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According to a study published in the August issue of the American Journal of Preventive Medicine, researchers from the University of Pennsylvania, Drexel University and the RAND Corporation found that construction of a light-rail system in Charlotte, North Carolina resulted in increased physical activity and subsequent weight loss by people served by light-rail.

Andreas Heym, director of development for consultants AREP, narrated a tour of French high speed rail stations, and how they connect urban-planning loose ends in many cities, from large metropolises to country towns. Jeff Heller, partner with Heller Manus Architects, and a member of Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger’s high speed rail China delegation, discussed aspects of China’s approach to development of high speed rail.

What if local communities don’t want “huge” and “transformative” when it comes to high-speed rail? Some officials in California have expressed intense opposition to proposed high-speed rail stations, citing concerns about increased traffic and parking requirements. Even Stanford University, which might ordinarily support such progress, is opposed. Are there public outreach efforts that can help overcome these hurdles?

The July sales figures were worse than many analysts had expected, prompting calls for a restoration of the federal housing tax credit. Existing-home sales in July dropped 27 percent from June levels and 25 percent from July 2009. The total sales of existing homes were the lowest since the National Association of Realtors (NAR) began tracking the figure in 1999. Read what many housing experts and ULI housing council leaders want.

Financial institutions do not have the resources and experience to manage and operate nonperforming real estate holdings while maximizing their value. Lenders often want to get the properties off the books as soon as possible at fire-sale prices. Learn about a better option: developing a comprehensive strategy that protects and increases the value of these assets and their eventual sales price.

After three difficult years of dislocations and losses during which property values were reported to have declined by as much as 40 percent, some relief is coming. So say participants in surveys for Emerging Trends in Real Estate® 2011. Learn which five markets were identified by participants as the ones to watch in terms of commercial and multifamily investment.

Interviews with a number of leaders in land use throughout the country reveal a sense of renewed focus, almost to the point of reinvigoration. While the economic reset in the real estate community has been substantial, many express the belief that the downturn is a necessary course correction. What are five examples of shifts in consumer-driven real estate behavior?

ULI’s Fall Meeting in Washington, D.C., provided actionable information and a slightly upbeat note compared to the mood seen during the depths of the 2008–2009 recession. In addition to the usual high-level panels and research presented at ULI’s annual fall meetings, the 2010 edition, held in Washington, D.C., offered top-ranking current and former government officials, many of whom broke away from their day jobs to come to the convention center and make presentations. Read what FDIC chair Sheila Bair considers the biggest concern regarding the economy.

The real estate bust left the nation’s urban landscape littered with deteriorating, unfinished projects. After sitting untouched, some failed projects are finally getting a second chance as banks begin offering them to investors at steep discounts to clear their books and replenish capital reserves. Read about important considerations for undertaking these projects and about some of the success stories.

On Friday, President Obama called for “any idea, any proposal, any way we can get the economy growing faster so that people who need work can find it faster.” There is a tried and true idea that has always been used in past recoveries; activate the building of the built environment…but with a major twist.