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I've not seen any convincing evidence (so far) that the contraction in the exurban real estate market is anything but temporary. In fact there's plenty to show us it's just temporary, and the rest is hype. Three weeks ago in Forbes, hits the nail on the head, although Kotkin, having his own...

What an oversimplification of zoning's present and historical purposes. Anyway, the dissapearance of zoning may be a double-edged sword - it would inevitably be replaced by performance standards of some sort, which makes more sense, but the process would be just as drawn out - arguably American...

The previous one on the rental market and a discussion on levelling the playing field in federal policy between rental and homeownership looks very interesting too.

So far, the main effects of the recession are a lull in out-migration from costly states (CA, NY, MA, NJ etc) and therefore a slowdown in domestic migration to cheap sunbelt states. As far as international immigration goes (a big topic of conversation in California) it is consistently pointed...

In planning anyway, recessions are the only time anything gets done, as the activity at the counter slows down. So hopefully some different development patterns will occur (with ever slightly more inensity than before, heh) in cities across the country when the housing market turns around.

It was built around 1914 as an annex to Old City Hall which is directly behind it.

^czsz, i'm sure kotkin would bring up the ephemeral and potemkin, and maybe at boston's expense. http://www.newamerica.net/publications/articles/2004/houston_needs_to_look_in_the_mirror

ablarc, so many dramatics! as for planning educations, the portion of curricula dedicated to land use planning is very small. in fact it is only a portion of one of many spetializations (which usually include transportation, community development, city design and development, international...

Larry Vale's are good. 'Bibles, Brahmins and Bosses' by Thomos O'Connor. Or 'Boston: A Topographical History' by Walter Muir Whitehill.

TOD, small lots, ADUs, mixed use/RAS, adaptive reuse, etc. many cities attribute hundreds or even thousands of units to these. see: los angeles, san jose, seattle, sacramento, san diego, santa cruz, arlington (VA), washington, portland, charlotte, many others. and there's plain old upzoning...

Hi Czsz, Interesting article. Well, as for the clash with Glaeser, the two authors are talking about two different city types: Glaeser is talking about cities in which demand factors are there to drive land costs up when there are supply shortages, and Tumber is talking about cities in which...

Ya ablarc I thought, like almost all of Glaeser's research, it was original and informative. Of course it doesn't take into account some things that CA cities are not very good at (preserving watersheds, or water, for that matter) ... but it is so much better informed than the opinions of many...

From Edward Glaeser: http://www.city-journal.org/2009/19_1_green-cities.html

This bill has nothing to do with use. It would not create NCUs. It would regulate bulk, and relates to new construction (please review the article), so what Toby said about renovations or additions not adding bulk is correct. Also Toby, just curious, what are your sources for the context of the...

Welch v. Swasey did uphold 1905 state legislation that restricted heights in Boston. The state can exercise its police power for land use regulation anywhere (within reason) in the state when it deems towns aren't doing the job themselves; the police power (in which lies the power to zone) comes...

I like that (hilarious/sad) scenario, but can we afford to be that cynical?

but, look on the bright side. if passed, maybe this will set the precedent that local muncipalities cannot be held responsible for the protection of their citizens in matters of land use regulation, which is what this legislation is asserting in part? maybe? oh probably not. Wish I still had a...

ooo, just in time for the 100th anniversary of MA's contribution to the foundation of zoning, Welch v Swasey, 214 U.S. 91 1909, and it's even the same issue. "In determining the validity of a state statute affecting height of buildings, local conditions must be considered, and, while the...

Re: New tower at Aquarium parking garage. While I have to agree with Kunstler (and it hurts me to say that) that this building is aesthetically displeasing, I had to laugh at his statement that the skyscraper is obsolete. He said the suburb is obsolete too. He's made a career out of hyperbole...

I don't think there's literature arguing that suburbs are devoid of culture because it wouldn't get published. There's a lot criticizing its aesthetics, that I suppose makes good coffee table reading. There is far more literature on the culture and diversity of suburban areas around the globe...