Vancouver
City Leaders Flex Muscle in Ottawa
Canadian cities are no strangers to rankings of the world's most functional, attractive cities. Even so, the mayors of Canada's 22 largest cities want national leaders in Ottawa to adopt an even more explicitly pro-urban national agenda.
Industrial Meets Residential in New Vancouver Zoning
Vancouver created its MX zone as a solution to a persistent challenge for planners—how to retain industrial jobs and affordable housing in downtowns.
Anatomy of a Failed Infrastructure Project: Columbia River Crossing
Bloomberg Businessweek examines the failed Columbia River Crossing project as a poster child for how political dysfunction is derailing critically needed infrastructure.
Can a 32-Acre Mixed-Use Development Block an Oil-By-Rail Facility in Time?
Environmentalists and developers are in a race against time to prevent a proposed oil-by-rail facility in Vancouver, Washington.
Study Provides Lessons in Bike Lane Politics
Eric Jaffe examines the successful (on the third try) bike lane on the Burrard Street Bridge in Vancouver as a case study in pushing a difficult project through to completion.
Massive Oil-By-Rail Facility Proposed for Port of Vancouver
A proposed oil-by-rail facility proposed for the Port of Vancouver could set a new standard for capacity.
What Can Vancouver Teach Melbourne?
Melbourne has topped numerous global lists for its quality of life, but it certainly has room to improve. Former Vancouver Planning Director Brent Toderian sees lessons from his hometown for the world class city down under.
An Ancient, Neighborhood-Based Technology could Heat Vancouver
A system similar to that which heated Roman baths could become a key cog in the future of heating in Vancouver, British Columbia.
Foreign Investors Driving Up Housing Costs, Creating Zombie Communities
A slew of analysis in recent weeks has examined the negative consequences of foreign real estate speculation in cities like New York City, London, and Vancouver.
First-Day Ridership Projected at 250,000 for Vancouver's Broadway Subway
City staff recently released revised first-day ridership projections for a proposed subway in Vancouver. The numbers seem astronomical and a strong support for the cause. But can the project get the finding it needs?
Vancouver Could Remove Parking Minimums for Condo Developments
Vancouver’s Transportation 2040 plan allowed for the easing of parking minimums for residential developments in parts of the city, and now city planners are beginning to explore where and how condos can be built without parking.
Learning from Vancouver’s Planning Successes
Vancouver’s reputation as a beautiful “mini-Manhattan” is well documented and well earned. But how did the city manage to fend off regrettable fashions in planning over the years, and how prepared is it to continue its success in the future?
Refuting the Most Common Criticisms Against Cyclists
Andrew Cuthbert responds to a few of the recurring accusations leveled against cyclists as posted on the ‘comments’ section of a Vancouver-based news story involving a cyclist-motorist conflict.
Should Planners Encourage Diverse Neighborhoods?
In an opinion piece for the Vancouver Sun, a trio of academics argue that, contrary to popular belief, socially mixed neighborhoods can be damaging to the supposed beneficiaries: low-income groups.
Multiple Choice Referendum to Decide Vancouver's Transit Future
British Columbia will proceed with a public referendum on transit spending for the province. In an interesting wrinkle, Premier Christy Clark says the referendum will offer multiple choices. City leaders are concerned about the possible outcomes.
Techniques for Bridging the Activist-Developer Divide
A frank discussion about growth and development at a recent Vancouver forum revealed the extensive common ground shared developers and neighborhood activists, and promising techniques for bridging their traditional divide.
Does Vancouver Ban Herald the Death of the Doorknob?
Amendments to Vancouver's building code adopted in September will require lever handles on all doors in newly built housing beginning next March. Could such code changes soon be adopted far and wide?
And the Award for Worst Traffic Goes to…
Vancouver, Canada, has the worst traffic of any North American city according to the latest TomTom Traffic Index rankings. Los Angeles takes second place.
Were Vancouver's 2010 Olympics Worth the Investment?
A new report says the investments made in hosting the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver were worth it. But could the area have gotten the same benefits without the Games?
The Corner Store: Mark of a "Dynamic Neighbourhood"
In Vancouver, the presence of corner stores indicates diverse, dynamic, and affordable neighborhoods. But is the disappearance of such stores from neighborhoods across the city a sign that residential areas are becoming unbalanced?
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.
Caltrans
Smith Gee Studio
Institute for Housing and Urban Development Studies (IHS)
City of Grandview
Harvard GSD Executive Education
Toledo-Lucas County Plan Commissions
Salt Lake City
NYU Wagner Graduate School of Public Service
