Land Use

How NYC Became a Planning Wunderkind

Julie Iovine praises the Bloomberg administration's entrepreneurial spirit in remaking New York City, but fears what might come next.

August 8, 2012 - The Architect's Newspaper

Rethinking the Factory Town to Meet America's Affordable Housing Needs

Is the return of the factory town the solution to jump-start new housing construction? Myron Curzan and Janet Lowenthal propose a plan for developing housing that caters specifically to workers stuck in between affordable and median housing.

August 8, 2012 - Urban Land

Marching Orders Suggested for Toronto's New Chief Planner

As Toronto's new chief planner Jennifer Keesmaat made the media rounds last week, her deft comments left local urbanists drunk on the possible. As the city's boosters sober up, John Lorinc recommends two chief priorities that must be tackled.

August 8, 2012 - Spacing Toronto

High-End Real Estate Makes Wildfires Worse

In Colorado and the West, the most desirable real estate is also the most likely to burn, writes Michael Kodas.

August 8, 2012 - OnEarth

Bringing Market Analysis to the Public Planning Process

In an op-ed for New Geography, Skip Preble argues why communities can benefit from incorporating market analysis and financial modeling techniques into their planning processes.

August 7, 2012 - New Geography

Home Bible Study + Zoning Codes = Prison

A Phoenix man serves time for holding prayer gatherings in his home, part of what attorney and author John W. Whitehead sees as a larger trend toward zoning out home services.

August 7, 2012 - The Huffington Post

Manhattan Plans to Expand its Waterfront Renaissance

Not to be outdone by its neighboring boroughs across the East River, Manhattan is hoping to embark on an upgrade to its eastern waterfront. Tyler Silvestro has the details.

August 7, 2012 - The Architect's Newspaper

Could a Toll Road Boost Maine's Economy at the Cost of its Identity?

Katharine Seelye writes on the clash between business interests and residents of rural Maine, where a proposed private toll road has revealed a difference in values.

August 7, 2012 - The New York Times

Does Conservation Development Actually Work?

Emily Wortman-Wunder looks at the effectiveness of conservation development - a popular tool used by planners across the rural West for the purposes of preserving open space.

August 7, 2012 - High Country News

Is Density Inherently Desirable?

Kaid Benfield wades into the density debate by pointing out that density and sprawl can go hand in hand.

August 6, 2012 - Switchboard

Generational Divide Opens Gap in Post-Tsunami Planning

The Economist looks at the generational gap that is hampering efforts to rebuild tsunami-stricken communities in Japan, as the elderly favor restoring what was lost as soon as possible, and the young seek sustainable revitalization.

August 6, 2012 - The Economist

India Encourages Monster Master Planning Effort

Planners in search of work might want to consider looking in India. As Nate Berg reports, the Indian government is hoping a new technology initiative will catalyze master planning efforts in 7,935 cities and towns across the country.

August 6, 2012 - The Atlantic Cities

New Jersey Charts its Future Growth, Angering Environmentalists

In producing updated sewer service maps, New Jersey's 21 counties have partnered to sketch out statewide development well into the future. Critics complain that the plans favor developers over the environment, reports Jill P. Capuzzo.

August 6, 2012 - The New York Times

Brooklyn Looks Gift House in the Mouth

Brooklyn Bridge Park's privately funded field house proposal, complete with Olympic-class velodrome, faces criticism over its size, effects on the surrounding neighborhood, and arguments over open space versus space for sports facilities.

August 5, 2012 - The New York Times

Farmers Markets Continue Healthy Growth Across America

Philip Bump reports on new data out this week that shows the number of farmers markets increased by 10% in the past year.

August 4, 2012 - Grist

Paris to the People

Angelique Chrisafis delivers the fantastic news that, after more than four decades of auto dominance, Paris is returning its riverfront to its people in a "pedestrian 'reconquest' of the banks of the Seine."

August 3, 2012 - The Guardian

The Community-Building Power of Communal Gardens

Planted to solve a perceived food desert problem, urban gardens are harvesting more than just fresh, nutritious food. Neighborhoods surrounding gardens are seeing surprising declines in violent crime.

August 3, 2012 - Mother Jones

Can the Los Angeles River Reclaim a Starring Role?

From its mountain tributaries, to the San Fernando Valley, through Downtown, and across the basin into the Pacific Ocean, Christian MilNeil tells the story behind the ecological and recreation rehabilitation of the Los Angeles River.

August 3, 2012 - Grist

Plans for Elevated Roadway in Oklahoma City Encounter 'Buzz-Saw of Criticism'

According to Steve Lackmeyer, traditional highway design, aimed at the automobile, is clashing with modern urban planning trends, of 'complete streets' and multi-modes, over a new proposal to build an elevated highway in Oklahoma City.

August 2, 2012 - NewsOK

Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools

This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.

Planning for Universal Design

Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.

Top Books

An annual review of books related to planning.

Top Schools

The definitive ranking of graduate planning programs.

100 Most Influential Urbanists

The who's who of urbanism, according to Planetizen readers.

Urban Planning Creators You Should Know

A short list of voices on social, video, and podcasting platforms.