Usable outdoor public space is critical for the viability of any community, whether it is an urban metropolis or a suburban hamlet. However, development of such places—and their maintenance and operation—requires a significant amount of capital. Read about an approach to financing in Texas involving public/private partnerships that could be applied elsewhere in the country.

An interdisciplinary team from the Runstad Center for Real Estate Studies at the University of Washington recently traveled to Hong Kong to examine how success metrics like corporate profits, budget surpluses, and transit ridership influence urban form and resilience. Read about their findings and a new analytical tool designed to help policy makers evaluate decisions that shape the built environment.

The Trepp LLC survey showed spreads widening approximately 10 basis points across all property types in direct reaction to the continuing Euro-crises. While everyone wants to believe everything is under control, it appears few actually believe it to be so.

New York continues to rank first among 35 top global cities ranked by the Mori Memorial Foundation in Japan, with London, Paris, Tokyo, and Singapore rounding out the top five.

A ULI advisory services panel, made up of real estate, city, and tourism experts from the U.K., Spain, and Belgium, visited Maasmechelen, Belgium, in June to give their objective and independent opinion on the opportunities ahead for the community. Learn what two questions the panel focuses on answering as Maasmechelen seeks to exploit its potential as a tourism hub.

Governments across the nation have long recognized the need to preserve open space. What may have been underestimated, however, is the commercial value of open space and its potential to create value.

Highlights of the October 2011 Federal Reserve Senior Loan Office Opinion Survey include, amongst other findings: fewer domestic commercial banks eased lending standards, one-fourth of foreign bank respondents tightened lending standards, and less easing of credit standards in the third quarter of 2011 as compared to past surveys.

One disaster setting off a series of other disasters needs to be considered the norm rather than the exception when planning for events such as the offshore earthquake near Japan that led to a tsunami and a nuclear meltdown. Read what all disciplines focused on public safety should be doing in order to prevent disasters from developing into catastrophes.

New York City Department of City Planning Commissioner Amanda M. Burden talks to Urban Land magazine about the value of urban open space, how it can be a catalyst for economic development, why she created the Amanda Burden Urban Open Space Award.

In a day that started with news of European leaders agreeing to a Greek-debt plan, and which would end with the Dow Industrial Index having surged 340 points, some of the industry’s top capital-market experts warned ULI 2011 Fall Meeting attendees to remain wary, especially of leverage. Read what panelists Simon Treacy, Michael G. McGaffrey, Kelvin Davis, Roy Hilton March, and Ron Sturzenegger had to say about capital markets.