Vancouver

Vancouver Skyline

Housing Construction in Seattle and Vancouver a Study in Contrasts

Planning is only one ingredient of the cocktail that produces new housing, but planning should bear in mind all the other factors influencing the process. Vancouver and Seattle provide case studies and sharp contrasts in housing outcomes.

August 17, 2017 - Sightline Institute

Vancouver

Evidence that Foreign Buyers Aren't to Blame for High Housing Prices

Vancouver's exploding housing prices are caused by income inequality, housing scarcity, and a housing bubble, not by foreign investors and vacant housing units.

July 7, 2017 - Sightline

Vancouver Skyline Bikes

Overcoming Density Opponents by Listening to Them

Urbanist Brent Toderian does not begrudge NIMBYs; he values them. In an interview with David Roberts of Vox, he explains that the problem doesn't lie with development opponents as much as it does with the decision-makers.

June 21, 2017 - Vox

Columbia River

Vancouver, Washington Ready to Adopt a Complete Streets Policy

According to Smart Growth America, more than 1,000 local, regional, and state agencies have adopted Complete Streets policies, which means many suburban communities, like Vancouver, Washington, are focusing on safety for all users.

May 19, 2017 - The Columbian

Bridge Bike Lane

Wet and Soggy, Maybe—Pacific Northwest Cities Lead in Bike Infrastructure Anyway

Portland, Seattle, and Vancouver have all prioritized the design and implementation of bike infrastructure. A study of how each is implementing its goals reveals the many ways cities can decide to make healthy, active transportation a priority.

May 4, 2017 - Sightline Institute

Vancouver Skyline

New Trump Tower Brings Controversy to the Vancouver Skyline

The second project bearing Trump's name will open next week in Canada. Donald Jr. and Eric Trump will be on hand for the opening. The mayor of the city will not.

February 25, 2017 - Associated Press via The Mercury News

Bed Stuy in the snow

You Can't Just Subsidize Your Way to Affordability

Plans that focus on giving funds to renters and home buyers won't make housing affordable, and can inflate housing prices and rents.

January 6, 2017 - City Observatory

Complete Street Vancouver

Debating Bike Infrastructure in Vancouver

Bike infrastructure is a source of political controversy, even in cities where biking is already popular.

January 3, 2017 - The Globe and Mail

Vancouver transit

TransitLink to Use $440 Million Real Estate Windfall to Fund Transit Projects

A transit funding formula, courtesy of Vancouver, British Columbia: Sell 13.8-acre property for $440 million; use cash to finance transit improvements.

December 22, 2016 - Business in Vancouver

Vancouver Skyline

Vancouver Home Sales Nosedive After Foreign Buyer Restrictions Take Effect

A new tax on foreign buyers and a threatened tax on vacant homes have contributed to a significant drop in home sales in October.

November 8, 2016 - The Seattle Times

Front Porch

Vancouver May Fast-Track Modular Laneway Homes

The city of Vancouver has emerged as a leader in "laneway" housing: secondary units built onto existing lots, often facing an alleyway. To boost supply, the city may expedite permitting for modular units.

October 27, 2016 - Vancouver Sun

Traffic Jam

Vancouver Area Shoppers Stuck in Four Hour Parking Lot Traffic Jam

Shoppers at the newly opened Tsawwassen Mills shopping mall found themselves in an hours long traffic nightmare as they tried to leave the mall's parking lot.

October 11, 2016 - Daily Hive

Vancouver Skyline

Starchitects Leaving Their Mark on the Vancouver Skyline

It hasn't always been like this, but in recent years, Vancouver has attracted international talent to design some of its splashiest new projects.

October 11, 2016 - Business Vancouver

Vancouver Waterfront

Vancouver Start-Up Wants You to Bid On Your Rent

The founders of Vancouver-based Biddwell are hoping to change the way landlords and potential tenants find each other, but a renters' advocacy body sees the new company as bad news for tenants in an increasingly tight housing market.

August 22, 2016 - The Globe and Mail

Stanley Park Vancouver

5 Goals for Vancouver's New Chief Planner

Vancouver has a new chief planner, and a former chief planner already has a to-do list for the new guy.

August 11, 2016 - Daily Hive

Vancouver

Vancouver's Attempt to Preserve Affordable Housing Causes Waves

On August 2nd, a new 15 percent tax on real estate deals with foreign buyers went into effect. The goal was to cool the hyperactive housing market, but the implementation has caught many by surprise.

August 4, 2016 - CBC News

Hillary Clinton

Planetizen Week in Review: August 1, 2016

Political junkies, map nerds, and transit fans all got plenty of big news to digest during the last week of July 2016.

August 1, 2016 - Planetizen

Car2Go

Vancouver Sees Positive Benefits from Car Sharing

As car sharing services like Car2Go have infiltrated cities including Vancouver, B.C., benefits of reduced car ownership and greenhouse gas emissions are being realized, a new study finds.

July 31, 2016 - The Vancouver Sun

Car Share

Good News on Car Sharing

Car sharing networks that allow the vehicle to be returned to any location were found to have the impact of removing seven cars for each rented car in San Diego in a three-year study released July 19.

July 27, 2016 - The San Diego Union-Tribune

Vancouver Skyline Bikes

Vancouver to Tax Foreign Real Estate Investments

Big news has emerged from British Columbia, where the government has been criticized for not doing more to address the housing affordability crisis.

July 26, 2016 - Vancouver Sun

Top Books

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Top Apps

Planning apps for a brave new world.

Top Schools

The definitive ranking of graduate planning programs.

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.