Land Use

Willow Bend

Striving for Attainable Infill Housing in Arkansas

Willow Bend is a new, nonprofit development planned for an ecologically rich, 7.6-acre infill site in the Walker Park neighborhood of Fayetteville, Arkansas. The project is envisioned as a replicable model of sustainable and attainable housing.

August 9, 2013 - Terrain.org: A Journal of the Built + Natural Environments

Can Biking Build a Bridge to Transit in Birmingham?

Urban areas across the country have identified bikes as a fat-burning, congesting-decreasing, transit-supporting alternative to automobiles. And Birmingham – despite a need for all these benefits – has lagged tremendously behind.

August 9, 2013 - The Birmingham News

Play Dismay: Traffic and the Epidemic of Cloistered Children

Sarah Goodyear examines the connection between the way we design our streets and the reluctance of parents to let their children play outdoors.

August 9, 2013 - The Atlantic Cities

Ft. Belvoir a Model for U.S. Military's Mixed-Use Mission

As the U.S. military infuses smart growth principles into the planning for its bases, leaders can learn from one facility located south of Washington, DC that's been able to accommodate dramatic growth with smart planning and innovative initiatives.

August 9, 2013 - DC.Streetsblog

Home Builders Sow Seeds for Urban Agriculture

In the Stapleton neighborhood of Denver, developer Forest City has recognized the growing interest in urban gardening by partnering with The Urban Farm Company to offer ready-made raised-bed gardens to homebuyers.

August 8, 2013 - The Denver Post

Libertarian Foundation Uses CEQA to Litigate 'Plan Bay Area'

The group, Bay Area Citizens, worried about loss of property values and quality of life, will be represented by the libertarian Pacific Legal Foundation, which will use CEQA as the basis of the lawsuit against regional agencies MTC and ABAG.

August 8, 2013 - San Francisco Chronicle

Chicago Planning Meeting Turns Against Cyclists, Walkability

This week, the Illinois DOT kicked off a set of public meetings to "redefine" Chicago's Lake Shore Drive. At the first meeting, a decidedly pro-car and anti-bicyclist sentiment crept into the comments.

August 8, 2013 - Chicago Tribune

Are Stadiums Akin to Museums and Libraries?

As D.C. debates the value of subsidizing the construction of a soccer stadium on a site in Buzzard Point, Dan Malouff argues that such facilities should be judged as cultural amenities, rather than business investments.

August 8, 2013 - Greater Greater Washington

From Big Apple to Big Kahuna: Plan for East River Beach Catches a Break

Could the Hamptons have a new rival for New Yorkers seeking a little fun in the sun? With $7 million allocated, plans to transform Lower Manhattan's desolate, trash-strewn waterfront into a 'premier staycation destination' are moving forward.

August 7, 2013 - New York Daily News

Britain's 'New Towns' Offer Lessons for Addressing Country's Housing Shortage

The mixed successes of Britain's post-war 'new town' and 'expanded town' developments offer some valuable lessons for those seeking to solve the country's acute housing shortage.

August 7, 2013 - The Economist

Not All Is Verdant and Rosy With S.F.'s Parklets

The removal of a parklet that had been criticized as 'a haven for homelessness and illegal activity' reflects some of the growing pains experienced by San Francisco as it's sought to encourage the conversion of on-street parking into public spaces.

August 6, 2013 - San Francisco Examiner

Vancouver Car Free Robson

How Did Vancouver Decrease its Traffic While Growing its Population?

With its elegant skyline, walkable streets and stunning parks, Vancouver exemplifies great city-making. Add to the list of achievements the city's ability to reduce traffic by 20 to 30 percent since 2006 while growing its population by 4.5 percent.

August 6, 2013 - DC.Streetsblog

Suburban Dead End

Suburban Sprawl Reaches the End of the Cul-de-Sac

The Washington Post speaks with Leigh Gallagher, author the new book “The End of the Suburbs”, about the decline of America's suburbs, models for suburban reinvention, and the correlation between neighborhood form and health and happiness.

August 6, 2013 - The Washington Post

The Positive Energy Potential of Suburban Sprawl

What if most cars were electrics, most electricity was generated locally, and new development was required to have solar? Would this paradigm make sprawl more energy sustainable than compact growth? A new paper argues yes.

August 6, 2013 - Science Daily

Pop-Ups Show Promise and Peril of Modern City-Building

The temporary projects that enliven Britain's derelict and overlooked urban spaces offer a taste of the power of transformative placemaking. But they come hand in hand with increasing consolidation and homogenization in the architecture field.

August 6, 2013 - The Guardian

To Sustain Success, Nashville Area Must Think Regionally

Two decades of phenomenal growth have transformed Nashville into 'one of America’s hottest success stories.' In an op-ed for The Tennessean, Bill Freeman argues that for the area to continue to grow wisely it will need to embrace regional planning.

August 5, 2013 - The Tennessean

A Look at Roads Not Taken Provides Path for L.A.'s More Public-Minded Future

A new exhibition of the bold designs that were never executed in Los Angeles provides lessons for today's leaders and planners. By imagining a more public-minded path for Los Angeles, it provides the impetus for creating such a future.

August 5, 2013 - Los Angeles Times

Urban Revivals Give Hope to Detroit Emergency Manager

In an interview with The Wall Street Journal, emergency manager Kevyn Orr explains how his own experiences living in once-derelict, now-thriving cities leave him optimistic about Detroit's revival.

August 5, 2013 - The Wall Street Journal

London Crowded Street

What's Driving London's Walking Boom?

London has always been a pedestrian-friendly city. But over the last decade the number of daily trips taken on foot in the city jumped by 12 percent, while walking declined nationwide. What explains the capital's pedestrian popularity?

August 5, 2013 - The Economist

Return of Industry Brings First Ever Trail-to-Rail Conversion in Michigan

Michigan is a national leader in rail-to-trail conversions, but a mining company in the Upper Peninsula will necessitate the first "reactivation" of a trail in the state. The federal Rails to Trails law sanctions such conversions.

August 5, 2013 - Detroit Free Press

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.