Urban Development
A Boston Architectural Icon Turns 30
Despite a rocky start, the 30 years old John Hancock Tower has become Boston's greatest example of modern architecture.
Promoting Green 'Rebuilding' In New Orleans
The winning of a housing design competition sponsored by actor Brad Pitt end environmental non-profit Global Green USA demonstrates how eco-friendly architecture can remake New Orleans.
Public Housing Community Goes Green In Seattle
A drab World War II-era public housing project in Seattle has been replaced with what local officials hope will be an environmentally- and economically-sustainable community.
Detroit's Lafayette Park: An Urban Renewal Success Story
Designed in the 1960s as part of a wave of largely unsuccessful urban renewal projects across the U.S., this continuously thriving mixed-income and racially integrated community just east of downtown Detroit stands as a model of good urban design.
The Manhattanization Of Toronto
With the city mostly built out, and more residents looking to live in the urban core, Toronto planners and developers are busy building the city upwards.
Will New York City Go On A 'Zoning' Diet?
Following in the footsteps of cities in California, Michigan, and Massachusetts, the New York City Council majority leader is throwing his weight behind a proposal to restrict the number of high-calorie, fast-food giants in the city's neighborhoods.
A Major Setback For Atlanta's Beltline Project
Atlanta's proposed transit and recreation loop using largely abandoned rail lines as a spur to economic development was dealt a damaging blow as a suburban developer backed out of plans to build condo towers along the line.
A Clash Over Sustainable Design For Vancouver Olympics
Planners and developers are clashing over the design of Vancouver's Olympic village for the 2010 games. Some say the developers haven't gone far enough to achieve the 3 E's of sustainability.
Sea Of Sameness
This column from the UK's New Statesman bemoans the drab similarity of English towns. A report concludes that 42% of the nation's town's are essentially 'clones'.
ULI Honors Peter Calthorpe With Nichols Prize
Peter Calthorpe, an early pioneer of the new urbanism and smart growth movements, recently received the prestigious J.C. Nichols Prize for Visionaries in Urban Development by the Urban Land Institute.
Development Pushing Out To New Territories
Developers are increasingly investing in remote locales as price appreciation slows in traditionally developed areas.
S.F. Redevelopment Opposition Denied On Technicality
A referendum opposing a redevelopment plan signed by more than 33,000 San Francisco voters has been ruled invalid, angering many who feel that the city is bending rules to appease developers and gentrify their neighborhood.
High Hopes For Huge Toronto Park
Plans are underway in Toronto for the development of a huge public park along the city's Lake Ontario waterfront. Like many big cities, Toronto is utilizing abandoned and underused industrial lands to create an attractive destination.
It's The Middle Class, Not The Creative Class
Joel Kotkin argues that cities need to win back the middle class by focusing on their basic needs -- affordable 'market-rate' housing, schools, and public infrastructure -- if they are to be genuinely successful at urban revitalization.
Smart Growth, Defined
Thirty-two organizations have come together to release "This Is Smart Growth," a new publication from ICMA and the Smart Growth Network, which illustrates and explains smart growth concepts and values, using 40 examples from around the country.
Duany Takes On Scotland
Architect and urban planner Andres Duany has been hired to plan a new town near Inverness, Scotland -- one that he assures will not resemble Seaside.
Waiting For Recovery, Eager To Plan
More than half of the residents in the small unincorporated community of Henderson Point, Mississippi, turned out to help begin planning for the rebuilding of their completely devastated community.
Flat Roofs Have Fans And Foes
As the price of land increases, many real estate developers are looking at flat-roof designs as a means of increasing the square footage of houses, much to the chagrin of historical preservationists and municipal officials.
'Fractal' Design Makes More With Less
In a comparative study of English towns, one small village with a compact and walkable design has been shown to seem much larger to pedestrians than a comparable area in a big city -- mainly because there is more to see there.
After 50 Years, Waterfront May Be Redeveloped
With a population cut in half and an almost abandoned waterfront area, the city of Buffalo is thinking redevelopment. Actually, the city has spent nearly 50 years thinking redevelopment. Now steps are actually being taken to improve the waterfront.
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
