Kansas City’s Berkley Riverfront, on the banks of the Missouri River, is rapidly becoming one of the most promising urban developments in North America. With a history rooted in trade and commerce, and an unmatched reputation for world-class sports, the Heartland of America riverfront is on the brink of becoming a diverse, modern-day community hub of activity, blending residential, commercial, and recreational space.

A recent announcement from the Atlanta city government has once again sparked conversation around the redevelopment of a once-vibrant mall in Atlanta’s historic West End neighborhood.

Aberdeen, South Dakota’s rich history as a bustling hub with a vibrant downtown provides a strong foundation for revitalization. Historic photos of Main Street from the early 1900s could easily be mistaken for scenes from Brooklyn, New York, of the same era. Understanding why the town moved away from this dynamic core, and lost its historical vibrancy, is essential.

Texas Southern University professor and environmental justice advocate to receive ULI Prize for Visionaries in Urban Development.

Twenty years ago, India had only 50 airports with regularly scheduled service, according to statistics from the Airports Authority of India. By 2014, the number had grown to 74. By 2023, the number had doubled, to 148. Sometime in the 2030s, it is expected to double again. Even more extraordinary than the number of airports, however, is their architecture.

Spanning 80 acres (32.4 ha) and 1 million square feet (93,000 sq m) of industrial space, The Works is located off Chattahoochee Avenue, a once-quiet industrial corridor on the west side of Atlanta. This pocket of the city—now known as the Upper Westside with a new CID to prove it—has seen explosive growth since plans for The Works were announced in 2017.

Baltimore’s Inner Harbor has long been a symbol of urban revitalization and economic resurgence. In fact, when ULI bestowed its Heritage Award to the site in 2009, it declared the Inner Harbor was “the model for post-industrial waterfront redevelopment around the world.”

After over two decades of planning, development, and construction, the Residences at Harvard Commons, a mixed-income housing development comprising 45 affordable apartments and 54 market-rate single-family homes, is nearing completion.

The history of Denver is closely intertwined with the South Platte River. From the city’s initial settlement along the riverbanks in 1858 to subsequent urbanization that altered its natural course, the South Platte has played a significant role in Denver’s evolution. For much of the 20th century, however, metropolitan development turned away from this vital waterway.

For many who live outside Southern California, the Watts neighborhood of Los Angeles is remembered for the well-documented riots of 1965, a six-day period of civil unrest that brought 34 fatalities, numerous injuries, and widespread arrests.