Urban Development

UNESCO on UK's Back for Indadequate Preservation

UNESCO's World Heritage Committee has issued the UK a warning that it must start doing a better job of preserving its heritage sites. A number of development projects have gotten the green light without any consultation from the committee.

December 5, 2008 - Architectural Record

The Urban Shortcomings of 'L.A. Live'

L.A. Live, the city's new megadevelopment, does little to engage the growing downtown area and ends up being little more than another separate commercial enclave in a city desperately needing closely-knit urbanism, according to Christopher Hawthorne.

December 5, 2008 - Los Angeles Times

Duany Not a Fan of Modern British Architecture

Architect Andres Duany spoke in front of architects on Tuesday, pointing out 50 years of mistakes made by architects and planners in the UK.

December 4, 2008 - The Guardian (UK)

Effect of California's New Anti-Sprawl Law Uncertain

Clearly it has aroused enormous excitement and hope amongst California's smart growth advocates, but the new anti-sprawl, greenhouse gas-reducing law, SB 375, may do more in the tone it sets than in the changes its supporters hope it makes.

December 4, 2008 - San Francisco Chronicle

Balancing A City's History With Its Future

In a place as dynamic as New York City, balancing preservation with development pressure is no easy task.

December 3, 2008 - New York Times

Architect Hopes To Spread 'Pedestrianizaton'

The transformation of Copenhagen from a car-choked thoroughfare to a lively, pedestrian center began in 1962 with the closing of the Strøget, and folks walked and biked in record numbers. Now architect Jan Gehl hopes to spread this new urban culture.

December 3, 2008 - The Globe and Mail

Clearing the Way for Mixed-Use, But Economy Puts Projects On Hold

The people of Salt Lake City have gotten behind the switch to mixed-use, and developers have been clearing away old sprawl. But the flailing economy has put projects on hold, leaving the city with a landscape full of holes.

December 3, 2008 - Utah Stories

Architects Still Find Work in Latin America

A South American building boom can be credited for the steady demand for projects by American architecture firms.

December 1, 2008 - Architectural Record

Cities: Use What You've Got

According to Philip Myrick, communities that will fare the best economically are the ones that think locally and employ placemaking strategies.

December 1, 2008 - Project For Public Spaces

NOLA Medical Campus to Replace Historic Buildings

A proposed New Orleans hospital will have to be built on top of an historic neighborhood that some residents feel that they have just regained. Those in favor of the project insist that the selection of that site was necessary.

December 1, 2008 - International Herald Tribune

London Blitz, Redux

A combination of economic crises and a tax code based on square footage rather than rentals is encouraging a raft of demolitions that is leaving parts of London looking like it's been bombed again.

November 26, 2008 - The Globe and Mail

A Shrinking City is Not a Failed City

Once New Orleans comes to terms with the fact that it is a shrinking city, the city's culture and geographic location can help bring it back.

November 25, 2008 - The Times-Picayune

'Natural' Vs. Corporate Cultural Districts

Cooltown Studios looks at what makes a shiny new corporate district different from an organically-grown one.

November 24, 2008 - CoolTown Studios

Stuck In Portland Without Any Groceries

The connection between land use and health comes clear in Portland, OR, where some of the poorest citizens face a four-hour round trip to the grocery store.

November 22, 2008 - The Oregonian

TOD Down Under

Transit-oriented development is catching on in Australia, as several projects spring up around Brisbane. The article is accompanied by a photo gallery of recent developments.

November 21, 2008 - Brisbane Times

Master-Planned Mixed-Use in Central Ohio

While the goal of these walkable communities is to attract young urban professionals, the benefits, of course, extend beyond that.

November 19, 2008 - The Columbus Dispatch

NYCHA Development Offers Benefits, Raises Concerns

The New York City Housing Authority is using a new strategy to develop new housing by selling open space. HUD oversees how the development works, but some think it does not offer a fair opportunity for community participation.

November 19, 2008 - City Limits Weekly

Planning a Better Public Space in San Francisco

Planners and parks officials in San Francisco are making moves to reimagine currently underused public space in the heart of the city as a new civic park and gathering place.

November 19, 2008 - San Francisco Chronicle

New Plan for Calgary Offers the Best of Both Worlds

Calgary is poised to make itself into a city that encourages density without sacrificing too much of the leg room currently offered by existing suburbs.

November 18, 2008 - Calgary Herald

Tapping the Vancouver Planning Brain Trust

Many of the planners who helped transform Vancouver into one of the world's most liveable cities have been lured to cities all over the planet to try to tap in to the brain power that made Vancouver a success. But it's not that easy.

November 18, 2008 - Vancouver Magazine

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.