Urban Development

Vancouver Waterfront

Industrial Meets Residential in New Vancouver Zoning

Vancouver created its MX zone as a solution to a persistent challenge for planners—how to retain industrial jobs and affordable housing in downtowns.

January 26, 2015 - The Globe and Mail

Belmont Ice Rink

Retrofitting Dead and Dying Suburban Malls: What Works?

Denver is a national leader in retrofitting the Great American Suburban Mall. But how well are these retrofits working? A comparative analysis of field reports by college-age Millennials offers some insight.

January 25, 2015 - Dean Saitta

Community Gardens are Collateral Damage in New York's Affordable Housing Plans

Here's a head scratcher: in its ambition to meet the affordable housing goals of Mayor Bill de Blasio, the Department of Housing Preservation and Development has proposed the redevelopment of 15 community gardens on city-owned property.

January 24, 2015 - Brownstoner

How California's Cap-and-Trade Will Fund Affordable Housing

The innovative revenue stream known as California's cap-and-trade program is ready to take action by funding affordable housing projects.

January 24, 2015 - LA.Streetsblog

Proposed Planning and Development Reorganization Stalls in Philadelphia

A drastic overhaul of the planning and development processes in Philadelphia is, at least for now, on hold so stakeholders can have more time to analyze the proposal.

January 23, 2015 - philly.com

Ugly L.A.

The Challenge of Re-Orienting Strip Malls for Transit

Bill Lindeke writes of the daunting urban design and planning challenge presented by America's post-war fascination with the strip mall.

January 23, 2015 - MinnPost

Does Limiting Rowhouse Expansions Preserve, or Prevent, Affordable Housing?

The Washington D.C. Zoning Commission is considering a proposal to limit the ability to convert or expand rowhouses. The proposed ordinance has provoked controversy about the effect of the law for the city's supply of housing.

January 22, 2015 - Washington City Paper

New 'Infrastructure Financing District' Proposed for Los Angeles River Improvements

Los Angeles officials are hoping to create an "Infrastructure Financing District" (i.e., tax increment financing) to help finance ambitious goals for revitalizing and restoring the Los Angeles River.

January 22, 2015 - Los Angeles Times

Street With No Sidewalk

Should a Residential Street Ever Lack Sidewalks?

You're probably familiar with the sight of a long, quiet residential street unadorned by sidewalks, pushing pedestrians, pets, and kids on bikes onto the street. Is there ever a good reason for such a typology?

January 22, 2015 - Greater Greater Washington

Strategic Plan for Philadelphia Land Bank Gains Approval

By all accounts, the Philadelphia Land Bank has completed a high quality strategic plan to guide its actions over the coming years.

January 22, 2015 - PlanPhilly

Land Swap could Bring Obama Presidential Library to Chicago's South Side

Chicago is putting the pieces in place to land the Obama Library. One proposal hinges on the availability of parkland on the South Side near the University of Chicago.

January 22, 2015 - Chicago Tribune

Haitians Lay Foundation for Hope 5 Years After Earthquake

Despite what some see as slow progress five years after an earthquake rocked Haiti, architect and sustainability consultant Dave Hampton writes about how he and others see hope for the future.

January 21, 2015 - UrbDeZine

Southern Brooklyn Experiencing a Bonafide Skyscraper Boom

A lot of noise has been made of the potential skyscraper boom in Manhattan. Very quietly, however, Brooklyn has also become a target for a series of skyward development plans.

January 21, 2015 - New York YIMBY

Raleigh Park

Big Park, Great City?

The urban landscape has become increasingly important for cities striving to be taken seriously on the world stage. And while creating big parks is an obvious trend, getting the small moves right can be just as important.

January 20, 2015 - Mark Hough

Judge Clears Way for Redevelopment of Pittsburgh's Former Civic Arena Site

The proposed redevelopment of the 28-acre site—former home of the Civic Arena—would produce a corporate headquarters and a mix of uses and housing.

January 20, 2015 - Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

'Bici Flats': A Bike Oriented Development in Des Moines

A new development proposal in Des Moines called Bici Flats will provide one-of-a-kind amenities to residents who love to bike. But will it become a catalytic development for a downtown neighborhood?

January 20, 2015 - WHOtv

Mega Cavern Bike Park

Behold the World's First Underground Bike Park

A massive bike park in Louisville, Kentucky takes the fast-growing trend of urban bike parks to new (subterranean) levels.

January 20, 2015 - Outside

The Dramatic Evolution of Toronto's Skyline

An image comparing the present day with Toronto from only 13 years ago has some comparing the Canadian city to New York in the 1920s.

January 20, 2015 - National Post

Small Lot Townhouses

Will Small Go Big in 2015? Maybe. Finally. Here's why.

Dwell small; live large. It's something many passionate urbanists have been working on for a decade. Could 2015 finally be the year small goes big?

January 19, 2015 - PlaceShakers

Lots of Work Left for San Francisco's Affordable Housing Goals

San Francisco's State of the City address provided an opportunity to check in on the progress of the affordable housing agenda of San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee.

January 19, 2015 - SFGate

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.