Land Use

Can a 32-Acre Mixed-Use Development Block an Oil-By-Rail Facility in Time?

Environmentalists and developers are in a race against time to prevent a proposed oil-by-rail facility in Vancouver, Washington.

December 29, 2014 - New York Times

Op-Ed: Christie Administration Hobbles Affordable Housing

The Mount Laurel doctrine, as its known, has been a constant sticking point for New Jersey Governor Chris Christie's administration. The New York Times editorial board suggests that the court must take control of affordable housing.

December 28, 2014 - New York Times

Planning and Design: North Pole Edition

In the realm of supply chains and distribution logistics, Santa’s the guy. So you’d presumably be safe in assuming that the planning and design of his village at the North Pole would reflect a similar insistence on best practices. But is it so?

December 25, 2014 - PlaceShakers

Billings, Montana (Pop. 109,058) Planning for Growth

Mike Ferguson reports on the process of updating the growth plan—working title "Beyond Billings"—for the city of Billings, Montana.

December 23, 2014 - Billings Gazette

Op-Ed: Put Chicago on a Road Diet

"The city should consider road diets for all streets with excess car capacity, although they're not always politically easy," writes John Greenfield.

December 23, 2014 - Crain's Chicago Business

Washington D.C. Announces 'parkDC'—Value Pricing—for Downtown

Washington D.C. is ready for a change in parking policy. The District Department of Transportation announced plans, so far mostly conceptual, to launch the parkDC value pricing system next summer.

December 21, 2014 - The Washington Post

New Mayor, New Agenda for the Port City of Long Beach

Recently elected Mayor of Long Beach Robert Garcia, 37 years old, outlines his priorities: education, climate change, and economic development.

December 19, 2014 - The Planning Report

Arlington Virginia

Urban vs. Suburban: The Debate Continues

However your read the tea leaves, if it's true the 'burbs are reinventing themselves in the new era, it’s walkable, compact urbanism that's providing a game plan.

December 18, 2014 - PlaceShakers

It's A Wonderful Life

The Most Popular Planetizen Posts of 2014

We've been collecting data on the posts you made the most popular for the year 2014.

December 18, 2014 - James Brasuell

New Designs Revealed for $50 Million Renovation of Minneapolis' Nicollet Mall

The public recently got a first look at a new design proposal from James Corner Field Operations for the $50 million improvement of Nicollet Mall in Minneapolis.

December 17, 2014 - MinnPost

Mapping the Locavore's Food Supply

FiveThirtyEight and ESPN recently produced a short documentary about the creators of Falling Fruit—a website that maps food sources in cities around the world.

December 17, 2014 - FiveThirtyEight

March for Environmental Justice

Dumping in Dixie and the Inequity of Place

Only by better addressing issues of inequity can we create truly sustainable and livable communities. But is that even possible today?

December 15, 2014 - Mark Hough

Growing Suburbs for the Good for the World

The Economist has published a pair of feature articles examining the growth of suburbs around the world in the hopes of avoiding the mistakes of the West.

December 11, 2014 - The Economist

Revealed: $400 Million Mixed-Use Development Adjacent to Cobb County Baseball Stadium

The Atlanta Braves Major league Baseball team made a splash last year by deciding to decamp to suburban Cobb County for a new ballpark. Still to be determined: Can the new ballpark spur development and integrate into the community?

December 11, 2014 - Atlanta Journal Constitution

Park Supporters Win Funding Victory on Cincinnati's Waterfront

Ruoxi Yang reports on the progress on Price Landing, "an integral piece of the overall western riverfront vision" for Cincinnati. Supporters of Price Landing plan hope that their proposal will permanently prevent the development of industrial uses.

December 10, 2014 - Urban Cincy

Paris Expands Big Car Reduction Plans

Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo made a game-changing announcement in the name of clean air and walkability

December 9, 2014 - Streetsblog USA

Library

Top 10 Books - 2015

Planetizen is pleased to release its list of the ten best books in urban planning, design, and development published in 2014.

December 8, 2014 - James Brasuell

A New Era in California for Evaluating Transportation Emissions

An appellate court's rejection of SANDAG's $200 billion sustainable communities plan holds far-reaching implications for how regional planners evaluate greenhouse gas emissions from transportation to meet SB 375 requirements to the year 2050.

December 8, 2014 - San Diego Union-Tribune

End of the Mall

Life, Death, and Repurposing of the Great American Mall

A PBS Newshour economic correspondent visits the sites of former malls in Ohio and Massachusetts, some successfully repurposed, others in construction, and one in decay, speaking with economic experts along the way about the future of the mall.

December 5, 2014 - PBS NewsHour

The Promise of Renewal in Massachusetts Gateway Cities

Massachusetts is funding a placemaking initiative to renew its old industrial gateway cities. Available funds are only $16 million, but there's a plan to make the money go a long way.

December 5, 2014 - Boston Globe

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.