Urban Development

An Empty Disney High Speed Rail Station for Orlando

The Disney Corporation has announced intentions to donate land for a high speed rail station in Orlando if a Florida project is approved. But some say it's unlikely the company will encourage anyone to use their station.

October 13, 2009 - The Orlando Sentinel

An Un-Planned Neighborhood Gets APA Award for Planning

The Houston neighborhood of Montrose was recently named one of the APA's 'Great Neighborhoods' for 2009, but as this editorial suggests, planners had nothing to do with it.

October 13, 2009 - The Houston Chronicle

Postcard from Dubai

A TIME reporter attempts to pay a visit to The World, the collection of manmade islands off the coast of Dubai that has gone from dream to disappointment in the economic crisis.

October 12, 2009 - Time

Real Work to Begin on Rio's Olympic Plans

Rio de Janeiro has been named the host of the 2016 Summer Olympics. Now, the city has to start making its Olympic promises come true.

October 11, 2009 - USA Today

Reinventing Raleigh

Raleigh planner Dan Douglas has some bold proposals for the city, including nine new public squares, green roofs, and a new Grand Central Station-style transit hub.

October 11, 2009 - The Independent Weekly

Floating Houses for Flood-Prone Areas

As the city of New Orleans rebuilds its flooded and destroyed neighborhoods, a new design from architect Thom Mayne seeks to counteract the flood-prone area by simply floating.

October 10, 2009 - NPR

How to Make Housing Affordable

Avi Friedman has some ideas of how to make housing more affordable. He says that the focus is too much on the mortgage and subsidies side and not enough on lower building costs.

October 10, 2009 - Northwest Hub

A Beacon of Hope, Just Outside DC

This article examines the unique success of the Rosslyn-Ballston corridor, of Northern Virginia, where retail and new apartments have thrived, despite the economy.

October 9, 2009 - The New York Times

The Perils of Waterfront Development

Guy Julier, designer and professor, talks about a number of design issues related to cities, including a detailed look at the pitfalls of waterfront development.

October 9, 2009 - ProDesign

Best and Worst Housing Markets, Right Now

A lot has changed since February, so Builder Magazine has revised its list of the Top 10 Housing Markets in the country for 2009. The Bottom 10 are, of course, also featured.

October 8, 2009 - Builder Magazine

Enabling Coexistence Through the Open City

The theme of this year's International Architecture Biennale is "Open City: Designing Coexistence". Places Journal talks with the biennale's chief curator about what that means to planners, designers and architects.

October 8, 2009 - Places Journal

'Zombie Subdivisions' Eating America's Suburbs

Thousands of subdivisions across the country have been abandoned mid-development by owners and developers hit hard by the economic recession. This video takes a tour inside one of these "zombie subdivisions".

October 7, 2009 - CNN

Why Rio Won the 2016 Olympics

Rio de Janeiro has been selected as the host of the 2016 Summer Olympics. This analysis from NPR looks at why the Brazilian city was the obvious choice.

October 5, 2009 - NPR

Fighting The Blight Of Vacant Retail

Time Magazine takes a look at the growing problem of vacant storefronts across the U.S., and what some intrepid souls are doing about it.

October 5, 2009 - Time Magazine

Fastest Growing Areas in U.S. Also the Whitest

As we learned in The Big Sort, America is sorting itself into enclaves of people with similar beliefs. In Whitopia, Rich Benjamin shows that the fastest growing areas are also the most white.

October 2, 2009 - Miller-McCune

Billboards: Problem, or Solution?

In San Francisco, the mid-Market St. area has struggled for decades with blighted conditions. An area property owner thinks that digital billboards could solve the problem, and has put a proposition on the local ballot to get them built.

October 1, 2009 - The San Francisco Chronicle

The Debate Over Metropolitan Planning Organizations

In the midst of an important debate in Washington, DC over the future of America's transportation funding, a report issued this month by the Government Accountability Office (GAO) identified several challenges facing regional transportation policy.

October 1, 2009 - Northwest Hub

Dead Malls: Suburban Planning Nightmare or Opportunity?

Failing malls didn’t get into trouble overnight: most began their descent long before the tough climate.

September 30, 2009 - Building Place Notebook

Public Art Flourishing in Northwest

New public art projects are popping up across the Pacific Northwest. Some of Seattle’s traffic signal boxes are getting a makeover, as artists add decorative touches to them.

September 29, 2009 - Northwest Hub

South American Olympics Overdue or Undercooked?

As the International Olympic Committee prepares to announced the host of the 2016 Summer Olympics this week, South Americans are hoping it's finally their time. Rio de Janeiro, Brazil is one of four finalists, but some say the city isn't ready.

September 29, 2009 - Time

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.