Government / Politics

Aspen's Booming Market For Planning Consultants

An industry of planning consultants, many of them former Aspen city planners, has set up shop to help builders navigate through the city's complex development review process.

August 14, 2006 - Aspen Daily News

New Urbanism Takes Hold In West Florida

Cities and counties in and around the Tampa Bay area are incorporating elements of New Urbanism into their planning and land use codes.

August 14, 2006 - The St. Petersburg Times

Battle Over Housing In New York's Wealthiest Zip Code

Largely low-rise and industrial, Manhattan's once gritty but now chic TriBeCa neighborhood is facing pressure from developers who are hoping to profit from its desirability by building new high-rise apartments.

August 14, 2006 - The New York Sun

A Shifting Planning Paradigm In Hong Kong

No longer content with the planning status quo, the city's residents are demanding that government plans abandon their outdated "city in the sky" vision and focus on quality of life issues in the territory.

August 14, 2006 - The Standard

Arts-Based Planning For Downtown

A New Jersey township that has been a leader in downtown planning is planning to integrate arts-based development into its successful downtown mix.

August 13, 2006 - The Star-Ledger

Cities To Swap Cash For Meeting Housing Requirements

A Bay Area county will be the first in the region to take advantage of a new state law that allows cities to swap meeting state-mandated, affordable housing requirements for cash donations to cities which build affordable housing within same county.

August 13, 2006 - San Francisco Examiner, Peninsula edition

Idaho Says "No" To Coal-Fired Power Plants

Idaho Rep. Gov. Risch reversed his predecessor's position on allowing new coal plants to be built in Idaho by opting out of a federal mercury emissions trading program. By doing so, the state has shown bi-partisan opposition to coal power plants.

August 12, 2006 - The Idaho Statesman

Idaho Proposition Threatens Land Use Law

Planners are spooked by a Measure 37 look-a-like bill that spills over into Idaho.

August 12, 2006 - The Boise Weekly

A Battle For Open Space In Maryland

50 acres of woodland are up for sale in Maryland, and while a developer has scoped the land as a good site for 25 homes, local residents are pressuring local and state officials to employ a little-used open space funding program to buy up the land.

August 12, 2006 - The Baltimore Sun

Measuring Quality Of Life In The Treasure Valley Region

A report by Institute for Urban & Regional Planning at Boise State University looks at competitiveness and quality of life of the Treasure Valley.

August 11, 2006 - Boise State University Public Policy Center

Philadelphia's Skyscraper Boom

The recent building spree of high rises in Philadelphia requires more oversight from planners if it is to truly benefit the city, argues one critic.

August 11, 2006 - The Philadelphia Inquirer

Reason's Annual Privatization Report, 2006

Reason's Annual Privatization Report chronicles and analyzes the most important developments in privatization, outsourcing, and government reform.

August 11, 2006 - Reason Foundation

Small Urban Farms Show Success In Cuba

Small organic farms are scattered throughout Cuba that have been providing food for the country ever since the fall of the Soviet empire 20 years ago. The collaboration between the government and local farmers has benefited the whole country.

August 11, 2006 - The Independent

FEMA Awards Housing Contracts For Katrina Work

Based on quality of plans and competitiveness of bidding, billions of dollars in housing contracts were awarded to six companies, some with immediate political ties to the current administration.

August 11, 2006 - Yahoo! News

Property Tax Increases Outstrip Personal Income Growth

Nationwide, the rise of personal property tax bills has nearly doubled as compared to the level of personal income in the years 2000-2004.

August 11, 2006 - The New York Times

The City of Brotherly Love...And Gambling

Philadelphia is set to become the largest city in the nation with casinos, but boosters worry that the gaming venues won't fit with the city's recent revitalization.

August 10, 2006 - The Next American City

Giving Teens A Say In Community Plans

Teenagers in Providence, Rhode Island, are getting a taste of classic planning issues.

August 8, 2006 - Rhode Island News

Inclusionary Housing Doesn't Work

An economist with the National Association of Home Builders argues that government mandated inclusionary housing has good goals but negative consequences.

August 8, 2006 - The Orlando Sentinel

Why High Gas Prices Haven't Affected Driving Behavior

As gasoline prices settle at $3/gallon, oil consumption continues to climb.

August 8, 2006 - The Denver Post

California Fuel Tax Proposal Called Into Question

The proposed measure, which would raise taxes on petrol to fund conservation and alternative energy efforts, is under fire due to benefits it would provide one of its major backers.

August 7, 2006 - The Sacramento Bee

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.