Urban Development

Planning an 'Eco-City'

This piece from Scientific American looks at plans for three "eco-cities".

September 27, 2008 - Scientific American

Industrial Land Eyed For Green Future in L.A.

Officials in Los Angeles are hoping to turn a former brownfield site into the centerpiece of a new downtown green industrial district.

September 26, 2008 - Los Angeles Times

Plan Approved to Un-Sprawl Tysons Corner

In an effort to recreate sprawling Tysons Corner into a dense urban environment, county supervisors have unanimously approved a plan to build higher, denser, more transit oriented and more walkable.

September 26, 2008 - The Washington Post

Cars, Kids, and a Safer Environment Through Planning

Urban areas are filled with cars, and this creates an unsafe environment for children. This commentary argues that officials need to regain their faith in the power of planning to address the issue.

September 25, 2008 - Guardian

Judge To City: Stop The Manhattanization Of Downtown!

In a huge blow to a city already polarized by a ballot-box planning initiative affecting open space on the November ballot, a judge has halted downtown redevelopment by rejecting the Environmental Impact Report in part because of the 'shadow effect'.

September 25, 2008 - San Mateo County Times

After Andrew, Homestead Bounces Back

Once nearly obliterated by Hurricane Andrew, Homestead, FL, is now a thriving city with a bigger and more diverse population than ever. This article takes a look at how it got there and how it plans to further reinvent itself.

September 24, 2008 - The Wall Street Journal

House Hunting on Two Wheels

Real estate agents at Pedal to Properties, a Colorado-based company, gives house tours by bike.

September 24, 2008 - Rocky Mountain News

Cities Reconsider Mandatory Parking

Cities around the country are beginning to think twice about having off-street parking requirements for every new development. Those who oppose these "parking minimums" say that it creates too much parking and stifles the growth of cities.

September 24, 2008 - MSNBC

Wendell Cox, New Urbanist?

Wendell Cox reviews Atlanta's new Atlantic Station, and is pleasantly surprised to find lots of parking underneath the New Urbanist-style development. Could this be the inevitable blend of urban and suburban?

September 23, 2008 - newgeography

The Debate Over Prefab

Prefab is less wasteful, green and affordable? Not according to Chad Ludeman, who has taken the pulse of the prefab field and found it wanting.

September 23, 2008 - Treehugger

Cape Town's Growth Outpaces Infrastructure Funding

The pace of development in Cape Town, South Africa, is too fast for the city to keep up with infrastructure improvements. Officials are calling for increased gas taxes to generate funding for maintenance of roads and other infrastructure.

September 22, 2008 - Cape Times

HUD Says 'Too Many Houses on the Market'

HUD Secretary Steven Preston said this week that the U.S. is facing a 'fundamental oversupply' of houses, which will continue to weigh down the economy.

September 21, 2008 - Pittsburg Post-Gazette

Improvement District Strikes Fear in Small Businesses

Tacoma, Washington has created a local improvement district in the Broadway-St. Helens neighborhood to create an 'urban village' and improve old infrastructure, but existing small businesses are afraid of being priced out.

September 20, 2008 - The News Tribune

Predicting McCain and Obama's Effect on Cities

Neal Pierce asks the question, 'Who's Best for Cities, McCain or Obama?' The evidence has been difficult to come by, but Pierce unearths some clues and makes some logical predictions.

September 19, 2008 - Citiwire.net

Toronto's High-Rise Boom Could Mean End of Sprawl

Toronto is swimming in high-rise construction, with the second highest rate in the world. Some say this shift to the urban core spells the end of sprawl in Toronto.

September 19, 2008 - Globe and Mail

The Books of Moses

Robert Moses, New York's controversial master builder, is the subject of a new series of novels.

September 19, 2008 - The New York Times

The Bust Belt

How exurban expansion paves the way for the next housing crisis.

September 19, 2008 - Culture11

Chinatown Debates Gentrification, as Hipsters Descend

New York's Chinatown has been impenetrable to non-Chinese entrepreneurs for a century, but new glitzy bars and restaurants are beginning to push through. In a neighborhood that has suffered since 9/11, locals debate the merits of outsider investment.

September 18, 2008 - Time Out NY

Cheap Sicilian Villas, Some Strings Attached

In Salemi, Italy, 3000 villas ravaged in a 1968 earthquake are now on the market for about U.S.$1.41. However, interested buyers must adhere to a number of stipulations, including a two-year deadline for development.

September 18, 2008 - Newsweek

A Grand Public Space in Indianapolis

Civic leaders in Indianapolis are considering closing Monument Circle to traffic. Says one, "From a European perspective, this could be one of the great public spaces in America."

September 17, 2008 - Indianapolis Business Journal

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.