Urban Renaissance

Pace of Transformation Quickens in Downtown Phoenix
The Arizona Republic spent the week fêting the "rebirth" of Downtown Phoenix, covering the evolution of the urban core of this sprawling metropolis from several angles.
A Rooftop Dog Park With a Downtown View
Downtown urban cores have had to make space for dogs to run and do their business as new residents have flocked to urban settings in recent years.

Richard Florida: 'The Urban Revival Is Over'
The author of the "The Rise of the Creative Class" and the "New Urban Crisis" says cities have had their moment.

Crowded NYC Sidewalks Force Commuters Into the Street
In the 1970s, the fear of getting mugged had some NYC pedestrians walking in the street. Nowadays, commuters are sharing space with cars for a very different reason: the sidewalks are too crowded.

New Data on the Shift to Cities
It's no secret that urban centers are doing better today than they were 30 years ago. New FHFA data on housing prices confirms the trend and suggests that a changing environment (as opposed to changing preferences) account for it.

Op-Ed: Jane Jacobs Wouldn't Recognize the Cities of Today
Without children at the center of activity, the urban neighborhoods of today offer little compared to the ideals expressed by Jane Jacobs, according to this strongly worded critique of contemporary urbanism.

Conceptual Shift: New York's Growing Again
For decades, New York City's boom times lay deep in the past. Now that the city's growing again, Aaron Renn says New York may need to take cues from the Sun Belt, of all places.
Downtown Pittsburgh: Back and Better Than Ever
Mark Belko traces downtown Pittsburgh's rejuvenation since bottoming out three decades ago. The area's recent comeback, marked by a surging office market and residential renaissance, has some claiming that Downtown is better than ever.
Are Cities Really Growing Faster Than Suburbs?
Last week's census figures were widely used to point to a swelling of urban populations. Chris Briem says that the jury's still out.
D.C. Area Hits Uptick as Recession Peters Out
Carol Morello and Patricia Sullivan explore the recent population spike in Washington, D.C., part of a nationwide trend toward "an urban renaissance."
The Rise And Fall of Cities
Victor David Hanson uses a broad historical perspective to examine the causes of the rise and fall of former world cities. He argues that the computer driven, global age will accelerate the process of growth and decline.
Car Factory Revives Georgia City
West Point, Georgia began to decline when the textile industry moved out. Now, it's experiencing a renaissance as a new car factory moves into town, bringing 20,000 jobs by 2014.
Strenghtening The Center City Is Not Enough
Harald Bodenschatz calls for a radical shift in the urban planning discourse when he claims for a revitalization not only of the downtown, but of the district centers and of suburbia itself, which should be made denser and more valuable.
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