Urban Development

Vancouver Releases Charter For Future Growth

The city of Vancouver has released a list of planning proposals it hopes will become the guiding document for future growth and development in the city. The main proposals include increasing density and open spaces.

May 26, 2007 - The Vancouver Sun

Boomers Flocking To Arlington County's Metro Corridor After Life-Changing Events

Major life changes affecting families, such as the death or divorce of a spouse, is often the stimulus needed for boomers to seek a new life in the vibrant Rosslyn-Ballston corridor along the Metro line in Arlington County, Virginia near D.C.

May 26, 2007 - The Washington Post

Friday Funny: When A Planner Becomes A NIMBY

A planner's perspective on the wisdom of infill development can change when the lot next door is under construction.

May 25, 2007 - Tucson Citizen

Beijing's Hutongs Falling Victim To Development Pressure

As property prices spiral upward in Beijing, some tenants in the city's 600-year-old hutong alleyways are rushing to cash in on their neighborhoods' destruction.

May 25, 2007 - The Christian Science Monitor

Hawaii's Building Boom Unearthing Graves

Several projects on the Hawaiian Islands have run into unmarked grave sites, causing delays and creating controversy over moving sacred remains.

May 24, 2007 - Yahoo! News

City Will Provide Basic Services To Slum Dwellers

The mayor of Cape Town, South Africa, has announced a plan to provide water, lighting, and sanitation to all of the city's densely-packed slum dwellers.

May 24, 2007 - Mail & Guardian

274 Years Later, Historic City Finally Realizes Master Plan

The City of Savannah is picking up where its founder started by adding a new 56-acre mixed-use project originally envisioned as part of its 1733 master plan.

May 24, 2007 - The New York Times

New Orleans Unified Plan Adopted By City Planning Commission

The plan's approval by the city planning commission comes along with criticism about its flaws and lack of funding.

May 23, 2007 - The Times-Picayune

Fairfax County Moves To Limit Big-Box Retail

Fairfax County Supervisors have approved a new measure to restrict the development of stores larger than 80,000 square feet, against the protests of the business community.

May 23, 2007 - The Washington Post

Egypt's Westernized Suburbs Leave Some Uncomfortable

Western-style suburban developments near Cairo, Egypt, have many concerned that about the loss of local culture.

May 23, 2007 - The Los Angeles Times

To Truly Experience A City, Make No Plans

This column argues that aimless wandering is essential to exploring the character of a city, and offers advice to travelers and city dwellers on letting the urbanism of cities guide their experience.

May 22, 2007 - International Herald Tribune

Boston Metro Plan Calls For Smart, Dense Growth

A new report from a metropolitan planning organization in Boston has outlined the severe land shortages that will face the growing area between now and 2030, and proposes a smart growth plan to preserve open space by growing densely.

May 22, 2007 - The Boston Globe

Urbanization And Declining Birth Rates In Asia

Birth rates have been steadily declining in many Asian countries -- a trend some are attributing partly to rapid industrialization and urbanization.

May 21, 2007 - International Herald Tribune

FAA May Stop Planned D.C. High-Rises Near Metro

The government agency may halt plans for several new high-rise complexes in Arlington, Virginia, due to concerns about the danger posed to planes headed to Reagan Airport.

May 21, 2007 - The Washington Post

City Struggles With Density Issue In Fighting Global Warming

Menlo Park, California, struggles with the compatibility of being green and fighting climate change, while resisting high density housing, even around transit stations and corridors.

May 20, 2007 - Menlo Park Almanac

New York City To Overhaul Building Codes

City leaders hopes the new codes, replacing the current regulations which were adopted in 1968, will make it easier to build safe and sustainable buildings.

May 18, 2007 - International Construction Review

Differences Over Mixed-Use Emerge In East Austin

After initially supporting the city's new mixed-use ordinance, some residents of East Austin asking the city to apply the brakes on adoption of the measure due to concerns about gentrification.

May 18, 2007 - Austin American-Statesman

Are Cities The Key To Success In The 21st Century?

Bruce Katz of The Brookings Institution argues that the health and vitality of cities will determine which nations will prosper in this century -- which he has dubbed the 'Urban Age'.

May 17, 2007 - The Brookings Institution

New Orleans Neighborhood Takes Recovery Into Its Own Hands

While lower-class neighborhoods struggle to recover, an active civic organization is using land speculation and market forces to rebuild a neighborhood in New Orleans.

May 17, 2007 - The York Dispatch

Toronto's Don Lands Project To Transform Waterfront

Ambitious plans for a new neighborhood on 2,400 acres of polluted lakefront are underway near downtown Toronto.

May 17, 2007 - Business Week

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.