History / Preservation

The Downfall of Disney's America

Planner Sam Gennawey goes deep into the details explaining how the Disney Corporation's awesome corporate power was thwarted from building an America-themed park in suburban Prince William County.

May 24, 2010 - SamLand's Disney Adventures

The 11 Most Endangered Places

The National Trust for Historic Preservation presents its annual list of the most endangered places in the U.S. This year, natural landscapes take some of the spotlight away from architecture and the built environment.

May 21, 2010 - National Trust For Historic Preservation

Can Preservationists and Conservationists Work Together?

Blair Kamin, architecture critic for the Chicago Tribune, says that historic preservationists need to rethink their "preservation at all costs" strategies in light of global warming.

May 19, 2010 - Preservation Magazine

Historic Homes May Be Too Damaged to Save in Brooklyn's Navy Yard

A historic Navy yard in Brooklyn has been crumbling for decades. Now a deal has been struck to redevelop part of the area. But even with preservation efforts, many of the area's historic homes may be too damaged to save.

May 18, 2010 - The New York Times

Abu Dhabi Uneasy About its Role in New Movie

The new "Sex and the City" movie was set -- but not shot -- in Abu Dhabi. Now officials there are trying to decide whether or not to release the film to local audiences, as the city tries to control its brand and image.

May 18, 2010 - Associated Press

Eye in the Sky Maps Ancient Maya

Advanced laser imaging technology known as lidar has proven to be an effective and fast way to map ancient Mayan villages.

May 18, 2010 - The New York Times

Evolving Beyond the Long Commute

Car commutes used to be long by necessity. But that's no longer the case, according to Richard Florida in this video from The Atlantic.

May 17, 2010 - The Atlantic

Masons, the Mighty Mites, and Historic Preservation

In Fort Worth, Texas, the former Masonic Widows and Orphans home is a 20-acre historic campus of red brick buildings that is up for redevelopment. Architect Lee Hill talks about their plans for the site.

May 13, 2010 - Fort Worth Business Press

Urban History, Coming to a TV Near You

In case your knowledge of urban history is a bit fuzzy, tune into the History Channel this week.

May 12, 2010 - History.com

The World's Longest Ped Bridge

It's 1.28 miles long, spans 212 ft. above the Hudson River only 80 miles north of Manhattan, and a state park, no less, officially titled "Walkway Over the Hudson". Initially a railroad bridge that opened in 1888, it closed after a fire in 1974.

May 11, 2010 - The New York Times - N.Y. / Region

Salt Lake City Neighbors Fuming Over Teardown Ban

The Yalecrest neighborhood of Salt Lake City has been designated an historic district, and local property owners are up in arms over what they see as a taking of property rights.

May 9, 2010 - The Deseret News

Looking Back at I.M. Pei's Plan for Oklahoma City

I.M. Pei's 1964 redesign of Oklahoma City involved the destruction of more than 500 buildings. It was abandoned in the 80s. A model now on display reveals the modernist ideal that Pei envisioned and eventually failed to inspire redevelopment.

May 8, 2010 - The Oklahoman

Unlike Beijing, Shanghai Preserves Some History

The government of Shanghai was ahead of the curve with preservation, creating 12 historic preservation zones in the city in 2004.

May 4, 2010 - The New York Times

The Lasting Influence of the 1939 World's Fair

The 1939 New York World's Fair painted a picture for Americans of what they future would look like that continues to influence how the country develops. Wired has a photo-essay.

May 2, 2010 - Wired

Seeking Preservation in Beijing

Wang Jun, author of two best-selling books on urban history and planning in China, became an advocate of historic preservation after watching Beijing's old city destroyed and rebuilt as skyscrapers.

April 29, 2010 - CNN

Inside the World of Maps

This series from the BBC looks at the art and innovation of cartography.

April 29, 2010 - BBC

Riverfront Easement Provokes Debate

In Red Wing, Minnesota, the city is seeking to turn 200-acres of marshes and forests into a permanent conservation easement. A citizen group has complained that locking down the land forever is a bad idea.

April 26, 2010 - Red Wing Republican Eagle

Historic Preservation is Ruining New York

Edward L. Glaeser says that historic preservation is preserving countless undeserving structures in New York, which is keeping new buildings and affordable housing from getting built.

April 26, 2010 - City Journal

Brasilia, 50 Years Later

Christopher Hawthorne remarks that Brasilia had an optimism that is remarkably different from today's new cities that are striving towards sustainability and preparing for eco-disasters.

April 23, 2010 - The Los Angeles Times

WalMart vs. Preservationists at Civil War Site

In Orange County, Virginia, a battle is heating up at the site of the civil war's Battle of the Wilderness. The Board of Supervisors has approved a WalMart nearby, but preservationists are challenging the decision in court.

April 21, 2010 - Preservation Magazine

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.