The Independent resource for people passionate about planning.
Planning is the professional practice and an academic study focused on the future of built environments and connected natural environments—from the smallest towns to the largest cities and everything in between.
Plan-et-iz-en combines Plan, as in planning, and Netizen, as in a citizen of the Internet, to came up with “Planetizen.” The Planetizen team pronounces it pla-NET-a-zen. However, you won’t find our name in Webster’s so feel free to pronounce it however it suits you.
Our Values
Independent
Planetizen is the independent voice of the planning community, free from institutional or financial interests.
Foster innovation
We continuously innovate. We encourage and reward experimentation to discover the best ideas, content, and technology.
Advance Planning
We advance the field of planning by increasing awareness and improving practice and research.
Embrace diversity
We recognize increased diversity results in a stronger community and advances planning.
History
Founders Chris Steins and Abhijeet Chavan created Planetizen in 2000 in Los Angeles as a project to explore technology and track the field of planning in Los Angeles, CA. Planetizen published its first story, by Anthony Downs, on August 1, 2000. The first Planetizen server ran on a used desktop computer connected to a telephone line in Chris’s house, and the site published 3-4 stories a day.
Within months, thousands were reading, and Planetizen expanded to cover news throughout California. By 2003, Planetizen contributors were submitting news from across the country, capturing the growing interest in the Internet and the need for an online community interested in planning.
Today, Planetizen reaches 90% of the U.S. urban planning community through news, editorial, job postings, online courses, books, and product sales. But one thing hasn’t changed: We are always looking for new ways to advance the field and work for healthier, more prosperous communities.
Contributors
Team
- Cate Miller, Sales and Operations
- Olga Serhijchuk, Planetizen Courses
- Cathy Hwang, Planetizen Courses
- José Ramirez, Creative Director
- Ki Kim, Director, Engineering
- Gergely Lekli, Director, Infrastructure
- Lehel Matyus, Front-End Engineering
- Jay Lee, Front-End Engineering
- Chris Steins, Founding Editor
Emeritus Editors
- Abhijeet Chavan (2000)
- Chris Steins (2000)
- David Gest (2005)
- Christian Peralta Madera (2006)
- Tim Halbur (2008)
- Jonathan Nettler, AICP (2012)