Urban Development
The Difficulty With Implementing Planning Ideals
New urbanist designs can be beautiful in the hands of experts, but the developer's version of idealistic plans may be something else altogether, says Morris Newman, who examines the design of a 500-acre project in Fresno.
Farmland Values Reach Record Heights
The price of farmland is rising rapidly as ethanol fever grabs many farmers who are looking to cash in on the corn-based fuel. But the rising prices are making things harder for smaller farmers, and keeping many prospective farmers out of business.
More Land Secured For Atlanta Beltline Project
The City of Atlanta and a group of investors have purchased another plot of land for the city's Beltline project -- a loop of open spaces, rail lines, and housing and retail developments. This is the first plot purchased in more than a year.
Landlords Find Loophole To Ease Condo Conversion
In the Alberta Province of Canada, a loophole in a law meant to protect tenants from being evicted for condo conversions has been discovered that allows landlords to legally raise the rents as high as they want, effectively pricing tenants out.
Beautification Project Leaves Local Businesses On Shaky Ground
A city-sponsored streetscape beautification project currently under construction in Washington D.C. has been keeping many customers away from local businesses. Many are calling on the city to help out businesses during the construction-caused lull.
Can The Corps Correct Its Mistakes?
Looking back over the two years since Hurricane Katrina devastated New Orleans, the Army Corps of Engineers' continuing work has been closely scrutinized. But will they be able to prepare New Orleans for an even bigger storm?
How Seattle Has Grown
Urban geographer Richard Morrill discusses the history of growth in Seattle, the influences that cause it, and which of the influences can be controlled.
Embracing The Waterfront In Yonkers
With Hudson Riverfront developments finding success in lower Manhattan and Jersey City, the city of Yonkers, New York, is looking to redevelop its own waterfront. There are also plans to unearth a subterranean river and develop along its course.
Developers Move In On Protected Farmland
For 30 years, a farmland conservation program in Long Island was able to keep farmers farming land that was becoming increasingly valuable and sought by developers. But now, the land is being bought by developers and is not being farmed.
Long Ignored, Sleepy Wine Valley Town Gets Champagne Treatment
Nestled in the world famous Napa Valley, the City of Napa, California, is undergoing a rapid transformation from an affordable industrial town into an increasingly upscale community.
The Redevelopment Of Asia's Largest Slum
The Dharavi neighborhood of Mumbai -- home to 600,000 residents -- is set to be razed and rebuilt under a massive redevelopment scheme.
Drinking The 'Downtown Revitalization' Kool-Aid
Boosters like to sell downtown revitalization as crucial to a region's economic interest -- but for most cities, that's rarely the case.
The Left-Leaning NIMBY
In Marin County and other wealthy, liberal enclaves, many residents are vocally supportive of affordable housing and other causes -- unless its in their neighborhood.
California's Best and Worst Downtowns
San Francisco and San Diego are the No. 1 downtowns in California, according to California Planning & Development Report. L.A. is #4, behind Long Beach. Last? Fresno, Fresno, Fresno.
Salt Lake Sky Bridge Becomes Political Hot Button
The controversy over the proposed sky bridge in downtown Salt Lake City has worked its way into the race for mayor.
Creating A Sense Of Place With Modern Day Main Streets
In Missouri, towns are embracing New Urbanism and reviving main street districts or even creating new downtowns where they didn't exist.
Why Gentrification Is Good
Opponents to gentrification often have a romanticized view of neighborhoods that prevents them from seeing how development is beneficial to everyone in a community -- rich and poor.
The Rise Of The Surburban Slum?
William Fulton observes that while high-income households are flocking to the inner-city and gobbling up pricey condos, poor families are having to double and triple up just to afford a home in the suburbs.
A 'Giant Step Forward' For Downtown Los Angeles
City officials are considering ordinances that will allow builders to construct more housing units downtown.
Georgia Hill Country A Case Study For Stopping Sprawl
Planners and environmentalists are hopefully that the use of transfer development rights (TDR) in the Chattahoochee Hill Country south of Atlanta can serve as a model for land conservation efforts nationwide.
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.
City of Rosemead
Rutgers University, Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy
One Hundred Miles
University of Michigan School for Environment and Sustainability (SEAS)
Hunter College, City University of New York (CUNY)
The Architects Foundation
City of Cambridge
Montrose County
The Pocatello Development Authority
