In a delicious irony, the Las Vegas City Council has overturned the mixed-use zoning of a parcel in an area planned for more density to make room for a gas station.
In the Town Center area of northwest Las Vegas, planners aimed to transform an auto-oriented environment to one with a mix of pedestrian-friendly uses. As Benjamin Spillman reports, those plans were dashed when developers "won a major modification to add a suburban staple, the gas station/convenience store/car wash, on land where city planners had called for a more urban multistory development."
"For opponents it meant a potentially fatal blow to an effort to encourage more tall buildings and sidewalk retail in the northwest corner of the city, where more retail and office space could provide more jobs close to tens of thousands of residential rooftops," he adds.
“It is a sprawl complex with the convenience store pushed way back and the gas pumps out front,” said Councilman Steve Ross who represents the area and opposed to the zoning change. “My vision and the city’s vision and the city planners’ vision for that area on Durango was something bigger and better.”
FULL STORY: Suburbs struggle with urban lifestyle
Zoning for Good
A new book highlights the power of zoning to change communities for the better.
Is Sprawl the Only Answer to High Housing Costs?
A recent article argues that sprawl is the solution to high housing costs, pointing out that low-density Sunbelt cities are more affordable than some more compact metro areas. What's wrong with this argument?
Report: Sprawl Affecting Farmers in Greater Washington Region
According to a recent report, the self-sufficiency of agriculture in the Washington, D.C. region is declining. Encroachment from suburban sprawl, driven by a region-wide housing crunch, is one causal factor.
What ‘The Brutalist’ Teaches Us About Modern Cities
How architecture and urban landscapes reflect the trauma and dysfunction of the post-war experience.
‘Complete Streets’ Webpage Deleted in Federal Purge
Basic resources and information on building bike lanes and sidewalks, formerly housed on the government’s Complete Streets website, are now gone.
Downtown Los Angeles on the Rise: A Promising 2025
Fueled by new developments, cultural investments, and a growing dining scene, downtown Los Angeles is poised for significant growth in 2025, despite challenges from recent wildfires and economic uncertainties.
San Francisco Slow Streets Bucks Citywide Trend, Reducing Injuries by 61 Percent
Low-cost interventions aimed at slowing traffic are making a major impact on road safety.
How Single-Family Conversions Benefit Both Homeowners and Cities
Converting single-family homes to triplexes can ease the housing crisis and offer affordable, flexible options for more households. Why is it largely illegal?
Report: Transportation Equity Requires More Than Electrification
Lower-income households often lack the resources to buy electric cars, signaling a need for a more holistic approach to improving mobility and lowering transportation costs.
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.
Economic & Planning Systems, Inc.
UCLA Lewis Center for Regional Policy Studies
Mpact (formerly Rail~Volution)
Chaddick Institute at DePaul University
City of Piedmont, CA
Great Falls Development Authority, Inc.
HUDs Office of Policy Development and Research