Boston
Developer Deals Shortchange Affordable Housing Program in Boston
With little outside oversight, Boston's powerful yet secretive Redevelopment Agency has squandered millions of dollars that were supposed to help build affordable housing by cutting deals with developers and allocating funds to other uses.
How Thomas Menino Wove Boston's Neighborhoods into a "Whole City"
Over twenty years in office, Mayor Thomas Menino had a considerable impact on Boston's built environment. For Robert Campbell, the Mayor's most substantial accomplishment was in recapturing "the places in between".
See, You Really Can Build Urban Housing Without Parking
New apartment developments are popping up in cities like Boston, Seattle, and Miami without one key feature: on-site parking. These projects prove that providing parking isn't necessary to lure residents, even in cities not named New York.
With TOD Planning, Boston Suburb Embraces a Different Brand of Urban Renewal
With the long-awaited extension of Boston's Green Line train to Somerville expected to arrive in a few years, the city has embraced a planning and development process much different from the one that "left behind some of Somerville’s worst spaces."
Late-Night Subway Service is New Weapon in Fight to Attract Young Talent
A pilot project to extend the operating hours of Boston's subway system until 3 a.m. on weekends is being celebrated by riders, businesses leaders and public officials as a crucial element in maintaining a vibrant and attractive city.
Super Sharrows: "Feel of a Bike Lane" or Wasted Paint?
New "sharrows on steroids" are being tested In the Allston neighborhood of Boston. Are the markings - parallel dashed lines bracketing a bicycle icon - a legitimate improvement on the controversial practice or "an underwhelming innovation"?
Why Aren't Boston's First Parklets Being Used?
With Boston's first parklets off to a slow start, observers wonder whether their low usage is due to poor planning, bad design, or insufficient outreach. With the parklets set to reopen in the spring, can they be tweaked to succeed?
130 Years on, Boston's Emerald Necklace Still a Model Linear Park
Writer Kaid Benfield used a recent trip the American Society of Landscape Architects annual meeting in Boston to reflect on what that city can teach us about designing urban parks.
It's Time to Bring Bold Planning Back to Boston
As a reaction to the excesses of urban renewal, Boston has refrained from comprehensive planning for nearly 40 years. With a new mayor set to take office, it's time to create a new master plan for the city, argues a commentary in the Globe.
Urban Politics: Voters Choose Three New Big City Mayors
Emily Badger of The Atlantic Cities and Bruce Katz of the Brookings Institution sit down with The NewsHour's Gwen Ifill for a discussion on the elections of New York Mayor Bill de Blasio, Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan and Boston Mayor Marty Walsh.
Which U.S. City Gentrified the Most Before the Recession?
A new report from the Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland quantifies the rate at which America's 55 largest cities gentrified between 2000-2007 based on neighborhood home values. The results may surprise you.
What to Watch for in Today's Elections
Off-year elections rarely generate much interest from voters. But at a time when those in D.C. can't seem to get much done, local elections are, in many ways, deciding the direction of the U.S. Mike Riggs examines some of compelling storylines.
Boston to Require Developers to Detail Resilience Efforts
Hurricane Sandy served as a wake up call for many cities to the dangers of rising seas and more extreme storms. To prepare for these threats, officials in Boston have proposed zoning rules that would require developers to detail mitigation measures.
After 20 Years in Office, Boston Mayor's Legacy Writ in Concrete and Steel
After five terms in office, Boston Mayor Thomas Menino's most enduring impact may bee seen in the city's changing skyline. Rather than go out with a whimper, the Menino era is ending with a bang as the pace of development accelerates.
Guide to Boston's Green Treasures Released
Following up on their acclaimed guide to D.C., the American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA) has published the "Landscape Architect’s Guide to Boston". Go beyond the Freedom Trail and discover what makes Boston a long-time urban innovator.
Boston Mayoral Candidates Talk Livable Streets, But Can They Walk the Walk?
At a forum held this week, Boston mayoral candidates demonstrated their fluency in the language of transportation alternatives and livable communities. But ideas for meaningful policy changes were largely missing, says Boston Streets.
Help Pick Boston's Next Transit Map
The six finalists in an open competition to design Boston's next subway map have been revealed, and the Massachusetts Bay Transit Authority (MBTA) is asking the public to weigh in on the winner.
Boston Seeks to Build 30,000 Housing Units by Decade's End
With the goals of accommodating growth, expanding the city's middle class and supply of affordable housing, and moving college students out of private housing, outgoing Mayor Thomas Menino has unveiled a $16.5 billion housing strategy for Boston.
Popularity Threatens Progress in Boston's Booming Seaport District
With growth ten years ahead of estimates, Boston's Innovation District is in need of some fresh ideas to help stave of death by traffic asphyxiation. Local roads and mass transit are already stretched to capacity during the evening commute.
Falling Short of Lofty Visions, Boston Greenway a Success Nonetheless
As the culmination of the Big Dig project that sunk Boston's elevated Central Artery, the Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy Greenway was envisioned as one of the world's premier parks. Though plans have been curtailed, the park has become a beloved space.
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
