Colorado

America's Most Expensive Town

Edging out places like Beverly Hills, the town of Aspen, Colorado, has seen its property values on a consistent rise, making it the most expensive town in America.

March 12, 2011 - The Wall Street Journal

Is the Nation's Affordable Housing Supply Overwhelmed?

Colleen O'Connor, a writer for The Denver Post, uses the case of Colorado to demonstrate what she sees as an inadequate supply of affordable housing across the country.

March 3, 2011 - The Denver Post

Boulder's Smart Grid 'Bloody Nose'

Three years ago, Boulder grabbed international attention when it announced plans to construct a "smart grid" of high tech tools to help cut its electricity consumption. But that project has gone way over budget.

February 3, 2011 - Time

The Best Greens for Your Green Roof

The Department of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture at Colorado State has indentified five particular species of plant that work well in semi-arid climates for green roofs.

January 21, 2011 - Energy Daily

The Allure Of Light Rail Transit

Centering on Denver as the epi-center of light rail development in the U.S., NPR reports on a new wave of light rail and streetcar projects sweeping the nation as cities hope to attract the latest talent and urban development to become "world-class".

December 29, 2010 - NPR: Morning Edition

Taking Over a Ghost Town

This piece from The New York Times offers a first hand look at life in a modern day mining ghost town from someone who is steadily buying up empty buildings.

November 2, 2010 - The New York Times

A Return to Physical Planning

Planetizen talks with Peter J. Park, Manager of Community Planning and Development for the City of Denver, Colorado, about the return of physical planning, the city's form-based code, and more.

October 25, 2010 - Tim Halbur

Prizes for Public Participation

Looking to spur civic engagement, officials in Boulder, Colorado are experimenting with unusual incentives for attendees of city-sponsored meetings.

October 25, 2010 - Daily Camera

Another City Bans Plastic Bags

Telluride, CO just became the latest U.S. city to ban the distribution of plastic shopping bags, following on the heels of communities in California, North Carolina, Alaska, Connecticut, and Washington.

October 12, 2010 - USA Today

Can A City Function on Low Taxes?

Colorado Springs, Colorado has some of the lowest property taxes in the nation, and its heavily right-wing residents like it that way. But with the recession, the lack of tax income is causing some heavy cuts to city services.

September 8, 2010 - Governing Magazine

Heavy Rail to Link Denver and Airport

Work has begun on a long-sought rail line linking downtown Denver to the city's international airport.

August 31, 2010 - USA Today

Kelo Redux: Struggling Malls

The eminent domain case of Kelo vs. New London is seeing new relevance in cities across the country, as empty malls are being classified by locals as blight.

August 18, 2010 - Retail Traffic

When Does a Failing Mall Become "Blighted"?

In Westminster, Colorado, the city's economic development department is attempting to have the Westminster Mall blighted and thus up for seizing through eminent domain.

August 12, 2010 - Retail Traffic Magazine

When is a Suburb Not a Suburb?

Joel Kotkin has said there is a war on suburbia. But as Michael Scott writes on New Geography (Kotkin's home base), where does suburbia start and the city end? Where do inner-ring suburbs fit in this model?

August 7, 2010 - New Geography

Bike Advocacy Rule #1: Show Up!

Bike Blogger Richard Masoner offers some tips on how to successfully advocate for effective bicycle facilities, covering the gamut from bike parking to placement of bike sharrows.

July 28, 2010 - Cyclelicious (bicycle blog)

Stepping Warily into the World of Form-Based Codes

Citywide form-based codes are gaining in popularity, with Miami's recently implemented code and a new code in Denver. But some architects worry about if and how these new codes will impact their work and the look of their cities.

July 20, 2010 - Architect

Successful Bike Sharing Program Now Needs Bikable Streets

In this editorial, the Denver Post applauds the early success of the city's new bike-sharing program (launched on Earth Day) but notes that what's missing is urban street infrastructure for cyclists though there are plenty of recreational trails.

June 29, 2010 - The Denver Post

Public-Private-Partnership Ready To Build Rail To Denver Airport

Known as PPPs, these consortiums combine the best of public and private sectors to finance, build and operate large projects quickly and efficiently. The 23-mile rail line from downtown's Union Station is expected to start soon and open in 2016.

June 25, 2010 - The Denver Post

Town Bans Bikes Over Safety Concerns

Black Hawk, Colorado, population 100, has seen increased traffic since building a casino in 1991. Officials say their narrow, Gold Rush-era streets are not up to accommodating both bikes and vehicles, so bikes are verboten.

June 21, 2010 - The Guardian U.K.

TOD Commands A Premium In Denver

Apartment seekers are willing to pay more for places next to transit, says a market analysis by Grubb & Ellis. Proximity to transit was the #1 factor in their decision.

June 15, 2010 - The Denver Post

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.