Urban Development

The End of the Age of Malls

Fewer and fewer malls are being built in the U.S., and as they fade from the American landscape, retailers feel the pain.

November 17, 2008 - Newsweek

Building High Rises Without Hurting Cities

High-rise buildings are coming back into vogue in South Africa, and planners are trying to balance iconography with urbanism.

November 16, 2008 - Engineering News

Cultural Preservation the Bright Side of Dubai's Tough Times

Native of the bustling United Arab Emirates are cheering the global economic slowdown, crediting it for curbing development in its cities that had been blamed for destroying much of their local heritage.

November 15, 2008 - The New York Times

Developers Sweeten Deals With Transit, Carshare Options

New developments in Oakland and San Francisco are luring in eco-conscious homeseekers with free transit passes and discounts on carsharing programs.

November 14, 2008 - San Francisco Business Times

Big Box Retail Owners Ask For Stacked Housing

The two owners of a traditional 8-acre strip, big box retail center in San Francisco have asked for an amendment to the neighborhood plan (undergoing revision) to allow them to add housing on top of their stores, thus doubling the height limit.

November 14, 2008 - San Francisco Examiner

Housing Comeback in 2010?

An industry expert predicted at ULI's fall meeting that the new home market could pick back up by 2010, followed by a rally in the resale market in 2011.

November 14, 2008 - ULI's The Ground Floor

Miami's Downtown, Going Once, Twice?

Valued at more than $115 million during the boom, a prominent Hong Kong-based developer has bought the unbuilt Brickell CitiCentre development site for $41.3 million. Similar transactions are happening on other key properties in Miami's downtown.

November 14, 2008 - Miami Herald

HUD Announces Mortgage Guidelines- But Can't Enforce Them

The Department of Housing and Urban Development says the new rules will help buyers understand broker's fees will limit fee increases, and they are currently seeking legislation to give them the power to enforce the rules.

November 13, 2008 - The Wall St. Journal

'Overbuilding Hangover' in Store for Atlanta

According to the Urban Land Institute, there is no need for Atlanta to continue building; currently, there is more than four times more construction going on than there is office spaced being used.

November 13, 2008 - The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Revitalizing Main Street, One Store at a Time

More retail, joining residential and office developments, is seen as the crucial linchpin in the ongoing revitalization of Columbia, SC's Main Street.

November 13, 2008 - The State

To Re-Imagine Cities, Re-Imagine Urban Design

Oil is running out and the climate is changing. How this impacts cities will largely be determined by how the urban design field reacts.

November 13, 2008 - Nate Berg

Obama Administration to Create Office of Urban Policy

When President-elect Obama takes office in January, he says, an Office of Urban Policy will be established, and a Director of Urban Policy will be in place to "coordinate all federal urban programs."

November 12, 2008 - The Washington Post

Military Town Real Estate Remains Unfazed by Housing Bust

Military towns are seeing home sales go up despite decreasing home values elsewhere across the country, thanks in part to a steady wartime economy.

November 12, 2008 - Chicago Tribune

NYC Imposes Bike Parking Requirements

New office and apartment buildings in New York City are now mandated to provide a certain proportion of secure bike parking spaces.

November 12, 2008 - Business Week

Estates for All

Wendell Cox looks at how single-family detached housing came to be, and why it's likely to remain a popular option for the middle class.

November 12, 2008 - New Geography

A Town Underwater

Almost 90% of the homeowners in Mountain House, CA, a planned smart growth community in the Central Valley, owe more on their mortgages than their homes are worth- the highest percentage in the country.

November 11, 2008 - The New York Times

Plenty Green But Too Tall?

In what may prove a decisive test to see the political limits of what green building offers developers, a LEED Platinum, 10-story office building is proposed along San Francisco's tightly regulated waterfront - exceeding the height limit by 40 feet.

November 10, 2008 - San Francisco Chronicle

NJ Town Bristles at Affordable Housing Requirements

'It stinks,'says Mayor John Hipp of Rutherford, New Jersey, as his town struggles to fulfill its requirements for affordable housing. The planning board has reluctantly agreed to require affordable units in a previously planned redevelopment site.

November 10, 2008 - The Leader

Pioneer Square, 25 Years On

Portland's Pioneer Square, designed back in 1983, is still looked t as a model of successful public space design. Landscape Architect Doug Macy looks back on the thought that went into the design.

November 10, 2008 - Daily Journal of Commerce

Big Box Breakthrough in Charlotte

Lofts and ground floor retail envelop a new Lowe's store in Charlotte, forming a buffer between the large store and the surrounding Dilworth neighborhood.

November 9, 2008 - The Charlotte Observer

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.