History / Preservation

National Planning for the Next Century

The United States has a long history of planning at the national level. This article from Professor Robert Fishman details that history, and looks at how national planning may play out over the next 100 years.

January 17, 2010 - PBS

Iraq Beyond Baghdad

Basra and Mosul are Iraq's second- and third-largest cities. In this post, Iraqi journalists talk about the two cities, their evolving public realms and the security issues they face.

January 16, 2010 - The New York Times

Lost, and Restored in 2009

The National Trust for Historic Preservation takes a look at the most significant buildings saved or restored in 2009, and the 'most crushing losses.'

January 14, 2010 - National Trust For Historic Preservation

Friday Funny: Buried Sea Lion Carcass Reeks of Retaliation to Nudists

A group of Southern California nudists is criticizing parks officials who buried a dead sea lion near their controversial stomping grounds -- a stinky development in the long battle between nudists and officials over the contested beach.

January 8, 2010 - The Orange County Register

Preservation Office Delaying Stimulus Projects in California

California stimulus projects and job creation are being delayed by a state office tasked with reviewing federally-funded construction projects to prevent adverse affects on historic sites, according to a new report.

January 8, 2010 - The Sacramento Bee

Locals Peeved About New 'Clean' Scottish Power Lines

A 137-mile clean energy transmission line has been approved in the UK, connecting wind and wave power facilities near the coast. But some environmental groups are not happy about the plan.

January 7, 2010 - Guardian

Embattled Cape Cod Wind Farm Hits Spiritual Speedbump

After lobbying from two Native American tribes, the Nantucket Sound has been made eligible for listing in the National Register of Historic Places, creating a possible further delay of a proposed wind farm off the coast of Cape Cod.

January 6, 2010 - The New York Times

The Ruins of Detroit and New Orleans

Bryan Finoki looks at the devastated cities of Detroit and New Orleans and finds "blueprints for the manufacture of ruin".

January 4, 2010 - Triple Canopy

Recession A Boon for Land Preservationists

Preservation groups and land trusts are beneficiaries of the economic recession, as prices on land have dropped low enough for many to buy up land for conservation purposes.

January 3, 2010 - The New York Times

Tourism Flourishes Below Berlin

A group of historians and urban enthusiasts have developed a successful tourist organization that explores the underground structures and spaces of Berlin.

January 2, 2010 - The New York Times

Metro Portland's Internal Growth Dilemma

The three counties in the Portland Metropolitan area are at odds about what parts of the region should and should not be protected by urban growth boundaries.

December 29, 2009 - The Oregonian

How To Be Quiet in New York City

The churches of New York 'remain a special category of real estate', says Holland Cotter.

December 27, 2009 - The New York Times

Documenting The Mother Road

The California Preservation Foundation and the National Park Service are funding a cultural survey of Route 66, which could result in several new national landmarks along the old highway.

December 24, 2009 - The Los Angeles Times

Easements Gone Wrong

When a nonprofit conservancy dissolves, their land trusts go into limbo, calling the restrictions on development into question.

December 21, 2009 - High Country News

San Francisco Claims Treasure Island

The City of San Francisco has secured a deal with the U.S. Navy to purchase Treasure Island, a man-made island in the middle of San Francisco Bay. The city has broad plans to redevelop the site.

December 19, 2009 - San Francisco Chronicle

Buffalo's 'Preservation By Neglect'

Buffalo, New York has managed to preserve most of its historic buildings due to a lack of economic drive to replace them. Now that Buffalo is doing better, preservationists are hoping to use those assets for revitalization.

December 17, 2009 - USA Today

All You Need is Louvre

A war-battered town in Frances will be the site of a new extension of the venerable Louvre museum, and locals hope the addition of the cultural site will revive the struggling city.

December 16, 2009 - The Washington Post

Historic Preservation vs. Revitalization?

In Willmar, Minnesota, city officials were not pleased when a mandated environmental review concluded that the 68-year old airport building they wanted to demolish was historically significant.

December 14, 2009 - West Central Tribune

Ancient Irrigators

Irrigation canals dating back to the year 1200 B.C. were discovered in Arizona this year, answering a long-asked question about how natives were able to farm the arid land.

December 13, 2009 - Archaeology

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.