Land Use

L.A.'s Transit Agency Gives Bike Safety a Lift

The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro) has kicked off a new bicycle safety campaign designed to raise awareness of cyclists' legal right to take a full traffic lane.

March 19, 2013 - The Source

Demolish a Ballpark to Save a Downtown?

While many cities are seeking to build large entertainment venues to revive their downtowns, St. Petersburg is taking the opposite track. Stephen Nohlgren examines whether Tropicana Field can be the city's next big urban mixed use development.

March 19, 2013 - Tampa Bay Times

The Great Public Facility Sell-Off

In need of at least $230 million for system-wide repairs, NYC libraries, which receive less than $15 million a year from the city, look to strike land deals with private developers, report Joseph Berger and Al Baker.

March 19, 2013 - New York Times

To Preserve Landscapes, Environmentalists Put Their Money Where Their Mouths Are

A novel approach to land conservation is emerging in the American West, where environmental advocates, ranchers, hunters and rich landowners, are utilizing the free market, rather than the courts, to preserve public landscapes.

March 18, 2013 - The New York Times

Taking the Fun out of Entertainment Districts

Using Omaha's Old Market neighborhood as an example, Nathaniel M. Hood calls for an end to the urban "Entertainment District" - the common revitalization tool that produces a "single-use monoculture" that alienates families and baby boomers.

March 18, 2013 - Strong Towns

Traffic Jam

Ending the Ceaseless Cycle of Car Dependency

Rather than the doomsday scenarios envisioned by critics, recent results indicate that closing streets to cars can have a demonstrable effect in improving circulation.

March 18, 2013 - Copenhagenize

Building a Better Playground

Cecilie Rohwedder profiles playground designer Peter Heuken, who's at the vanguard of a trend towards bespoke play spaces that challenge children as much as they entertain them.

March 18, 2013 - The Wall Street Journal

Are Tall Buildings Bad For Downtown?

Do skyscrapers cause 9-to-5 business districts?

March 17, 2013 - Michael Lewyn

Schizo Skyline: Warring Williamsburg Mandates Leave Waterfront Out of Whack

Did the rezoning of the Williamsburg waterfront backfire? Stephen Jacob Smith reflects on the lack of transition between the neighborhood's skyscraping waterfront and its low-rise inland, a missing middle mandated by recent upzoning.

March 17, 2013 - New York Observer

Explore Ireland's Green Credentials for St. Patrick's Day

Kaid Benfield suggest 5 ways to "rock the Irish green" in honor of St. Paddy's Day. If you can't experience the holiday on the Emerald Isle, you can at least partake in an appreciation of the country's environmental efforts with these suggestions.

March 17, 2013 - NRDC Switchboard

Opposition to Atlanta Stadium Subsidy Reflects National Trend

Falcons owner Arthur Blank and city leaders in Atlanta are pushing to build a new $1 billion football stadium to replace the 20-year-old publicly-financed Georgia Dome. Amid tight budgets some elected officials are concerned with the plan.

March 16, 2013 - The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Urban Ag Incubator Seeks to Grow Farmers in Chicago

Lori Rotenberk reports on a new seven-acre urban “accelerator farm” announced yesterday by Mayor Rahm Emanuel that seeks to fill Chicago's farmer drought and deepens the city's investment in building its agricultural sector.

March 16, 2013 - Grist

The Life and Death of the Suburban Paradigm

A new article by city historian Graeme Davison traces the rise and fall of the suburban paradigm from its ideological roots in Victorian England to its current backlash.

March 15, 2013 - The Atlantic Cities

New Tool Improves the Search for Food Deserts

The USDA's new Food Access Research Atlas provides a handy guide for assisting policymakers and planners in finding the urban and rural areas with the most formidable obstacles to accessing fresh healthy food, reports Nancy Shute.

March 14, 2013 - NPR

Hunger Grows for New York's Grand Urban Food Market

Author and food blogger Mark Bittman makes an impassioned plea for New York to build its very own grand urban food market, and he's got the perfect site in mind - the former Fulton Fish Market.

March 14, 2013 - The New York Times

Serving the Needs of Seniors: Solutions in Practice

We've long focused on the *what* when providing housing for seniors. Today Hazel Borys reminds us that the *where* is equally critical, if not more so.

March 12, 2013 - PlaceShakers

Urban Explorers

Place Hackers Explore Urban Space to Reclaim It

Matthew Power profiles Bradley L. Garrett, Ph.D. and his "research subjects," who are active participants in the urban explorer movement, which aims to "rediscover, reappropriate, and reimagine the urban landscape."

March 11, 2013 - GQ

Cleveland's Public Space Revolution

With new bike paths, regional trails, and renovated parks, Cleveland is catering to bikes and pedestrians, says Steven Litt. He explains how this "car town" is "undergoing a revolution in attitudes toward public space, city streets and walkability."

March 11, 2013 - The Plain Dealer

Walkable Streets: Considering Common Issues

Generalist Geoff Dyer delivers his walkability design tactics magnum opus on PlaceShakers. His years of practical experience are conveniently condensed for your consumption.

March 11, 2013 - PlaceShakers

Biking Craze: Revolution or Fad?

In the 1960s and 70s, America witnessed a bike boom that sounds very similar to today's. Although it petered out, Tom Payne argues why contemporary circumstances have altered the long-term viability of a bicycling revolution.

March 11, 2013 - Urban Times

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.