How Urban Development is Transforming Neighborhoods

What if we designed cities for people, not just cars? Lancaster, CA, is proving it’s possible—in just 8 months, they transformed a five-lane road into The BLVD, a pedestrian-friendly, tree-lined street that has become a model for urban revitalization. What did the transformation look like? Before: A five-lane thoroughfare dominated by cars, with vacant storefronts and limited community engagement. After: A pedestrian-friendly boulevard with a central "rambla" inspired by Barcelona, fostering a thriving downtown with increased foot traffic and economic growth. What’s great is that this wasn’t just an environmental benefit, it was also economic. The $11.5 million initial investment attracted $130 million in private investment and is estimated to generate $273 million in economic output within 4 years. By encouraging people to park once and explore on foot, the redesign has boosted community engagement and safety. Lancaster’s approach reflects the New Urbanism movement, prioritizing walkable, people-centered downtowns over suburban sprawl. Having lived in the Bay Area for nearly 10 years, there’s so much I love about the area — the public transit, the weather, and the people. But I see so much room for improvement. Lancaster’s development is a testament to the future of what cities can look like if we invest in sustainable urban design. I’m a huge fan of mixed-use developments to boost local economies (and imagine living above a local grocery store—no more lugging bags for blocks!). By making sure all stakeholders are involved in the planning, we can integrate green spaces and pedestrian-friendly infrastructure to create welcoming and useable public areas. Lancaster’s transformation proves that cities CAN be people-first, green, and economically booming. What would you change about your city? Drop your thoughts below! #UrbanRevival #CityDesign #SustainableCities #Placemaking #WalkableCities #UrbanPlanning #SmartGrowth

Cheonggyecheon: From Freeway to Urban Oasis—A Model for City Transformation Cheonggyecheon in Seoul is a standout example of what’s possible when cities put people and the environment first. For decades, the stream was hidden beneath a congested multi-story freeway, dividing neighborhoods and prioritizing cars over community. Instead of renovating the aging infrastructure, Seoul’s government took a bold step: they removed the freeway, restored the natural stream, and reconnected the city with 22 new bridges—12 for pedestrians, 10 for vehicles. The results are remarkable: Reconnected neighborhoods: The stream now links both sides of the city, making it easier for people to walk, gather, and engage. Healthier public space: Green corridors, water features, and pedestrian bridges have replaced concrete, improving air quality and well-being. Sustainable urban mobility: The city invested in public transport and discouraged car use, reducing congestion and supporting active lifestyles. Cheonggyecheon is proof that visionary, people-centered planning can turn barriers into bridges—literally and figuratively. It’s a global model for urban renewal, sustainability, and social connection. What’s one urban transformation that inspires you? How can we apply these lessons to our own cities? #UrbanDesign #CityTransformation #Cheonggyecheon #SustainableCities #PublicSpace #Placemaking

Could this be a blueprint for aging malls everywhere? What happens when an old shopping mall meets bold urban vision? In #Montreal’s east end, the iconic Place Versailles—once a cornerstone retail destination—is set for a $2.2 billion transformation. Over the next 25 years, the plan will replace the old mall with more than 5,000 housing units, including social housing, alongside new commercial spaces, a hotel, a school, and expansive parks. Sustainability is at the heart of the project, with green rooftops, ecological corridors, and rainwater management. This isn’t just about revitalizing a shopping center—it’s about reimagining urban landscapes for community, sustainability, and modern needs. Place Versailles could become a playbook for cities everywhere looking to repurpose aging retail spaces into vibrant, mixed-use #neighborhoods. https://lnkd.in/gYUjdvUx #UrbanDevelopment #SustainableCities #Montreal #RealEstate #MixedUse #AdaptiveReuse #Policy #CommunityPlanning #GreenInfrastructure #Cities #econdev

The 32nd post in my "32 days of Case Studies in Retrofitting Suburbia" project. And that’s a wrap! Case Study II.32: Assembly Square, Somerville, MA Somerville is a small, densely populated inner suburban city outside Boston. Formerly industrial, by the 1990s it had come to rely on property taxes for three-quarters of its municipal budget. At that time, eager to capture more sales tax revenue, city officials slated a large brownfield site on the Mystic River, much of it vacant or underused for many years, for clean-up followed with new big box retail. The drawn out, twenty-year, planning and redevelopment process that unfolded on this site abetted a political shift that succeeded in halting the “business as usual” approach. Two decades later the cleaned-up site boasts: Assembly Row, a high-density destination district of walkable streets and blocks developed by mixed-use developer Federal Realty Investment Trust (FRIT); a major new rail transit station; bike paths and a waterfront park; a large healthcare office building; and much more infill redevelopment and strengthened streetscapes and pedestrian connections to come. In the words of members of the Mystic View Task Force, an activist coalition that came together to advocate for change, #AssemblySquare is now not only a place where residents can now once again view and access the Mystic River. “Assembly Square” once referred to a Ford Motors assembly plant; it now refers to a place where residents can assemble together! Image: Link to the City of Somerville's Assembly Square Neighborhood Plan Update page, where a 2022 update plan can be downloaded. #RetrofittingSuburbia #urbandesign #urbandevelopment #regreening #reinhabitation #LeverageSocialCapitalforEquity #ImprovePublicHealth #DistruptAutomobileDependence #CompeteforJobs ULI Australia Suburban Futures Ellen Dunham-Jones Mike Day of Hatch

🏙️ Did You Know? Suburban malls are being reborn—as walkable, livable, social hubs. Gone are the days of just anchor stores and food courts. From Paramus to Long Island, malls are adding: 🏘️ Housing & senior living 🏥 Medical offices 🎭 Outdoor town greens 🍽️ Dining, grocery & entertainment 🛍️ Open-air, lifestyle retail 💡 Case in point: Garden State Plaza is transforming into a full mixed-use district with 1,400+ apartments, senior housing, and a hotel—plus a transit center and public market space. This isn’t just a facelift—it's a fundamental rethinking of suburban space for how people live, shop, and connect. 📉 4.3M SF of retail space being removed 🏗️ 1.3M SF of new housing coming 💰 Malls slated for redevelopment are trading for as little as $104/SF Developers are leveraging large land parcels + community support to create modern town centers where people don’t just visit—they belong. #CRE #RetailTrends #MixedUse #Malls #SuburbanDevelopment #UrbanPlanning #ExperienceEconomy