We've augmented our comprehensive list of Twitter's top sources for news and observations about urban planning, design and development by recognizing this year's Top Ten Feeds.
When we last published our Top Twitter Feeds list two years ago, the social media platform had approximately 145 million users. Earlier this year, Twitter was said to have surpassed half a billion users, cementing its status as an invaluable tool for sharing, discussing, and disseminating information and breaking news.
For 2012, we’ve recognized ten of the top Twitter feeds that we've encountered over the past year. The people and organizations we’ve spotlighted below are adept at bringing attention to their own work and the work of others, and offer insightful commentary in 140 character increments. For each entry we’ve made note of their twitter handle, their influence via Klout score, and the description they’ve provided.
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Bruce Katz Katz, a vice president at the Brookings Institution and founding Director of the Brookings Metropolitan Policy Program, focuses on issues related to economic development, and keeps followers up to date on the latest in urban related research published by the venerable think tank. |
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Brent Toderian After only six months of tweeting, the former Chief Planner, and current chief booster, for Vancouver, has quickly established himself as one of the most active and respected voices on urban issues on the platform. With more than 3,500 tweets (around 20/day), the Planetizen blogger is also one of the most prodigious. |
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TransportationNation A partnership of several public radio newsrooms, TN provides links to transportation and infrastructure related content daily from around the web. TN has also been indispensable in keeping followers updated on the status of New York’s transit system in the aftermath of Superstorm Sandy. |
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Emily Badger Author and contributor to several planning- and development-oriented publications, Badger engages her followers in thoughtful discussion, and delivers links on topics related to cities, design, politics, and social issues from her perch in the Nation’s Capital. |
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Gary Kavanaugh Urban issues aren’t his day job, but you’d never know from the endless stream of provocative, unabashed, and entertaining commentary Kavanaugh delivers on a daily basis on issues largely related to transportation, and his passion for bicycling, in Los Angeles. |
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Governing The twitter platform of the eponymous magazine provides links to nonpartisan news, insight and analysis on such issues as public finance, transportation, economic development, health, energy, the environment and technology. Their "Daily Digit" and "Who Said That?" features help make even the most mundane public sector reports compelling. |
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Jarrett Walker The respected author and public transit guru fires shots across the bows of transportation engineers, planners, and public officials around the world in the bite-sized extension of his Human Transit blog. Walker isn’t shy about making his well considered opinions known. |
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New Geography Follow this feed for links to the latest writings on economic development, metropolitan demographics, and community leadership from the conservative website run by Joel Kotkin and Praxis Strategy Group. Whether you're interested in reading opinions on why Americans still favor the suburbs or why "red states" continue to attract "blue state" residents, New Geography is a great source for contrarian opinions to the accepted planning dogma. |
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Cameron Sinclair Executive Director and cofounder of Architecture for Humanity, and one of the leaders of the socially responsible design movement, Sinclair’s twitter feed documents his globe trotting adventures as a public speaker and do-gooder, and his often anguished (but occasionally celebratory) musings on his beloved Arsenal soccer team. |
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Archinect A popular platform for students, educators, and architects interested in progressive design since its founding 15 years ago, follow Archinect for links to the website’s latest in architecture related news, commentary, events, and competitions. |
Depopulation Patterns Get Weird
A recent ranking of “declining” cities heavily features some of the most expensive cities in the country — including New York City and a half-dozen in the San Francisco Bay Area.
Pennsylvania Mall Conversion Bill Passes House
If passed, the bill would promote the adaptive reuse of defunct commercial buildings.
California Exodus: Population Drops Below 39 Million
Never mind the 40 million that demographers predicted the Golden State would reach by 2018. The state's population dipped below 39 million to 38.965 million last July, according to Census data released in March, the lowest since 2015.
Google Maps Introduces New Transit, EV Features
It will now be easier to find electric car charging stations and transit options.
Ohio Lawmakers Propose Incentivizing Housing Production
A proposed bill would take a carrot approach to stimulating housing production through a grant program that would reward cities that implement pro-housing policies.
Chicago Awarded $2M Reconnecting Communities Grant
Community advocates say the city’s plan may not do enough to reverse the negative impacts of a major expressway.
City of Costa Mesa
Licking County
Barrett Planning Group LLC
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
Mpact Transit + Community
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
City of Universal City TX
ULI Northwest Arkansas
Town of Zionsville
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