Land Use

Parking Ban Becomes Filming Ban in New York's Chinatown

New York's Chinatown is a popular place for filming, which brings a lot of film crews to the neighborhood. A temporary film crew parking ban has been put in place, but the results are mixed.

August 6, 2008 - The New York Times

Public Space, Brought To You By Budweiser

A Montreal business group sold sponsorship rights to Budweiser for an outdoor event on a closed street, but restauranteurs setting up outside think the deal goes too far as they are forced to sell the watery beer to their patrons.

August 6, 2008 - The Globe and Mail

Placemaking is Alive and Well in Denver

Simmons Buntin tours metropolitan Denver with local planner Carolyn Dooling and finds a host of vibrant developments.

August 5, 2008 - The Next American City

The City-Suburb Commute is Not What it Used to Be

Wendell Cox looks at commuting patterns, and finds that the old supposition that most commuters are going from suburban housing to urban jobs no longer holds water.

August 5, 2008 - newgeography

Maine Planners Come Around to Transit and Density

Southern Maine planners, who have long subscribed to the idea that they worked in rural, car-dependent communities, are beginning to embrace density, mixed-uses, and transit.

August 5, 2008 - Portland Press Herald

Cities Forge Ahead With Transit, But Atlanta Lags Behind

Neal Peirce sums up the movement across the country in cities like Houston, Denver, and Charlotte towards improved transit systems, while latecomer Atlanta wakes up to their transit deficit.

August 4, 2008 - Citiwire.net

Duany On High Gas Prices And Urban Revival

Andres Duany and other experts discuss how the convergence of high gas prices and the foreclosure crisis may reverse years of cheap gas and cheap exurban land. He's pushing mixed uses and reformed zoning in suburbia, and he's betting on Texas.

August 4, 2008 - U.S. News & World Report

Builder Says Inclusionary Zoning Doesn't Work

In this op-ed, a builders association representative argues that proposals for inclusionary zoning laws in Minnesota that require a certain percentage of affordable housing do not achieve the goals they aim for.

August 4, 2008 - The Pioneer Press

'Place First' Parking Plans

Wes Marshall and Norman Garrick illustrate the problem with parking plans today, and how to fix them.

August 4, 2008 - Wes Marshall and Norman Garrick

A Different Kind of Public Art in Olympia

An audio artwork called "Bus Station" will be installed in Olympia, WA's downtown transit station, to be heard over the public-address system.

August 3, 2008 - The Olympian

What More 'Livable Streets' Could Mean for New York

This article from The New York Observer looks at how New York City might be different with more "livable streets".

August 2, 2008 - The New York Observer

Suburbs Aren't the Only Places Reacting to Rising Energy Prices

This article from USA Today looks at how some big cities are reacting to rising energy prices. Two examples from metropolitan Phoenix highlight the fact that it is not only suburbs that are being forced to respond.

August 1, 2008 - USA Today

The Eight Aspects of Good Downtowns

As the downtown master plan of Baton Rouge turns ten years old, planners are looking at the next stages of development. They say eight factors play into making this and other downtowns successful.

August 1, 2008 - Baton Rouge Business Report

Pay No Attention to the Neighborhood Behind the Curtain

In a last-minute effort to beautify the city before the start of the 2008 Summer Olympics, officials in Beijing have put up walls and screens to hide unsightly neighborhoods from the eyes of visitors. Those behind the walls are not happy.

July 31, 2008 - The New York Times

Should Store Owners Be Allowed to Repel Teenagers?

Stores in Vancouver suburbs have installed a device outside their stores called a 'Mosquito' that emits a high-pitched frequency that the average adult can't hear. The device is effective in decreasing vandalism, but at what cost to public space?

July 31, 2008 - The National Post

Urban Agriculture is Growing

Allison Arieff reports on the latest happenings in urban agriculture, including the planting of a full-scale edible landscape in her own backyard.

July 30, 2008 - The New York Times

New Study Links Obesity to Land Use Patterns

A new study by the University of Utah shows that people who live in walkable neighborhoods are more likely to be leaner than those who live in auto-oriented areas.

July 30, 2008 - The Salt Lake Tribune

Astor Place Slated for Improvement

New York's DOT is proposing a new plan to transform Astor Place from feeling like a freeway median to a pedestrian-friendly public space.

July 29, 2008 - The Villager

Kids Afraid to Play in Public

A recent report by The Australian Commission of Children and Young People reveals that kids in Sydney are too afraid to play outside or ride the bus.

July 28, 2008 - The Daily Telegraph, Sydney

Embracing 'Tactility'

Architect Ken-Ichi Sasaki believes that planners have focused too much on the visual to the detriment of the tactile.

July 28, 2008 - The New York Sun

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.