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Building a Better Tomorrow: The Role of Urban Planning in City Development
A plain-language overview of what urban planning is, who does it, which tools shape city growth, and where plans succeed or fall short.
City renewal
How cities renew themselves, explained plainly.
An independent plain-language guide to urban renewal, planning, public space, transport, resilience and inclusive city development.
596 in-depth guides
44 topics
Nov 2026 latest guide
Featured guides
Guides to start with
Each one links on to more specific articles in its topic.
Building Inclusive and Equitable Cities: Strategies for Urban Development
A plain-language guide to what makes a city equitable in housing, services and decision making, and how the main inclusion topics fit together.
Creating Vibrant Public Spaces: Urban Placemaking
An introduction to placemaking as a community-led way to shape plazas, streets and parks, including low-cost pilots and the approach's real limits.
Creating Livable Cities: Principles of Urban Design
A plain-language tour of the core urban design principles behind pleasant cities: mixed uses, human scale, connected streets, legible districts and flexibility.
Creating Walkable Cities: The Importance of Pedestrian-Friendly Urban Design
Why walkable cities matter for health, local commerce and street safety, what makes a place easy to walk, and the trade-offs planners weigh along the way.
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Planning and People
How renewal is planned and who it should serve.
Renewal and Planning Planning basics, heritage reuse, downtowns and cultural districts. 12 guides Inclusive Cities Equity, diversity and renewal without displacement. 29 guides Vacant Property Reuse Bringing abandoned buildings and lots back into use. 16 guides Blight and Regeneration What blight means and how neighborhoods are redeveloped. 9 guides Historic Districts Renewing older neighborhoods while respecting their heritage. 16 guides Neighborhood Revitalization Renewing whole neighborhoods with residents, housing and local services. 11 guides Housing and Equity Housing costs, markets and fairness in renewal and development. 12 guides Community Impact of Renewal Effects of renewal on culture, services, health, politics and daily life. 19 guides Community Engagement How residents take part in shaping development and renewal. 17 guides Governance and Policy How government, planning and design carry public policy into the city. 8 guides Project Delivery The practical steps between a renewal idea and a finished project. 10 guides Maps, Surveys and Evidence Simple methods planners use to see what is happening in a place. 8 guides
Streets and Public Spaces
Design of livable, walkable and welcoming public places.
Public Spaces Placemaking, design and art in plazas and parks. 27 guides Livable Cities Design principles and strategies for pleasant places to live. 15 guides Walkable Cities and Mobility Walking, sustainable transport and street design. 26 guides Downtown Revitalization Bringing central business areas back to life with a balanced mix of uses. 16 guides Main Streets Reviving traditional commercial streets in towns and neighborhoods. 6 guides Waterfront Redevelopment Turning city shorelines into open, working and resilient places. 11 guides Mixed-Use Development Combining homes, shops and workplaces, and the density that supports them. 6 guides Future of Cities Trends, technology and mobility shaping cities ahead. 13 guides Public Art and Culture Art in public places and its role in renewal. 9 guides Technology in Cities How digital tools and smart city ideas fit into planning, renewal and city services. 13 guides
Green and Resilient Cities
Sustainability, energy, waste and preparing for hazards.
Sustainable Cities Green infrastructure, energy, waste and habitat. 41 guides Resilient Cities Preparing for disasters, risk and climate change. 23 guides Brownfields and Industrial Sites Reusing contaminated and former industrial land. 20 guides Urban Greening and Parks Parks, trees and green space as part of city renewal. 12 guides Urban Rivers and Water Managing and restoring rivers, waterways and the urban water cycle. 4 guides Urban Forestry How city trees are planned, planted and managed for shade, health and climate. 10 guides Urban Agriculture Growing food in and around cities and fitting it into development. 27 guides Impacts of Urban Development Climate, environment, health, traffic and sprawl effects of city growth. 9 guides Effects of Urbanization How urban growth affects the environment, health, safety and community life. 7 guides
Access and Economy
Accessible design and the economic side of city development.
Accessible Cities Design for disability, age and public transport access. 8 guides City Economy Digital access, private investment and innovation districts. 8 guides Renewal Business and Investment The money side of renewal: investment, partnerships, taxes and effects on local firms. 9 guides Development Economics What city development and public investment mean for regional and national economies. 8 guides Economic Impact of Renewal What renewal and development mean for local economies and how to measure it. 13 guides Local Business and Revenue How renewal affects existing firms, entrepreneurs and local tax revenue. 9 guides Public-Private Partnerships How public bodies and private investors share the work and risk of development. 10 guides
Land, Rules and Money
How zoning, ownership and financing shape what can be built.
Infrastructure and Services
The pipes, streets and everyday services that keep neighborhoods working.