Land Use

The Past and Future of Urban Agriculture

Urban agriculture is not a new idea. Grist's Tom Philpott says the renewed interest in the idea should look for good ideas from its past.

August 10, 2010 - Grist

When is a Suburb Not a Suburb?

Joel Kotkin has said there is a war on suburbia. But as Michael Scott writes on New Geography (Kotkin's home base), where does suburbia start and the city end? Where do inner-ring suburbs fit in this model?

August 7, 2010 - New Geography

Resale Value No Longer the Key Factor in Homebuying

Alison Arieff asks, "At what point did the house become more about the future tenant than the current resident?"

August 7, 2010 - The New York Times

The Role of a Big City Planning Director: Visionary or Expeditor?

Michael LoGrande, recently approved as the next Planning Director for the city of L.A., is a city hall insider with a reputation as an expeditor. Former interim Planning Director Mark Winogrond questions the process by which LoGrande was selected.

August 7, 2010 - The Planning Report

Using YouTube to Make Zoning Understandable

The City of Oakland, California has produced a series of videos to help explain what zoning is and what the city's zoning update will do. The city's zoning code hasn't been comprehensively updated since 1965.

August 6, 2010 - City of Oakland

A Map of the Present and Future of Lower Manhattan

An online map developed by the Lower Manhattan Construction Command Center documents change in New York City, and shows what development and construction is to come over the next eight years.

August 6, 2010 - The Architect's Newspaper

Google Earth Reveals Un-Permitted Pools

A town in New York has been using satellite imagery from Google Earth to identify illegally-built pools.

August 5, 2010 - Associated Press

Volcano-Oriented Development

The Albuquerque City Council and staff are drafting plans for Volcano Heights, Volcano Cliffs and Volcano Trails, three sites bordering Petroglyph National Monument. A simmering debate over open space conservation seems cooled by public process.

August 4, 2010 - Albuquerque Journal

Urban Farming Rising

Urban agriculture is becoming a well-known idea all around the world. Most of it is done at the small-scale, but there's still the idea of creating large skyscraper farms to feed our cities. Smithsonian takes a look at the idea.

August 4, 2010 - Smithsonian

Designing Urban Areas to Hear the Sounds of the City

Cities make more sounds than just cars driving by or factories humming. Trevor Cox says we should embrace the subtle sounds of cities, and update our urban design to make sure we can.

August 3, 2010 - New Scientist

Reviving Struggling Urban Areas with Parks

Three cities -- St. Louis, Houston and Detroit -- have gained new urban parks that are playing big roles in reviving parts of town.

August 3, 2010 - The Washington Post

Ambitious Development Plan Crumbles Before City's Eyes

This piece from The New York Times looks at how an ill-fated development plan for the island of Alameda fell apart, and the city official tied up in the controversy.

August 3, 2010 - The New York Times

The Harlem 'Under-Line'

Seeking to replicate the success of the High Line linear park in New York City, some are suggesting the creation of a linear small business market beneath a segment of Metro tracks in Harlem.

August 2, 2010 - Crain's Business New York

New Jersey's Forests Disappearing

A new study shows that the amount of urban development in New Jersey now outnumbers the state's forest acreage.

July 31, 2010 - New Jersey Star-Ledger

Cairo Facing Possible Future of American-Style Suburban Sprawl

Real estate investment is expected to rise sharply in the greater Cairo region. Some fear this will bring about American-style suburban sprawl.

July 31, 2010 - Global Real Estate Monitor

Miami Approves 50-story Electronic Signs

The Miami City Commission has controversially approved a pair of 50-story electronic signs to be built atop a parking garage next to the City's Arsht Performing Arts Center.

July 30, 2010 - Miami Herald

Innovative Ideas for Urban Agriculture

Non-profit TerraformOne held a design contest for ideas for creating productive green spaces in cities. Winners include plans to put seniors to work as farmers and a global system of levees.

July 29, 2010 - ASLA's The Dirt blog

Wineries vs. Churches in Temecula County

The Riverside County Planning Commission is considering opening up more areas to churches, but local wineries are fighting the move, saying that the alcohol business and church don't mix.

July 29, 2010 - The Press-Enterprise

Gentrification: Do Not Pass Go, Do Not Collect $200

An artist collective staged a tongue-in-cheek interactive game in Brooklyn last month they called "Gentrification: The Game," putting developers against locals and with a generous helping of hipsters.

July 29, 2010 - The Toronto Star

The Most Dangerous Road in Georgia

Blueprint America reports from suburban Atlanta, where getting to the other side of the road is nothing to take for granted.

July 28, 2010 - PBS - Blueprint America

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.