Government / Politics

Voters Clamp Down On Eminent Domain

Eight states approved new measures to restrict the use of eminent domain on November 7th -- widely seen as a reaction to the U.S. Supreme Court decision in the case of Kelo vs. New London.

November 10, 2006 - CNNMoney.com

Need A Holiday Gift Idea? Try Free Parking

A city in Ohio is using the lure of free parking in an effort to shoppers in the holiday mood.

November 8, 2006 - Toledo Blade

NYC Affordable Housing Plan Has Unexpected Costs

A new affordable housing plan in New York City has solved some problems facing lower income residents, but has also created many woes for people who purhcased shoddy homes through the plan and have been unable to get any help from the city since.

November 8, 2006 - WNBC via MSNBC

Katrina Cottage Finds New Life

FEMA may not be utilizing the Katrina Cottage, but as an innovative solution to affordable gulf coast housing -- and beyond-- the charming 'little cottage that could' is finding new life through the private sector.

November 7, 2006 - The Washington Post

Is The Kelo Backlash Growing?

A property-rights backlash appears to be building across the country as a direct result of the Supreme Court's Kelo v. City of New London decision, writes the WSJ on their editorial page.

November 6, 2006 - The Wall Street Journal

Record Funding For Transportation On Election Day Ballots

33 transportation-related ballot measures worth more than $55 billion face voters this election.

November 6, 2006 - Center For Transportation Excellence

News Summary and Analysis - October 2006

As part of monthly series, we present a summary and analysis of some of the most interesting news to appear on Planetizen over the month of October 2006. This is the transcript of an audio segment that originally aired on the nationally syndicated radio program "Smart City".

November 6, 2006 - Nate Berg

Renewing The Great Lakes Region

A new report from the Brookings Institution looks at policy innovations that can help revive the fortunes of the nation's former industrial powerhouse.

November 4, 2006 - The Brookings Institution

Critiquing Philadelphia's Parcel By Parcel Approach To City Planning

Inga Saffron, the Philadelphia Inquirer's architecture critic, loathes the city's 'let's make a deal' approach to urban planning.

November 3, 2006 - Skyline Online

Toronto Moving In The Wrong Direction

This opinion piece from the Toronto Star looks at how the organizational operation of Toronto is preventing it from becoming a more urban city.

November 3, 2006 - The Toronto Star

Oregonians Believe Measure 37 Was A Mistake

In 2004, Oregonians passed Measure 37, which gave zoning waivers to longtime property owners. With voters in several other states facing similar measures, a recently released poll shows that most Oregon voters now oppose Measure 37.

November 3, 2006 - Defenders of Wildlife Action Fund

New Atlanta Regional Transit Board Misfiring On All Cylinders

Created nine months ago as the latest -- and perhaps last -- tool to develop regional transit in Metro Atlanta, the Transit Planning Board now struggles to even make a quorum.

November 3, 2006 - The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Through The FEMA Looking Glass

Doug Giuliano recounts his adventures in the FEMA wonderland after heading to the Gulf Coast to help with hurricane recovery. What started as noble intentions ended mired in the muck of bureaucracy.

November 2, 2006 - The Next American City

Another Plan For Combating Climate Change

Responding to a report by British economist Nicholas Stern, a recent article in the Guardian outlines a 10 point plan for taking action on climate change without "bringing civilization crashing down."

November 2, 2006 - The Guardian

Eminent Domain And Property Owner Compensation Up To Idaho Voters

Idaho's Proposition 2 asks voters to decide whether the state should compensate property owners when land-use laws reduce their property values. The voters must also decide if they want their state to prohibit the use of eminent domain.

November 2, 2006 - Idaho Mountain Express

Cities Hesitant To Extend Planning Boundary

Two North Carolina communities are grappling over whether they should extend their county's planning boundary to include both jurisdictions. Some residents are opposed due to fears of conforming to undesired development standards.

November 2, 2006 - The Daily Reflector

Environmental And Public Health Advocates Join Sprawl Fee Litigation

In an unusual twist in California's sprawling Central Valley, environmental and public health advocates have joined forces with the local air quality district - an agency they have sued in the past for not doing enough to clean the air.

November 2, 2006 - The Fresno Bee

Growing Pains For Davie, Florida

With 90,000 residents and growing, Davie, Florida is struggling to move beyond its rural roots.

November 1, 2006 - The Miami Herald

Legislation To Impose Master Plan Meets Opposition

Supervisors in San Francisco have called on the city to impose the affordable housing standards included in the master plan, a move many in the city's planning department fear will bring development in the city's eastern areas to a halt.

November 1, 2006 - The San Francisco Bay Guardian

New Poll Shows Londoners In Favor Of Increased Mayoral Planning Powers

A new poll of Londoners shows the majority backing a proposal to grant the city's mayor increased power to intervene in the planning process.

October 31, 2006 - Ealing Times

FREE Course: Walkable City 1: Why Walkability?

After describing his path towards focusing on walkability as the essence of good planning, Jeff Speck marches through his five principal reasons for making more walkable places.

Reinventing Malls: Planning Alchemy—Turning Gray Fields Into Gold

The course focuses on the opportunities and imperatives that shape reinvention of mall sites.

Professor of Urban Planning

Harvard University Graduate School of Design

Transportation Planner I

KFH Group Inc.

Director, Strategy and Research

Greater Baltimore Committee

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.