As 2025 draws to a close, the year’s most-read articles in Urban Land magazine reflect a pivotal moment in urban development. Urban Land Institute members claim the top two positions—P. David Bramble and Tracy Hadden Loh co-authored the leading piece, “Baltimore’s Harborplace: Reimagining Large-Scale Urban Design and Development on the City’s Waterfront,” followed closely by Jack Skelley’s who contributed “Rebuilding in the Aftermath of L.A.’s Unprecedented Urban Fires, Amid an Already Pressing Housing Crisis.”
These standout contributions underscore key trends: bold waterfront revitalization in Baltimore through mixed-use towers, expanded public green spaces, and resident-centered design; and urgent, resilient reconstruction in Los Angeles following the devastating January wildfires that destroyed thousands of structures across neighborhoods like Pacific Palisades, Malibu, Altadena, and Hollywood, intensifying California’s housing challenges.
Rounding out the top five are Beth Mattson-Teig’s optimistic “February Economist Snapshot: 2025 Outlook for Construction Costs,” highlighting moderated inflation and sector growth; Ben Johnson’s coverage of Oklahoma City’s new stadium and entertainment district as the final piece in its downtown revival; and Michele Lerner’s exploration of creative, attainable models for middle-income senior living amid surging demographic demand.
Here are the top five:
Baltimore’s Harborplace: Reimagining large-scale urban design and development on the city’s waterfront: By P. David Bramble and Tracy Hadden Loh
This article explores the ambitious redevelopment of Baltimore’s iconic Inner Harbor. The project transforms the once-insolvent 1970s festival marketplace into a vibrant, mixed-use destination with expanded public promenades, greenspaces, residential towers, and enhanced waterfront access. Lessons from past cycles of boom and decline underscore sustainable, resident-focused design to anchor Charm City’s next century.
Rebuilding in the Aftermath of L.A.’s Unprecedented Urban Fires, Amid an Already Pressing Housing Crisis: By Jack Skelley
The article details the January 2025 wildfires that ravaged neighborhoods like Pacific Palisades, Malibu, Altadena, and Hollywood. These fires destroyed thousands of homes and exacerbated California’s severe housing shortfall. Proposals for rapid, resilient rebuilding receive examination, with emphasis on streamlined permitting, regional coordination, and innovative policies to address displacement while broader affordability goals advance.
February Economist Snapshot: 2025 Outlook for Construction Costs: By Beth Mattson-Teig
This snapshot offers a moderated yet optimistic forecast. It analyzes easing inflation from 2024 peaks, potential interest rate declines, and rising spending in residential and nonresidential sectors. Uncertainties like tariffs and supply chains remain, yet the piece provides key insights for developers who navigate a “new normal” in project economics.
New Stadium, Entertainment District Are Last Puzzle Pieces for Downtown Oklahoma City: By Ben Johnson
The article chronicles the public-private partnership behind a new multi-purpose soccer stadium and surrounding 51-acre mixed-use district. This project stands as the capstone for OKC’s downtown renaissance. Adjacent to Bricktown and a future NBA arena, it demonstrates how sports and entertainment anchors drive connectivity, economic growth, and community vibrancy.
Creative Solutions for the “Forgotten Middle” in Senior Housing: By Michele Lerner
This piece addresses surging demand for senior living amid lagging supply—particularly for middle-income households. Innovative models, such as adaptive reuse of campuses and service-enriched communities, take center stage. The sector ranks high for risk-adjusted returns while attainable, community-integrated options tackle the “forgotten middle.”
These articles drew the highest readership and encapsulate 2025’s defining urban trends: resilience against climate risks, reimagination of legacy spaces for modern needs, cost stabilization in a volatile economy, entertainment leverage for downtown revival, and housing innovation for demographic realities.
