Land Use

Regional Plan Recommends Three Elements for Creating a Thriving Northeast Ohio

Northeast Ohio's largest regional planning effort in a generation recommends infill development, transit expansion, and land conservation as the essential elements for ensuring the area's future success.

October 10, 2013 - The Cleveland Plain Dealer

How a Railway Near the Bastille Revolutionized How We Think About Obsolete Infrastructure

Joseph Heathcott presents a historical narrative of the decline, revitalization, and gentrification of the Parisian neighborhood surrounding the Promenade Plantée and Viaduct des Arts, the pioneering repurposing of obsolete urban infrastructure.

October 9, 2013 - JPER

What Will It Take to Move Detroit's Holdout Homeowners?

Marooned in an ocean of crumbling homes, declining city services, stray dogs, and crime, as many as 10,000 Detroiters live in areas that are unlikely to rebound. What incentives can the city devise to get them to relocate?

October 9, 2013 - Bloomberg News

How Do You Plan a City for the Next 90 Years?

Planners in Copenhagen are bringing new meaning to the concept of long-term planning. A 10-person team is focused solely on envisioning how the city will adapt to the next 90 years of climate change.

October 9, 2013 - The Guardian

A Mesmerizing Interactive History of the High-Rise

Told over four parts meant to evoke chapters in a storybook using films, photos, archive materials, text, and miniature games, this "Op-Doc" is a short masterclass in the 2,500-year global history of vertical living.

October 8, 2013 - The New York Times

photo of abandoned buildings in Broves, France

What Is a Place Without the People?

In an illustrated essay, Chuck Wolfe contrasts the ideal form of the New England town with an abandoned French village, calling out the human infrastructure essential to successful urban places.

October 8, 2013 - myurbanist

urban swing art piece in montreal

Is the Urban Swing the New Thing?

From Austin to Copenhagen, swings of varying shapes and sizes are adding a bit of whimsy, refreshment, and visual interest to urban environments. And they're not just for children!

October 7, 2013 - This City Life

Why Walkability is a Civil Rights Issue

The NAACP is probably not the first advocacy group you think of when it comes to supporting walking and biking. But the civil rights organization encourages increasing physical activity in minority communities to help reduce childhood obesity.

October 7, 2013 - DC.Streetsblog

Parking Lots to Become Pedestrian Paradise in Downtown L.A. Redevelopment

In what's being called "the largest downtown land acquisition since the recession", six acres of parking lots will be redeveloped as a $750-million mixed-use complex - continuing the astonishing transformation of L.A.'s South Park neighborhood.

October 7, 2013 - Los Angeles Times

Will Removing Buses Improve Downtown Pittsburgh?

The Port Authority of Allegheny County is moving forward with plans to remove buses and bus stops from Downtown Pittsburgh in an effort to decrease congestion on the streets and sidewalks. The plan is supported by the presumptive next mayor.

October 7, 2013 - Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Could Minneapolis' Skyways Actually Enliven the City's Streetscape?

Although they've been derided by urbanists near and far, Minneapolitans overwhelmingly support the city's Skyways. James Corner Field Operations embraces the skyway system as a key element in its proposal for the city's Nicollet Mall Redesign.

October 7, 2013 - Streets MN

New Law Could Grow Urban Agriculture Across California

Community gardens and small-scale farms could soon start sprouting in California's cities thanks to a new law that allows municipalities to lower property taxes on small plots of land in exchange for at least five years of agricultural use.

October 6, 2013 - Los Angeles Times

Recognizing Lively Urban Spaces as the Heart of Resilient Communities

Based on lessons from recent disasters in Chicago and New York, where lively urban spaces helped communities to survive and recover, Michael Kimmelman suggests that neighborhood libraries could be designed with such a purpose in mind.

October 6, 2013 - The New York Times

Can Better Public Housing Forestall London's "Supergentrification"?

Owen Hatherley looks to the approach to public housing pioneered in the London boroughs of Islington and Camden in the 1960's and 70's for a solution to the capital's extreme gentrification.

October 6, 2013 - The Guardian

Ten Years On, What Does Disney Concert Hall Say About Los Angeles?

As L.A.'s iconic Walt Disney Concert Hall celebrates its tenth anniversary, Sam Lubell ponders how its shimmering stainless steel skin reflects the city's approach to architecture and urban design.

October 5, 2013 - The Architect's Newspaper

These Cartoons About Car Culture Are No Joke

Andy Singer is an alternative transportation advocate that uses cartoons, rather than written diatribes or combative slideshows, to argue against America's auto-oriented environments and policies.

October 5, 2013 - The Atlantic Cities

CEQA Reform: The Year in Review

Three groups review the final bill (also known as Kings Arena bill) that reformed California's landmark, but controversial 1970 environmental law known as CEQA: CA Economic Summit, NRDC and Climate Plan. All credit the author, Sen. Darrell Steinberg.

October 5, 2013 - NRDC Switchboard

APA Celebrates America's Great Places

To celebrate National Community Planning Month, the American Planning Association (APA) has revealed its seventh annual list of the country's 10 great neighborhoods, 10 great streets, and 10 great public spaces.

October 5, 2013 - APA

Aerial view of central Milton Keynes, England

The UK’s Most Infamous ‘New Town’ Pioneers a Food System Revolution

Urban agriculture is a promising solution to a variety of ills afflicting our increasingly urbanizing planet. Milton Keynes, Britain's largest New Town of the 20th Century, is forging a path towards food sovereignty by growing its urban farms.

October 4, 2013 - Christina Sgro

Modular Street Squares Turn NYC's "Leftover" Spaces into Public Amenities

New York City's 5.3 million square feet of “leftover” street space provides a prime opportunity to create public amenities and a more resilient city. Eric Tan and his colleagues at Gensler have created modular "Street Squares" to fill the void.

October 4, 2013 - Fast Company Co.Exist

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.