Urban Development

The Future of Boston in the Age of the City

As theorists predict we are entering the age of the city, Boston Globe architecture critic Robert Campbell reflects on what this shift will mean and how Boston's landscape will change as a result.

March 31, 2009 - The Boston Globe

A Blueprint For Making Cities Efficient, Sustainable And Livable

Nicolai Ouroussoff, architecture critic for The New York Times, argues that the time is right for a new vision of rebirth for America's ailing cities. He applies this new vision to the challenges of New Orleans, Los Angeles, the Bronx, and Buffalo.

March 30, 2009 - The New York Times

One City, Two New Stadia

Paul Goldberger looks at the two new baseball stadia opening in New York this Spring.

March 30, 2009 - The New Yorker

Without Rail, Sydney Will Fall Behind Global Cities

Without a proper light rail system, Sydney will get left behind as other global cities progress into a diverse transit future, according to planning expert Peter Newman.

March 29, 2009 - The Sydney Morning Herald

Funding Street Networks, Not Sprawl: A Conversation With CNU's John Norquist

Streetsblog speaks with CNU President John Norquist about how federal policy can live up to the promises of "sustainable communities" coming from DOT and HUD.

March 28, 2009 - Streetsblog

Clash of Subways and Car Culture in Chinese Cities

The question is whether the burrowing machines can outrace China’s growing love affair with the automobile.

March 27, 2009 - The New York Times

"Land of Extremes" Feels the Hurt

California's Inland Empire's status as one of the nation's leader in foreclosures has fleeing retail as proof of it. This article offers a glimpse in this "land of extremes."

March 26, 2009 - The New York Times

Boston Neighborhoods to See Rail-Related Upgrades

New stations for the Fairmount rail line in Boston has made its surrounding neighborhoods targets for redevelopment by community organizations, which may rebuild up to a dozen properties.

March 26, 2009 - The Boston Globe

Chicago's Spire May Get Union Funding

The site of the Chicago Spire, now an undeveloped eyesore, may soon see progress, as its developer and AFL-CIO negotiate for funding.

March 26, 2009 - Chicago Tribune

HUD Homeownership Program Shows Promise

An ambitious HUD program promoting homeownership in troubled neighborhoods is, by some accounts, "one of the more intelligent things HUD has done in its history."

March 26, 2009 - The Christian Science Monitor

"Communiversity": A Bond You Can't Break

College towns fare relatively well during a recession due to the stable, highly skilled work force colleges offer their communities.

March 25, 2009 - The Wall Street Journal

Unbuilt Skyscrapers Mean Sky-High Unemployment

No work has been done on the Chicago Spire, the city's latest planned skyscraper, since the credit market froze up in January. A brief look at the blow to the building industry, in which joblessness is at a rate of 21.4%.

March 25, 2009 - Reuters UK

Not Quite the Urban Utopia

When Andres Duany planned the village of Cornell, he built in walkability, density, and mixed-use. The outcome, however, falls short of the New Urbanist vision; driving is the norm and retail is scarce. What happened?

March 25, 2009 - Posted Toronto

Lawrence Ferlinghetti's Urban Vision

Poet and longtime San Francisco Lawrence Ferlinghetti told Streetsblog his vision for an urban park in North Beach, in this video interview.

March 25, 2009 - Streetsblog SF

Signs of Spring for Smart Growth

The $787 billion American Recovery and Reinvestment Act that President Obama signed on Feb. 17 left advocates of compact and transit-oriented development practically biting their tongues.

March 24, 2009 - New Urban News

Rectilinear Grids Make a Comeback

In these austere times, some urbanists are advocating greater use of the traditional rectilinear grid — an efficient, less expensive, but also challenging pattern.

March 23, 2009 - New Urban News

A Carbon-Neutral City?

A region known more for carbon emissions strives to create a carbon-neutral city powered by renewable energy and designed to reduce overall energy demand.

March 23, 2009 - Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Directing Raleigh's Future

A new comprehensive plan being released in Raleigh has many -- both in and out of the city -- wondering what's the best way to grow in the post-sprawl world.

March 22, 2009 - Raleigh Durham Independent Weekly

A New Paris, as Dreamed by Planners

Nine-month study commissioned by President Nicolas Sarkozy aims to transform Paris and its surrounding suburbs into the first sustainable “post-Kyoto" city.

March 19, 2009 - The New York Times

New York's Post-Bubble Future

The economic downturn and burst of the real estate bubble have thrown a wrench into New York City's broad plans for redevelopment and environmental redesign. This piece looks at what lies ahead for the city.

March 19, 2009 - The New York Times

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.