Urban Development

Implications of Driving Less

A new report from the American Public Transportation Association hypothesizes that people who live in places shaped by transit tend to drive less thereby reducing their overall petroleum use and their carbon footprint.

March 16, 2008 - American Public Transportation Association (APTA)

Public Buildings with a Side of Art

Included in the budget of any new county building in Los Angeles County is a 1% line item for the creation of public art -- part of a public art program initiated in 2004. The first building to utilize this line item has just been completed.

March 13, 2008 - The Los Angeles Times

Young Professionals Drawn in by Yonkers Waterfront Redevelopment

Downtown waterfront redevelopment is attracting a new kind of resident to Yonkers, New York.

March 12, 2008 - The New York Times

A Lonely Fighter Defending Sprawl

Libertarian economist Randal O'Toole has become notorious for defending sprawl in recent years. This article from The Toronto Star wonders if he might have a valid point.

March 12, 2008 - The Toronto Star

Wilshire Grows and Traffic Follows

A swath of residential developments are ushering in a more dense and more lively atmosphere into L.A.'s Wilshire corridor. But many are concerned that the new residences will add too much traffic to an already congested area.

March 11, 2008 - The Los Angeles Times

How Will Changing Cities React?

Cities are undergoing major changes in terms of demographics and development patterns. How cities will react to these changes remains up in the air.

March 11, 2008 - The Guardian

Clamoring for Urbanity in Waco

Proposed housing developments in the urban core of Waco, Texas, have given many in the city high hopes for a denser, more vibrant central city.

March 11, 2008 - The Waco Tribune

Similar Sister Cities

A look at the similarities between Los Angeles and Mexico City.

March 11, 2008 - LA Weekly

Neighborhood's Unchecked Facelift Highlights Poor Planning

Poor planning is allowing uncontrolled and rapid gentrification to destroy Toronto's Liberty Village neighborhood, according to this article from The Toronto Star.

March 11, 2008 - The Toronto Star

High Rising Along Toronto's Lakefront

Officials in Toronto have announced plans to densify the city's waterfront with a redevelopment effort that stands to create high rises along the lakefront.

March 10, 2008 - Toronto Sun

Urbanismo Nuevo

New Urbanism sprouts up in Baja California, Mexico.

March 10, 2008 - The New York Times

Immigrants Feeling Push of Gentrification

Gentrification of one of Vancouver's low-cost neighborhoods in pushing immigrant populations out of the city.

March 7, 2008 - The Vancouver Sun

Suburb Eyes Urban Density

Officials in the Phoenix suburb of Chandler are rallying behind proposals to increase density in the city, arguing that the urban shift will make the city more vibrant.

March 6, 2008 - The Arizona Republic

Small Town Approaching its Final Days

A proposed development in rural Southern California could erase one of the area's few remaining small towns, replacing it with a massive subdivision that would extend the sprawl of Los Angeles even farther north.

March 5, 2008 - The Los Angeles Times

Canada's Ready for Urban Shift

The age of the suburbs may be coming to an end in America, and conditions in Canada are even more ripe for this transition to urban density.

March 4, 2008 - The Toronto Star

Koolhaas' Dubai Master Plan is Bold and Reserved

In his 1.5 billion square-foot master plan for a waterfront city in Dubai, architect Rem Koolhaas has proposed a dense and elaborate city, but one that doesn't try to rely too much on flashy high-end architecture.

March 3, 2008 - The New York Times

Zoning Changes Bring Good and Bad in Downtown Seattle

Zoning changes in downtown Seattle have created a more dense area, as was intended. But the zoning changes are also bringing some unintended consequences.

March 2, 2008 - The Stranger

Redirecting Sprawl

Reining sprawl may require "redirecting" it.

March 1, 2008 - The Hartford Courant

End of Downtown Construction Boom May Be Near

Two notable large-scale projects in downtown L.A. have not broken ground on time, which many see as a sign of the end of downtown's real estate boom.

March 1, 2008 - The Architect's Newspaper

Beneath the Surface of L.A.'s Densification

This article from the LA Weekly looks at efforts by the city planning department and key politicians to increase the density of the city.

February 29, 2008 - LA Weekly

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.