Urban Development

Finding a Middle Ground Between Rural and Urban

A new city being planned on 77 acres of agricultural land in Oregon has prompted some to question the hard difference between urban and rural as compartmentalized by the Portland area's urban growth boundary.

August 11, 2009 - The Oregonian

Corruption Bust Offers Lens on Development in New Jersey

The recent corruption bust that resulted in the arrests of more than 40 people in New Jersey shows the interesting shape of the development process in the state.

August 11, 2009 - Associated Press

The Mixed-Use Library

Libraries are struggling to make ends meet in Milwaukee. One possible solution: integrating a mix of uses.

August 7, 2009 - Library Journal

Miami 21 and the Redevelopment of Biscayne Boulevard

The Miami Herald looks at the redevelopment of Biscayne Boulevard, which was unofficially accomplished using the still proposed Miami 21 zoning regulations, and wonders if all of the city's corridors could redevelop in such a manner.

August 6, 2009 - Miami Herald

Inside the Construction and Planning of Masdar City

WBUR's On Point takes an hour-long look at plans for Masdar City, the zero-waste, carbon-neutral city under construction in Abu Dhabi.

August 6, 2009 - On Point

Brainstorm: Who Are the Top Urban Thinkers?

Planetizen is creating a list of the most important people who have shaped urban places, and we want to know what you think. Vote on people nominated by the Planetizen community, or suggest your own. The polls close September 7.

August 6, 2009 - Planetizen

Office of Urban Affairs on Tour

Adolfo Carrión, Jr., Director of the White House Office of Urban Affairs, reports from a tour he's taking to spur a national conversation about the role cities and metropolitan areas should take in national policy.

August 4, 2009 - The White House blog

Fort Meyers' 32-Story Single-Family Home

With a 32-story tower occupied only part-time by a single family, America's real estate bust may be most apparent in Fort Meyers.

August 3, 2009 - Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Funds to Stabilize Neighborhoods, But Which Ones?

Funding from the federal Neighborhood Stabilization Program is finding a lot of use in foreclosure-swamped California's San Bernardino County. But one city is deep in debate over how those funds should be used, and which areas should be saved.

August 3, 2009 - The Contra Costa Times

Largest Park in Newark Opens, 30 Years Late

Nat Turner Park is Newark's newest, and largest, city-owned park. The city bought the lot in the 1970s but didn't get around to developing it until now.

July 31, 2009 - Newark Star-Ledger

Remaking the Suburbanized Metropolis of Paris

This piece from Worldchanging takes an in-depth look at the competition to redesign metropolitan Paris for the year 2030.

July 29, 2009 - WorldChanging

Community Rebuilding in New Orleans

Rebuilding is underway in New Orleans. But not with huge conglomerates running the show. Most of the work is being done by non-profits, startups and other community-based organizations.

July 28, 2009 - WorldChanging

Cost Concerns Linger Over Chicago's Olympic Bid

Organizers claim city money won't be needed as Chicago edges closer to securing the 2016 Summer Olympics, but locals are wary about the costs that could fall on them. The recession is exacerbating concerns.

July 28, 2009 - The New York Times

Sotomayor on Property Rights

Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor was part of an appeals-court panel in 2006 that favored a private developer with the authority to seize land by eminent domain.

July 27, 2009 - The Christian Science Monitor

A Mall Opens in Tough Times

A $276 million mixed-use remake of a 1973-era mall is opening on Interstate 64 in southeastern Virginia. While the retail is trickling in, the housing element is filling up quickly.

July 27, 2009 - New Urban News

Poticha Appointed to HUD Position

Shelley Poticha, President and CEO of Reconnecting America and past executive director of the Congress for New Urbanism, has been appointed Senior Advisor for Sustainable Housing and Communities at the Department of Housing and Urban Development.

July 24, 2009 - Reconnecting America

Brazil's $42 Billion World Cup Investment

It's going to cost Brazil more than $42 billion in infrastructure costs to host the 2014 soccer World Cup, according to a recent report.

July 24, 2009 - Associated Press

The Battle Over a Historic L.A. Hotel

Preservationists and developers are deep in a dispute over the Century Plaza hotel in L.A. On the drawing board are two high rise towers, but defenders of the site argue the hotel's historic value trumps the benefit the new project would bring.

July 24, 2009 - The New York Times

Granny Units - In Apartments?

The City Council of Vancouver recently gave developers the ability to create smaller units attached to condos for buyers to use as rental property.

July 23, 2009 - Metro Vancouver

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.