Land Use

Breaking Down the Big Box

October 9, 2008 - Josh Stephens

Prescribing a Healthy Future For Charlotte

Charlotte faces a number of challenges in the 21st century, from rising immigration to declining industry to sprawl. This Citistates Report suggests one strategy to harbor a healthy future: go green.

October 8, 2008 - The Charlotte Observer

Showcasing Suburbia

An exhibit at the Carnegie Museum of Art offers an unbiased, "awestruck" exploration of America's suburbs.

October 8, 2008 - Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Continued Demolition Threatens New Orleans Character

In post-Katrina New Orleans, a fine line exists between razing potentially deadly structures, and harnessing a zeal for wholesale redevelopment.

October 7, 2008 - New Orleans City Business

Residents Call For Expansion of Seattle Growth Boundary

Residents in the Seattle region are calling on officials to expand the area's urban growth boundary to allow denser development in what is currently outside the border.

October 7, 2008 - The Seattle Times

Church's Parking Plans Stir Atlantans

Plans to demolish three houses to make room for more parking have pitted residents against an Atlanta church, arguing that city's planning blueprint prohibits demolitions for new surface parking. The church has filed suit.

October 6, 2008 - The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Bench Urbanism

Christopher Hume looks at the welcoming power of benches in seating-heavy Montreal, and argues that other cities need to take the simple step of planting more benches to make urban areas more lively and attractive.

October 6, 2008 - The Toronto Star

Why Affordability Matters

In this article, Erick Villagomez argues that affordable housing, by enabling urban diversity, is the key to a city's economic and social sustainability.

October 3, 2008 - re:place Magazine

The Ephemeral Shopping Mall

Harundale Mall, one of the first enclosed malls built in the country, is now a strip mall. This article contains an examination of its somber decline and the direction in which Harundale--and other malls--may be headed next.

October 3, 2008 - The Baltimore Sun

Removing Cars to Create Public Space

Cars dominate cities, especially in America. But as many cities in other countries have found, removing cars can turn busy streets into lively public places. Now the U.S. is starting to catch on.

October 2, 2008 - Nate Berg

Emissions Study Comes to Cities' Defense

According to one study, cities are often wrongly blamed for 75 to 80% of greenhouse gas emissions; the figure is closer to 40%.

October 2, 2008 - Terra Daily

Schwarzenegger Signed It: Bill Fulton Explains It

Yesterday, Gov. Schwarzenegger signed SB 375, California's anti-sprawl bill. Bill Fulton explains that it is both stronger and weaker than advertised.

October 1, 2008 - California Planning & Development Report

Building Ban to Protect Northwest Salmon

In an effort to protect endangered salmon in the Pacific Northwest, the National Marine Fisheries Service is calling for a building moratorium near rivers in the Puget Sound region.

October 1, 2008 - Seattle Post Intelligencer

Relating Peak Oil To Auto Dependency And Urban Planning

Daniel Lerch, author of "Post Carbon Cities" presents his thoughts for a new California Dream in a 'post carbon future' in which cars still exist but are used sparingly due to urban planning that reduces their necessity. He looks toward Portland.

September 30, 2008 - The Sacramento Bee

Rule-Bending Keeps Fresno Sprawling

Despite a 2002 General Plan update aimed at curbing sprawl in the Central California city of Fresno, repeated zoning amendments have allowed hundreds of developments to push the city's edge farther out into the fringe.

September 29, 2008 - Fresno Bee

Prague Plans Pedestrian Zones, Excludes Homeless

Prague is building on prosperity and tourism by creating new public-private spaces for shopping and entertainment. Detractors are concerned that they are destroying real public space, and are paired with greater control on unwanted users.

September 29, 2008 - The Prague Post

Military Sprawl in Afghanistan

The military presence in Afghanistan is expanding at a rapid pace, creating a military sprawl.

September 29, 2008 - The National Post

Calles Sin Carros: Mexico City's Weekly Car Ban

Once a week, car-flooded streets convert into bike- and pedestrian-flooded public parks in crowded Mexico City.

September 29, 2008 - Los Angeles Times

Complete Streets Bill Moving Forward in California

The California legislature has approved a "complete streets" bill to help make city streets more accessible and livable. The bill is awaiting approval from the governor.

September 28, 2008 - Daily News

Planning an 'Eco-City'

This piece from Scientific American looks at plans for three "eco-cities".

September 27, 2008 - Scientific American

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.