Land Use

Redefining "Smart Growth" for the 21st Century

Kaid Benfield of the NRDC thinks it is time to add more specifics to the definition of smart growth. He prescribes a set of six new focus areas, including equity and health, that he argues should be emphasized in the 21st-century smart growth agenda.

December 7, 2010 - Natural Resources Defense Council

Philadelphia Plans to Green 500 Acres by 2015

Today Philadelphia Mayor Michael A. Nutter announced the ambitious 'Green 2015' plan to turn approximately 500 acres of city land into public green space over the next five years, with a focus on bringing parks to currently underserved communities.

December 7, 2010 - PlanPhilly

How Can Montreal Curb Sprawl?

Officials and thinkers from all over came together to brainstorm with Montrealers on how to go about reigning in decades of sprawl. A new Quebec law requires the city to come up with a land use plan by next year.

December 7, 2010 - The Montreal Gazette

Walkable Cities, Walkable Neighborhoods

New neighborhood-level data from the walkability rating website Walk Score has broadened the view of what it means to live in a walkable city.

December 6, 2010 - Nate Berg

'Aerotropolis' Takes Off in Michigan

Officials hope to attract shipping and transportation companies to a new 60,000 acre development near the Detroit Metro and Willow Run airports.

December 6, 2010 - Detroit Free Press

India's Cities Begin To Collapse Under The Strain Of Migrants

After decades of being a nation of rural dwellers, Indians are rapidly moving into cities in search of better jobs, but the housing infrastructure is not keeping pace.

December 5, 2010 - The New York Times

Indonesians Create a Replica Of Singapore To Escape Congestion

Indonesia cities are the product of sparse planning, floods, overdevelopment, brownouts and epic traffic jams magnified by the dearth of public transit. In response, private planned cities like CitraLand's Singapore of Surabaya are growing rapidly.

December 5, 2010 - The New York Times

Debate Rages Over Urban Chickens

As reporter Carrie Wells writes, "Who knew chickens could create so much controversy?" The Sarasota Planning Board is considering legalizing backyard chickens, and residents on both sides are up in arms.

December 4, 2010 - The Sarasota Herald-Tribune

Growing Density Worries B&B Owner

Vancouver's Cambie Street corridor is targeted for increased density by the city's planning department, with buildings up to 12 stories. A bed-and-breakfast owner who has run her business in the neighborhood since 1972 says enough is enough.

December 3, 2010 - The Vancouver Courier

Major Riverfront Development Stymied in L.A.

After 25 years in conception and a recently renewed master planning effort, the 150-acre Piggyback Yards still awaits funding and approval from the city, reports The Architect's Newspaper.

December 2, 2010 - The Architect's Newspaper

Fixing Emptying Cities, auf Deutsch

Since reunification in 1989, many East German cities have been devastated by failing economies and population loss. The Germans, therefore, have a leg up on management strategies for failing cities. Doreen Ritzau takes a tour.

December 2, 2010 - The Architect's Newspaper

'Urbanism Is the Most Cost-Effective Solution to Climate Change,' says Calthorpe

Phil Langdon reviews Peter Calthorpe's latest, called 'Urbanism in the Age of Climate Change'. Langdon says it is "a densely packed, yet concise overview of the troubling situation we all find ourselves in."

December 2, 2010 - New Urban Network

More Pop-Up Cafés for N.Y.C.

The city's Department of Transportation recently announced plans to expand its successful Manhattan pilot program to all five boroughs.

December 2, 2010 - The Architect's Newspaper

Listening for Landslides

Researchers have developed a new technology to sense the acoustic conditions that indicate oncoming landslides.

December 1, 2010 - IEEE Spectrum

Reforesting the Vietnamese Warzone

Jungles blasted clear during the Vietnam war four decades ago are now at the center of a debate in the country about how forests should be recovered.

December 1, 2010 - Yale Environment 360

A Very High Density Future for Cities

Architect Peter Weingarten discusses the importance of high-rise buildings, and why the future of cities will be very high density.

November 30, 2010 - Gensler on Cities

Streetcar Revival on its Way to Atlanta

Atlanta's $72 million streetcar plan is taking shape, with lines expected to open in 2013. But not everyone in the city thinks the project is worth the cost.

November 30, 2010 - Los Angeles Times

Who Will Save the Skyline of Paris?

November 29, 2010 - Mary Campbell Gallagher

Could China Set New Standards for Coal Mining?

The Atlantic's James Fallows and Alexis Madrigal fly over Virginia & Kentucky to see first hand how mining effects the land, both in the U.S. and more importantly in China, where they're developing greener techniques for mining.

November 27, 2010 - The Atlantic Magazine

The Anti-Robert Moses

Esquire profiles New York City Transportation Commissioner Janette Sadik-Khan, highlighting her impact on the city's public spaces.

November 26, 2010 - Esquire

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.