Urban Development

Downtown Detroit's Bright Future

Long a symbol of urban decay, downtown Detroit is attracting residents and investment, though obstacles remain.

November 6, 2006 - The Detroit Free Press

There Goes The Town

As its first residential subdivision is approved, developers are banking that the tiny town of Hebron, Illinois, will be the location for the next wave of Chicago's suburban growth.

November 6, 2006 - The Chicago Tribune

London's Infamous East End Looks To Leave Its Past Behind

While still dogged by its tawdry and crime-ridden reputation, London's East Side is booming with nightlife and vibrant neighborhoods. More big redevelopment plans underway as the city begins to prepare for the 2012 Olympics.

November 5, 2006 - The Sydney Morning Herald

University's Foray Into Community Development Falls Short, But Still A Success

Campus Partners for Community Urban Redevelopment, a non-profit development group funded by the endowment fund of The Ohio State University, is learning that its intial ambitious plans to revive the local neighborhood while generating returns for the university were unrealistic.

November 5, 2006 - The Columbus Dispatch

Bringing Major Grocers Downtown

The recent opening of Whole Foods in downtown Seattle highlights the challenges of attracting major grocery stores to the urban core.

November 4, 2006 - The Seattle Times

Critiquing Philadelphia's Parcel By Parcel Approach To City Planning

Inga Saffron, the Philadelphia Inquirer's architecture critic, loathes the city's 'let's make a deal' approach to urban planning.

November 3, 2006 - Skyline Online

Toronto Moving In The Wrong Direction

This opinion piece from the Toronto Star looks at how the organizational operation of Toronto is preventing it from becoming a more urban city.

November 3, 2006 - The Toronto Star

Homes Rarely Acquired For Redevelopment In SF Bay Area

According to a survey by the San Francisco Chronicle, redevelopment agencies in the Bay Area and throughout the state very rarely use their powers of eminent domain to take private residences for redevelopment purposes.

November 3, 2006 - The San Francisco Chronicle

A Call For Child-Friendly Cities

An urban planning professor in Australia has joined a push to make the country's major cities more child-friendly.

November 3, 2006 - The Daily Telegraph

Is Suburbia Just A Scapegoat For Obesity?

A new study challenges the growing body of research linking suburban living to obesity -- citing that people's eating and exercise habits more likely dictate where they live, not vice versa.

November 2, 2006 - Ottawa Citizen via Canada.com

Growing Pains For Davie, Florida

With 90,000 residents and growing, Davie, Florida is struggling to move beyond its rural roots.

November 1, 2006 - The Miami Herald

Location, Location, Accessibility

When it comes to real estate, the mantra has always been "location, location, location". But now, as congestion and sprawling development increase rapidly, that mantra is being modified to include "accessibility".

November 1, 2006 - Business Day

Legislation To Impose Master Plan Meets Opposition

Supervisors in San Francisco have called on the city to impose the affordable housing standards included in the master plan, a move many in the city's planning department fear will bring development in the city's eastern areas to a halt.

November 1, 2006 - The San Francisco Bay Guardian

New Locations For Federal Offices Create Sprawl

De facto master planning by Federal Government creates more sprawl in the Washington, D.C. region. For example, the FBI field office is moving from Tyson's Corner to Manassas, farther from the Alexandria courts where federal cases are heard.

November 1, 2006 - The Washington Post

Ballot Initiative Addresses Need for Smart Growth

The controlled growth initiative in Solano County, California, is one of many currently on the ballot in the Bay Area which aim to promote smart growth.

October 31, 2006 - The Contra Costa Times

Prices Keep Rising For Downtown Housing Development

In cities across the country, the trend of downtown housing development is booming. Prices per square-foot have more than doubled since last year in some cities.

October 31, 2006 - The Denver Post via Chicago Tribune

Toronto's Love-Hate Relationship With Density

While many residents agree that the city should intensity, NIMBYism still percolates up in the neighborhoods.

October 30, 2006 - The Toronto Star

Pittsburgh's South Side Success

A wave of gentrification has revived part of the city's riverfront into a hip, urban neighborhood.

October 30, 2006 - The Washington Post

Seattle Considers Replacing Highway With Park

Seattle considers replacing an earthquake-damaged major shoreline highway with a waterfront park.

October 29, 2006 - The New York Times

Using Density Bonuses To Spur Affordable Housing Development

San Diego is hoping that a new density bonus will encourage developers to build mixed-income housing instead of buying their way out of affordable housing requirements.

October 28, 2006 - The Daily Transcript (San Diego)

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.