in Port-au-Prince, where recovery from the earthquake that thrashed the city in January has been slow and, by some local accounts, corrupt.
Revamped Coney Island Opens
A new amusement and entertainment section has opened at New York City's Coney Island. Long suffering from disrepair and neglect, the new development marks a turnaround. But some locals still object.
Citizens Fight Cookie-Cutter Design in Birmingham
Residents of Birmingham, Alabama are rallying against a drive-through Chick-fil-A going up in their neighborhood, showing a growing awareness of the effect of development on the character of their community.
Seattle's Backyard Cottages Encouraged
Don't call them granny flats or inlaw units! These are separate units that can only be built on lots of 4,000 sq. ft. minimum. Only 50 have been built or permitted since the trial began in 2006. The goal is to bring affordabllity to SFH neighborhoods
Looking Forward to the Future in Columbus
Like Daniel Burnham's famous Chicago plan, a bold plan for Columbus, Ohio has been proposed by the Columbus Downtown Development Corp. The plan, developed by consultant MSI Design, hearkens back to turn-of-the-century city plans that went unrealized.
In Reusing Infrastructure, D.C. Should Look to NYC
Columnist Roger K. Lewis says Washington D.C. has a lot to learn from New York City in terms of reusing old and outdated infrastructure.
Saudi Arabia Looks to Build Major Rail Hub in Capital
Officials in the Saudi capital of Riyadh are planning to build a central rail hub with an annual passenger capacity of more than 800,000. The station is expected to be complete by 2013.
Development Proposed Near Wrigley Field Not As Bad As Feared
A proposed hotel, apartment and retail complex right across from Chicago's Wrigley Field has many in the city up in arms about what they fear will be just another shopping mall ruining the area's urban feel. But those fears are unfounded.
How Portland Sold Its Banks on Walkable Development
Finding financing is one of the biggest challenges for transit-oriented development. How did Portland convince its lenders to get on board?
Are San Francisco Planners Going Too Far?
Architects in San Francisco say that the Planning Department has gotten increasingly involved in design decisions over the past two years, favoring traditional projects over contemporary designs.
Remaking Southern California Cities
A video created for the Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG) presents a serious look at what infill development would look like in Ventura and Fullerton.
Houston, A Model City for the U.S.
Houston is often the butt of many urban planners' jokes. With no formal zoning, wide roads and huge houses, it's often what urban planners are trying to move American cities away from. Joel Kotkin argues Houston is a model city for the U.S.
Retrofitting a "Planned" City in Mumbai
Navi Mumbai was a planned community built in the 1960s to reduce congestion in the city. The design catered only to the rich, with a golf course and upscale residential development. With a mandate to get more diverse, Navi Mumbai is at a loss.
"Creative Village" Plan for Orlando's Amway Arena
The Amway Arena in Orlando is being torn down and rebuilt, but meanwhile another developer is proposing a "creative village" for 68 acres nearby, with housing, education, gaming, retail, office space, and a "signature central park."
Chickens Come Home To Urban Roost?
Another city, South Florida's Delray Beach, wrestles with whether chickens can co-exist with urban residents.
New Urbanism at 30 and its Impact on America
The Atlantic talks with architect and planner Andres Duany about 30 years of the New Urbanism, and how the urban landscape of America has changed over that time.
A Drastic New Life For Baltimore's Middle Branch Shoreline
Baltimore's Middle Branch waterfront has sat unused for years, since its recent decline as an industrial hub. But a developer has a new plan to drastically remake the 52-acre shoreline.
Building Neighborhoods Through Grocery Stores
To survive, neighborhoods need to be commercially viable. A group called the Food Trust believes grocery stores are a good starting point for creating that economic climate.
Differing Densities in Three Canadian Cities
This report from The Globe and Mail looks at a recent study of three of Canada's big cities -- Vancouver, Calgary and Toronto -- and compares their densities and development patterns.
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.
City of Rosemead
Rutgers University, Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy
One Hundred Miles
University of Michigan School for Environment and Sustainability (SEAS)
Hunter College, City University of New York (CUNY)
The Architects Foundation
City of Cambridge
Montrose County
The Pocatello Development Authority
