Urban Development
An Interview With Two Of Canada's Top Planners
Toronto's Robert Freedman and Vancouver's Brent Toderian offer their thoughts on good city building.
Who Wants To Live Next To A Celebrity?
Developers of high-end condo projects are offering celebrities discounts on units, in hopes that their names will help sell a property.
Thoreau's Walden May Become A Soccer Field
This report from NPR looks at a Massachusetts school's efforts to build soccer fields in part of the forest Henry David Thoreau wrote about in his book Walden.
$1.5 Billion Plan To Bring Hollywood To Austin
An ambitious $1.5 billion mixed-use project announced recently in Austin, Texas, proposes to anchor a 681-acre development with sound stages and other media-focused infrastructure. Will this project die a slow death like similar efforts before it?
The Link Between Impact Fees And Growth
The city of Tuscon, Arizona is considering adding new impact fees to cover the cost of municipal services, but the new fees might stymie growth and encourage sprawl.
Getting 'Creative' To Protect Artists' Spaces
A consultant's report recommends Atlanta codify the protection of artists' spaces in new zoning. Many cities are trying to redress the "Catch-22" of gentrification -- the displacement of artists from neighborhoods they helped turn around.
Is The Worst Over For The Massachusetts Housing Market?
Market research shows that though buyers still have an advantage, the Massachusetts housing market will shows signs of stability over the next six to twelve months.
Tokyo Project Sets Mixed Use 'Benchmark'
This report looks at the new Tokyo Midtown mega-development, which the author suggests will become the new standard for mixed use.
Ventura, CA Adopts Downtown Retail And Office Strategy
Bill Fulton, a city council member for Ventura, California, offers an insider's view on adoption of the city's downtown retail and office strategy. The consultant's report.
Wildlife Returns To Contaminated Canal -- Will Housing Follow?
A canal in Brooklyn has been contaminated by sewage and runoff for years, but as conditions begin to improve, developers are thinking about ways to build houses in the primarily industrial area.
New Report Claims Density Hasn't Worked For Sydney
The policy of urban consolidation that Sydney has followed for 20 years is straining the region's infrastructure, while providing little to no affordable housing, argues a newly published paper.
Planning Not A Priority For Philly's 'Would-be' Mayors
While Philadelphia may be hosting this year's National Planning Conference, a recent forum demonstrated that the current candidates for Mayor lack any sort of vision for the city's development.
Andrés Duany On Austin
With the annual Congress for New Urbanism coming to town in 2008, Duany offers his thoughts on the Texas Capital on a recent visit.
City Subsidizes Gentrification In Black Neighborhoods
With tax abatement for 5 to 15 years for renovated properties, the City of Richmond, Virginia, loses $14.6 million each year in real estate taxes. Meanwhile, long-time residents are pushed out by high taxes for unrenovated houses they own or rent.
Affordable Housing Not Adding Up In New Orleans
Despite vastly higher levels of federal affordable housing tax credits awarded to Louisiana, developers are pulling out of projects because they can't make sufficient profits.
Citizens Use Second Life For Public Input On Design
A residents' association in Paris is inviting locals to share their ideas about redeveloping a garden and public space in the center of the city by creating them in the virtual reality world Second Life.
Redevelopment Projects Have Some Residents Wary
Surrounded by major government centers and large new public works projects, Old Town Alexandria, Virginia, is preparing to reveal a plan to redevelop its waterfront -- a revival effort many residents are wary of.
Riverfront's Potential For Improving Quality Of Life
Harris Steinberg, director of PennPraxis, outlines one important lesson from the Central Delaware Waterfront Planning Process, which his organization is charged with leading. He describes the importance of open space as a catalyst for development.
Feeling Negative Smart Growth Side Effects
After New Jersey's Washington Township built a new smart growth-style town center, new residents jumped to move in. But lack of coordination among state agencies may now be contributing to the township's challenges with education and taxes.
From Struggling Town To Luxury Resort
A small Swiss village may become a new luxury resort, as Egyptian investors have targeted the site for redevelopment. Many residents were at first apprehensive, but have come to see the redevelopment as a savior for their struggling home
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.
Caltrans
City of Fort Worth
Mpact (founded as Rail~Volution)
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
City of Portland
City of Laramie
