Illinois
Permeable Pavement Holds Promise, And Some Doubts
Chicago is keen to use porous asphalt and paving for new transportation projects, touting its environmental benefits, but questions remain about its long term effectiveness -- including its ability to withstand Chicago winters.
Housing Boom Revitalizing Small Town America
As more seniors and empty nesters seek to reclaim the downtown lifestyle of their youth, small towns across America are experiencing a second chance at economic vitality.
Rural Water Authority Creation Spurs Controversy
A battle is raging in rural Illinois over a proposed multi-county water authority that would control the use and tax of water within the heavily farmed region. Many farmers fear a loss of control, and developers anticipate more restrictions.
Taking Homes For Parking? Think Again!
A back door plan to use eminent domain to provide additional parking for a main street shopping district creates outrage in a Chicago area community.
Plans For Eco-Mart Get Green Light
Developers in Chicago are hoping to reuse an old lamp factory building by transforming it into a green merchandise mart.
Diversification and Reinvention Keeps Chicago Going Strong
Despite declining manufacturing employment, Chicago has continuously reinvented itself -- resulting in a thriving, diverse economy that leverages the throngs of young professionals continually attracted to the city.
Two Chicago Projects Go Green For The Homeless
Two new environmentally-friendly housing projects in Chicago are geared towards the city's homeless population.
Condos Encroaching On Chicago Neighborhoods
Owners of 19th Century homes in Chicago are seeing condo developments moving rapidly into their neighborhoods despite the efforts of preservationists.
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.
Limiting Chicago's Downtown Condo Conversion
A record-setting amount of apartments in Chicago were converted into condominiums in 2005, and Mayor Richard Daley has formed a task force to limit the trend which is rapidly diminishing affordable housing in the city.
America's Largest Public Housing Project Passes Into History
Robert Taylor Homes, the largest in a wave of urban public housing projects built during the 1960s, has finally fallen victim to the wreaking ball as part of the Chicago Housing Authorities massive redevelopment plans.
Chicago Mansions Killing Urban Character
Architecture critic Blair Kamin bemoans the misplaced opulence of the many mansions that have popped up in classic Chicago neighborhoods over the last couple of years.
Sauget, Illinois: Home Of The 'YIMBY-ists'
Give us your strip-clubs, your benzene and dioxin-spewing chemical plants, say Sauget, Illinois officials.
Anti-Crime Program Provides 'Vaccination' Against Violence
Developed by a university professor, the CeaseFire campaign addresses violent crime as a public health issue, and uses a neighborhood-wide information and outreach campaign to help curb violent behavior before it occurs.
A Smart Growth Olympics?
Chicago area boosters are touting their plan for a "compact games" as they bid for the 2016 Olympics.
Chicago Transit Authority Moves On Proposed New Line
The Chicago Transit Authority is to go through final public approval process before announcing the new Circle Line -- a peripheral transit system common in many large transit networks around the world.
The Putzmeister And The Tower
An interactive diagram that explains how the world's second largest concrete building is being built with the help of the Putzemeister, a small but integral part of the building's construction.
Planning 1-2-3
The Campaign for Sensible Growth, a Chicago-based group, has published a step-by-step guide to writing a comprehensive plan.
Veto Won't End Chicago's Living Wage Battle
As Chicago aldermen switch votes to back Mayor Daley's move to allow low wage jobs at big box stores, union officials vow to fight to require higher wages at these stores.
Chicago Shines With Sustainable Design
A new exhibit at Chicago's Museum of Contemporary Art highlights several new building plans likely to advance the city's vision to become the "greenest city in America."
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.
EMC Planning Group, Inc.
Planetizen
Planetizen
Mpact (formerly Rail~Volution)
Great Falls Development Authority, Inc.
HUDs Office of Policy Development and Research
NYU Wagner Graduate School of Public Service
