From open spaces in Singapore and a remote part of China, to revamped malls in the Philippines and Australia, to a greenbelt that gives vertical lift to apartment living, the five winners of the 2010 ULI Awards for Excellence: Asia Pacific all feature the latest technology, sustainable design, and artistic innovation. They not only enhance their own value, but also engage visitors and improve the quality of life for the millions who experience these projects.

In 2009, the median price of an existing single-family home in the United States declined by 12.5 percent, the largest single-year drop since the National Association of Realtors began tracking the number in the late 1960s. But there were pockets of stable values and even rising home prices in every major metropolitan area across the country. The location of these stronger neighborhoods tended to depend on the traditional strengths of the metropolitan area as a whole.

As the economy finally—perhaps—emerges from the prolonged recession, it is difficult to imagine a future in which the United States continues to lead the world— technologically, innovatively, and economically. This becomes particularly more difficult in the face of the barrage of reports about China and India materializing as the next world powers.

The National Bus Rapid Transit Institute identified seven elements as those undergoing innovation in bus rapid transit.

Successful transit-oriented developments (TODs) meet demand for compact, walkable, mixed-use development-the same markets that are also likely to see an important amenity value in easy access to high-quality transit service. At the same time, the more people, jobs, and services that exist within walking distance of transit service, the higher the potential transit ridership and fare generation, and the more cars that can be pulled off congested roads. TOD is a win-win for land use and transportation.

A focus on affordable living considers both housing costs and commuting costs, an element the federal government now says it is serious about using as a benchmark.

Small, mixed-use infill projects are becoming favorites of the planning and development industry because of their compact urban scale, innovative design, and positive impact as catalysts for their neighborhoods.

Given the demographic and behavioral shifts, as well as the supply competition, expected to continue after the economic recovery, what steps should small cities take to boost their downtowns?

Miami’s new code, known as Miami 21, marks the first time a form-based code has been adopted for an entire major U.S. city, and it is likely to accelerate the trend.

Three-dimensional airspace subdivisions can add value to real estate developments.