Phoenix and Tucson are building up, not out, but is it enough to slow desert development?
The Christian Science Monitor reports on a growing movement of Arizonans who are forsaking sprawling suburbia for downtown living:
"This movement is fueling a bevy of condominium projects in the Phoenix metropolitan area. Other conditions - like rising energy costs, congested freeways, a new, downtown Phoenix campus for Arizona State University, new sports and cultural complexes, and the construction of a light-rail system - are also contributing to the new phenomenon of building up rather than out.
Similar moves have already taken place in America's more densely packed metropolises. But the fact that they're happening in a place like Phoenix - with 60 percent more land than New York City but only one-seventh of its population - suggests that residents of even the most sprawling cities are ready for change."
FULL STORY: Even in sprawling Arizona, downtown condos are now hip
Americans May Be Stuck — But Why?
Americans are moving a lot less than they once did, and that is a problem. While Yoni Applebaum, in his highly-publicized article Stuck, gets the reasons badly wrong, it's still important to ask: why are we moving so much less than before?
Using Old Oil and Gas Wells for Green Energy Storage
Penn State researchers have found that repurposing abandoned oil and gas wells for geothermal-assisted compressed-air energy storage can boost efficiency, reduce environmental risks, and support clean energy and job transitions.
Placekeeping: Setting a New Precedent for City Planners
How a preservation-based approach to redevelopment and urban design can prevent displacement and honor legacy communities.
San Francisco’s Muni Ridership Grew in 2024
The system saw its highest ridership since before the Covid-19 pandemic, but faces a severe budget shortage in the coming year.
Colorado Lawmakers Move to Protect BRT Funding
In the face of potential federal funding cuts, CDOT leaders reasserted their commitment to planned bus rapid transit projects.
Safe Streets Funding in Jeopardy
The Trump administration is specifically targeting bike infrastructure and other road safety projects in its funding cuts.
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.
Heyer Gruel & Associates PA
City of Moreno Valley
Institute for Housing and Urban Development Studies (IHS)
City of Grandview
Harvard GSD Executive Education
Salt Lake City
NYU Wagner Graduate School of Public Service
City of Cambridge, Maryland