Land Use

Should Protected Federal Lands Be Sold To Fund Local Projects?

The auctioning of protected federal lands comes with a "troubling twist."

August 1, 2006 - The Los Angeles Times

Central Florida Going From Suburban To Urban

High land prices in the Orlando area have helped encourage higher density development. Urban planners applaud the new trend, but some residents worry about the change in the region's character.

August 1, 2006 - The Orlando Sentinel

Bay Area Residents Will Vote On Urban Growth Boundry

After years of debate by local officials, Contra Costa County will be asked to approve an urban limit line intended to preserve farmland and open space.

July 31, 2006 - The Contra Costa Times

Calthorpe Leads New Orleans Regional Planning Effort

A team of planners led by Peter Calthorpe hold their first workshops to develop a new regional planning effort in Lake Charles, Lafayette, Baton Rouge and New Orleans.

July 31, 2006 - The Advocate

In The Heat Of The Night

Urbanized areas are becoming increasingly warm during night, a time most places experience a cool-down. According to climatologists, the more development there is in an urban area, the more heat it retains throughout the day -- and night.

July 28, 2006 - The Los Angeles Times

Top-Down Greening In The Urban Core

Can cities get back in touch with nature? Planners, developers, architects, and policy makers convened in Los Angeles June 7 to face the challenge and develop a plan of action to help bring life onto the rooftops of L.A.'s downtown.

July 27, 2006 - Nate Berg

Minnesota Suburb Divided Over New Urban Plan

A suburban town just west of Minneapolis is debating a plan to bring a bit of New Urbanism into a proposed housing development that would otherwise just be houses. The planned mixed use development has enticed some residents and worried others.

July 27, 2006 - Minneapolis-St. Paul Star Tribune

Hot L.A. Nights Caused By Urban Heat Island Effect

Climatologists blame the urban 'heat island' effect for a rise in Southern California's average evening temperatures, which have hit record highs in recent days.

July 26, 2006 - The Los Angeles Times

When Town Officials Are Bribed To Approve Spawl

Large home builders are increasingly able and willing to bribe local governments to approve new greenfield developments.

July 26, 2006 - Gristmill

Evicting Homeless For L.A. River Revitalization

For years, drifters and homeless people have been living on some of the small islands of earth that remain in the paved-over Los Angeles River. While they are not a high priority for police, the river revitalization movement wants them gone.

July 26, 2006 - The Los Angeles Times

Front Porches Regaining Popularity

The number of new homes with porches increased has nationwide over the past 10 years.

July 26, 2006 - The Daily News

Welcome to the 'Urban Century'

To coincide with the World Urban Forum, the Ottawa Citizen devotes most of their Sunday, June 18th newspaper to covering a host of urban issues, including slums, urban gardening, and the case for and against cities [links to 9 articles].

July 25, 2006 - The Ottawa Citizen

Baltimore Headed For A Housing Shortfall

The slow reaction to job growth in many Maryland counties jobs may lead to a critical housing shortage.

July 25, 2006 - The Baltimore Sun

Some Residents Lament As Developers Reign In L.A.

Los Angeles faces projections of a population increase of up to 5 million people by 2030. The city's residents and planners are trying to come to terms with growth as a necessity, but the city's developer-friendly attitude has angered many residents.

July 25, 2006 - Los Angeles City Beat

Duany In Edinburgh

While working on plans for a new town in Inverness, Scotland, famed architect and town planner Andres Duany has assured critics and supporters alike that whatever is planned for Moray Estates will not resemble Seaside.

July 25, 2006 - The Scotsman

Miles To Go Before I Sleep!

July 24, 2006 - Sriram Khe

Dallas' Comprehensive Plan Victory

A tough critic begrudgingly congratulates the Dallas City Council for its courage in approving the city's new comprehensive plan, part of a two-year effort aided by Fregonese Calthorpe Associates.

July 24, 2006 - D Magazine

The Greening Of Wal-Mart

A recent environmental strategy meeting at Wal-Mart headquarters was attended by a host of eco-celebrities, including Al Gore, and serves as another signal that the company is serious about improving its green credentials.

July 23, 2006 - Grist

Transit Village Approved Despite School Board Opposition

Sheridan Stationside Village, a $500 million, 40-acre project with a train station as a central component, gained preliminary approval in Hollywood, Florida, despite opposition from the County's school board and nearby residents.

July 23, 2006 - Sun-Sentinel

Trees Over Houses: A Critique Of Smart Growth

Citing high housing prices in cities with strong growth control policies, one author argues that the smart growth movement seems to place more value on open space than people and their preferred housing choices.

July 21, 2006 - The Baltimore Sun

FREE Course: Walkable City 1: Why Walkability?

After describing his path towards focusing on walkability as the essence of good planning, Jeff Speck marches through his five principal reasons for making more walkable places.

Reinventing Malls: Planning Alchemy—Turning Gray Fields Into Gold

The course focuses on the opportunities and imperatives that shape reinvention of mall sites.

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.