Urban Development

Easing Development Approval By Changing Zoning

Revised zoning laws in the town of Amesbury, Massachusetts, look to finally get some development on long-ignored land by making it easier for developers to gain approval from planners.

June 4, 2007 - The Boston Globe

Study: New Jersey Could Reach 'Build-Out' In 50 Years Or Less

New report shows about 15,000 acres are lost to development each year in the Garden State. Much of the development has occurred within the coastal counties.

June 4, 2007 - Courier-Post

More Homeless Than Athletes At 2010 Winter Games

What it will take to provide needed shelter before the Vancouver 2010 Winter Games?

June 4, 2007 - The Tyee

Will Portland's New Transit Mall Exclude Buses?

In order to accommodate the inclusion of light rail, the City of Portland decided to temporarily move its bus lines a block away. The lines have been so successful that many are starting to question if the move should be permanent.

June 3, 2007 - The Oregonian

A Collaborative Approach to Eminent Domain

With the fallout of Kelo v. New London, its critical that planners rethink how redevelopment happens, and who it serves.

June 3, 2007 - Real Estate Issues

Locals Concerned About Growth In Small Town Kauai

On the Hawaiian Island of Kauai, small towns are grappling with plans to develop more than 4,500 housing units. Of the most concern to residents is the increased traffic and strain on roads, so they have proposed a circulation plan.

June 2, 2007 - Honolulu Star Bulletin

Controlling Growth In Shanghai

The population is growing in Shanghai, and the city is running out of space. But before it's too late, the city is crafting plans to help it achieve sustainable growth.

June 1, 2007 - BBC

The Battle Over Gated Greenspace

Communities are stepping up measures to prevent developments from fencing in public areas. The new round of protests comes as the amount of open land in the U.S. is shrinking.

May 31, 2007 - The Wall Street Journal

California Wine Country Develops Resort Status

The Northern California wine country town of Napa is on its way to becoming a high-class resort, with many housing and resort developers breaking ground on big projects.

May 31, 2007 - The San Francisco Chronicle

Boston Tries Its Hand At Artist Housing

A new development in Hyde Park aims to revitalize its business district by attracting artists who are being priced out of Boston's formerly affordable neighborhoods.

May 31, 2007 - The Boston Globe

Using Church Parking Lots As Catalyst For Downtown Redevelopment

A program in Savannah is encouraging downtown churches to redevelop their parking lots to include needed affordable housing and neighborhood services.

May 31, 2007 - Savannah Morning News

New Orleans High-Rise Projects Fall By The Wayside

Though a myriad of development plans have been announced, the slow recovery has put the future of many projects in doubt.

May 31, 2007 - Forbes

The Driving Force Behind NYC's Greening Effort

Rohit Aggarwala, a Columbia-educated former business consultant, is helping to create and implement New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg's sustainability plan -- PlaNYC.

May 31, 2007 - The New York Sun

Vancouver Struggles With Homelessness, Affordable Housing

As Vancouver prepares for the 2010 Winter Olympics, rampant homelessness and a lack of affordable low-income housing threatens to tarnish the city's Olympic gold.

May 31, 2007 - The Tyee

City And School At Odds Over Massive North San Jose Redevelopment Plan

North San Jose's redevelopment plan calls for 32,000 apartments and 7 million sq.ft of industry along the light rail line, but demand for the latter has dropped. Now the school district wants 4 new schools while the city insists only 1 is necessary.

May 30, 2007 - San Jose Mercury News

Denver's Transit Plan Fertilizing Neighborhoods For Density

FasTracks, the Denver metro area's plan to add over 100 miles of rail service, is forcing once suburban communities to consider higher density development.

May 30, 2007 - The Denver Post

Vancouver To Atlanta: 'Congestion Is Our Friend'

In their annual trip to cities that work better than theirs does, Atlanta leaders visit Vancouver to see first-hand the benefits of density, transit and regional planning.

May 30, 2007 - The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

No Water, No Growth

Arizona legislators have passed a bill limiting urban and rural growth in areas where water is in low supply. Final approval is expected from the governor.

May 29, 2007 - The Los Angeles Times

Indianapolis: A Downtown Revitalization Success Story

Using public-private partnerships, the city has successfully attracted new housing and commercial development to its core.

May 28, 2007 - Post-Bulletin

Planning And Public Health Scholars Working Together To Tackle Sprawl

Researchers at the University of Calgary are investigating whether the costs of physical inactivity and obesity could justify stronger regulation to halt sprawl.

May 27, 2007 - Christian Madera

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.

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.