Urban Development

Lennar Defies Housing Market Trends

Across the country home sales are slowing and prices are dropping. The trend is causing most production home builders scale back their development plans. However, Lennar views the slowdown differently.

October 1, 2006 - The Miami Herald

A New Model For The Vertical Mall

A new high-rise mall on San Francisco's Market Street may provide a model for reviving other downtown shopping districts.

October 1, 2006 - The Los Angeles Times

Inclusionary Zoning Approved In Rhode Island

A Rhode Island Planning Board has approved regulations requiring developers to build affordable houses in all projects over 6 units.

September 30, 2006 - The Providence Journal

Urban Growth Threatening Africa's Cities

As more and more African's move to cities, experts fear the growth of huge slum-filled mega cities, unable to meet the demand for basic services.

September 30, 2006 - Business in Africa

Cooling U.S. Economy Good For Canadian Housing Market

Contrary to American housing markets, Canadian housing sales have continued to grow this year.

September 30, 2006 - Times Colonist

California 'Coconut House' McMansion Wins AIA Award

Architectural award bestowed upon an eco-friendly California McMansion in a neighborhood of bungalows.

September 29, 2006 - The Los Angeles Times

Smart Growth Threatens City's Character

Pasadena residents say new denser mixed-use development is threatening the character of the city.

September 28, 2006 - The Los Angeles Times

Scotland Looks To Reform Planning Practices

Scotland may be on the cusp of overhauling its planning practices, which are now seen as cumbersome, exclusive, and outdated.

September 28, 2006 - Mike Lydon

New York City's Affordable Housing Wizard

Shaun Donovan, commissioner of the New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development, is winning cheers for his innovative thinking as he works to meet the city's ambitious housing goals.

September 28, 2006 - The New York Times

Downtown Shopping Malls Are Ripe For Expansion

Bloomingdale's opening in San Francisco on Sept. 28 is just another sign of major retailers investing in downtowns despite the higher costs.

September 27, 2006 - The San Francisco Chronicle

Florida Residents Sue To Prevent Eminent Domain

A day after Riviera Beach contracted with a developer for hotels, condos, marinas, shops and a new harbor, and 4 months after Gov. Bush signed a law outlawing government seizure of land for private development, 4 property owners filed a suit.

September 27, 2006 - Suen-Sentinel.com

Charlotte Hopes For Transit-Oriented Development

While the city's light-rail system is plagued with construction delays and cost overruns, developers are waiting in the wings with plans for urban transit villages along the line.

September 27, 2006 - The Charlotte Observer

Sprawl Isn't The Answer For Affordable Housing

An editorial from a building industry leader criticizes the Australian government's simplistic thinking on increasing the production of affordable housing.

September 27, 2006 - The Age

A Smart Growth Olympics?

Chicago area boosters are touting their plan for a "compact games" as they bid for the 2016 Olympics.

September 27, 2006 - Associated Press

Who's Rebuilding New Orleans?

The reconstruction of New Orleans is also reconfiguring the city's demographics.

September 27, 2006 - The Slatin Report

A Boston Architectural Icon Turns 30

Despite a rocky start, the 30 years old John Hancock Tower has become Boston's greatest example of modern architecture.

September 27, 2006 - The Boston Globe

Promoting Green 'Rebuilding' In New Orleans

The winning of a housing design competition sponsored by actor Brad Pitt end environmental non-profit Global Green USA demonstrates how eco-friendly architecture can remake New Orleans.

September 26, 2006 - MSNBC

Public Housing Community Goes Green In Seattle

A drab World War II-era public housing project in Seattle has been replaced with what local officials hope will be an environmentally- and economically-sustainable community.

September 26, 2006 - The Seattle Times

Detroit's Lafayette Park: An Urban Renewal Success Story

Designed in the 1960s as part of a wave of largely unsuccessful urban renewal projects across the U.S., this continuously thriving mixed-income and racially integrated community just east of downtown Detroit stands as a model of good urban design.

September 25, 2006 - The Detroit Free Press

The Manhattanization Of Toronto

With the city mostly built out, and more residents looking to live in the urban core, Toronto planners and developers are busy building the city upwards.

September 25, 2006 - The Toronto Star

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.