BEV BUTULA: Land Use Research Options

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The Urban Land Institute is a 501(c)(3) research and education organization dealing with land use issues. Their policy and practice priority areas include: capital markets, housing, infrastructure, sustainability/climate change, place making/public realm, places of commerce, and development at the edge.

In addition to their news summaries, the research and publications section offers some very useful information. Many of the magazine articles and their “real estate business barometer” are restricted to members, but the general user can locate a lot valuable data in the “reports and case studies” section. Detailed reports on various land use topics are just a click away. There are numerous reports on smart growth and affordable housing. The “ten principles” section is a collection of brief reports outlining ten key areas to consider on specific land use issues.

Another resource for land use research is Pace Law School’s Land Use Law Center. Their Gaining Ground Database is a “comprehensive collection of land use resources, including federal, state, and local ordinances; commentaries; research papers; and research aids.” The site also offers an excellent selection of scholarly articles on the topic.