Urban Development
On The Importance Of Congestion
Congestion is one of the most common complaints about a city, whether it's L.A., New York, Beijing, or Sydney. This article takes a look at how congestion is important to making a city what it is.
Green Condos in Downtown L.A. Defy the Cooling Housing Market
Developers plan to continue with a major project in downtown L.A. despite a slowing market, confident in demand for environmentally-friendly homes and walkable, urban neighborhoods.
San Jose: 'Not For Sale By Owner'
Economist Peter Gordon reflects on a recent tour of San Jose, California -- where the so-called "revitalized" downtown is dead and nearly one-third of the city is blighted.
School And Condo Mixed Use Plan Meets Opposition
Plans to reconstruct a New York school with a high-rise condo development on top have riled neighbors, arguing that the plan would grossly violate zoning restrictions.
Finding A Housing Balance: Houses Vs. Apartments
A planning expert in Wales is warning that many cities are endanger of pushing families out to the suburbs by focusing solely on high-density development.
Sacramento To Decide Fate Of Downtown Railyards
The fate of Developer Richard Rich's vision for 240 acres of downtown Sacramento will be decided by the city's planning commission upcoming vote.
Plan For The Community, Not Developers
Philadelphia's new waterfront plan should lead the charge to take back the planning process from the city's real estate interests, argues one citizen activist.
Gentrification Burnout?
The gentrification of Brooklyn's Red Hook neighborhood was supposed to be inevitable, yet recently, the area has lost its sheen. Has New York's gentrification wave found its highpoint?
High-Rise Proposals Spur Outrage In Paris
Officials in Paris plan to unveil sketches of high-rise developments proposed for the outer rings of the city -- a development type nearly two-thirds of Parisians oppose. Many argue that the aesthetic focus shortchanges social concerns in the city.
Meeting Standards May Not Be Enough In Portland
A proposed plan in Portland, Oregon would force builders and developers who only meet minimum energy efficiency standards in new projects to pay a fee, while projects that exceed standards would receive cash awards.
West Hollywood's Laundry List Of Poor Planning
This blog post from LAist bemoans the rampant development of West Hollywood and outlines "Ten Reasons to be Pissed at the WeHo City Planners".
G.I. Mixed Use
This article looks at Fort Belvoir, the mixed use military base.
BRT Inspires Density In Johannesburg
A broad bus rapid transit system in the works in Johannesburg, South Africa, is sparking a wildfire of dense, mixed use development plans for the city.
New Urban Projects Faring Well In Declining Market
New Urban and transit oriented developments are showing better financial health compared to other types of development as the housing market declines nationwide.
'Cargo Oriented Development' Brings Life To Industrial Areas
This piece from Smart Growth Online looks at transit oriented development near transit and freight facilities -- dubbed "cargo oriented development" -- as discusses how it can create value in neglected industrial areas.
Coney Island Amusement District May Be Preserved As Park
Plans call to remap Coney Island's amusement district as parkland, allowing further amusement and recreational development, but blocking proposed high-rise condo towers.
Changing Tides In Chinese Planning
Metropolis Magazine talks with Chinese architect and planner Huasheng Sun about how the two fields have changed as the country transitioned from communism to a more capitalist society.
The 'Ad-Hoc' Redevelopment of New Orleans
Rebuilding and redevelopment continues is New Orleans, with a wide variety of architectural styles creating a patchwork in the city. Some say this free-form redevelopment is good for the city, but others are calling it a mistake.
Urban Revitalization Through Libraries
Cities across the world are investing in their libraries as opportunities to create world-class architecture and tourist attractions.
UK Healthy Towns: A Step Too Far?
The government in the UK has announced plans to create "healthy towns" that encourage exercise through urban design. Is this idea going too far to control peoples' activity?
Pagination
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.
Tyler Technologies
New York City School Construction Authority
Village of Glen Ellyn
Transportation Research & Education Center (TREC) at Portland State University
Chaddick Institute at DePaul University
Institute for Housing and Urban Development Studies (IHS)
Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada
Toledo-Lucas County Plan Commissions