History / Preservation

Adaptively Reusing Brooklyn's Industrial Spaces

Preservationists say that there are better ways to use buildings along Brooklyn's industrial waterfront than to demolish them.

October 30, 2008 - The New York Times

The Experts' Picks for Prettiest Towns in America

Travel writers, photographers, and an urban designer selected by Forbes have named the 20 prettiest towns in America; their varied definitions of "prettiness" are reflected in their choices.

October 22, 2008 - Forbes Traveler

Preserving Land to Save Money

Voters in suburban Minnesota will vote on whether to invest $10 million to preserve a closed golf course. Or they could save the $10 million and allow a developer to build houses. But many say it will be cheaper in the long term to buy now.

October 22, 2008 - Minnesota Public Radio

Scranton, PA - Not What You Think!

In this election, Scranton has come to symbolize blue-collar America, with visits by all four national candidates, parodied on Saturday Night Live, as well as the scene of NBC’s The Office. But the city is in a turnaround after decades of decline.

October 20, 2008 - The Wall Street Journal

Wasting Resources and Destroying History

Preservation of iconic buildings is important for historical reasons as well as environmental one, according to actress and preservationist Diane Keaton.

October 14, 2008 - Los Angeles Times

When A Road Is More Than Just A Road

Brooklyn’s Ocean Parkway is one of America’s most 'elegant' roads. Designed by landscape architects Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux to replicate the grand European Boulevards; opened in 1876, it was designated a landmark by NYC 100 years later

October 13, 2008 - The New York Times

Is Farmland Preservation Worthwhile?

Preserving farmland has always been a major issue in the U.S. But as Bill Fulton discusses, the local economic results don't quite justify the efforts.

October 12, 2008 - Governing

The Cost of Density

As Toronto's heritage buildings fall to disrepair, new condominiums are slated to go up in their stead, prompting outcry from preservationists.

October 9, 2008 - Toronto Star

Neon Signs Fading in Chicago

Chicago preservationists are urging owners of the last of the city's neon signs to keep them intact.

October 8, 2008 - USA Today

The Humble Beginnings of Mega Chain Stores

Where did today's biggest chain stores got their start? Roger Wade offers background and photos from fifteen mega-chains original locations, from from WalMart to Taco Bell.

October 3, 2008 - BootsnAll Travel Network

The Ephemeral Shopping Mall

Harundale Mall, one of the first enclosed malls built in the country, is now a strip mall. This article contains an examination of its somber decline and the direction in which Harundale--and other malls--may be headed next.

October 3, 2008 - The Baltimore Sun

Margot Gayle, Historic Preservationist, Dies at 100

A crusader for preserving New York's cast-iron historic buildings died Sunday at 100. The Times looks back at her legacy.

September 30, 2008 - The New York Times

The First All-Black Town in the U.S.

Founded in the 1880s, Eatonville, FL was the first all-African American town to be incorporated in the U.S. It is also the childhood home of writer Zora Neale Hurston. Today, the community strives to balance its history and the future.

September 30, 2008 - The New York Times

History Trumps Art on San Francisco Waterfront

Over the past few years, San Francisco's waterfront has become home to art pieces like an enormous, cartoony bow and arrow and a giant spider. Labor historians have a different idea: A five-story crane built in the early 1970s for loading coconuts.

September 27, 2008 - San Francisco Chronicle

A Tale of Two Towns, And What Makes Them 'Authentic'

Rick Cole, city manager of Azusa and now Ventura, reflects on what 'authenticity' really means for towns struggling to balance identity with new development.

September 26, 2008 - newgeography

LNG Terminal Threatens Status of World Heritage Site

The government of Quebec's approval of a massive Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) facility near Quebec City may threaten the city's status as a World Heritage site.

September 26, 2008 - Globe and Mail

Judge To City: Stop The Manhattanization Of Downtown!

In a huge blow to a city already polarized by a ballot-box planning initiative affecting open space on the November ballot, a judge has halted downtown redevelopment by rejecting the Environmental Impact Report in part because of the 'shadow effect'.

September 25, 2008 - San Mateo County Times

The Unseen City Icons

This piece from Discover looks at the iconic "invisible" things that define cities -- like Seattle's clouds, Houston's air conditioning, and L.A.'s Botox.

September 7, 2008 - Discover

Hong Kong Sprawls Into the Ocean

One man's personal quest to save the beauty of Hong Kong's Victoria Harbor from rampant development.

September 4, 2008 - The Christian Science Monitor

The Middle East's 'Urban Prison'

In this article from Progressive Planning, Tom Angotti looks at Gaza and the land use regulations that have imposed an "urban apartheid".

September 4, 2008 - Progressive Planning

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.

Senior Manager Operations, Urban Planning

New York City School Construction Authority

Building Inspector

Village of Glen Ellyn

Manager of Model Development

Central Transportation Planning Staff/Boston Region MPO

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.