Land Use

Southern California Restores Its Natural Past

At least five major sites in Southern California are working hard to restore and maintain nature preserves.

December 11, 2005 - The Los Angeles Times

D.C. Area City Council Nixes Church On Agricultural Reserve

The decision to deny the church's bid to build on the agricultural reserve has sparked furious debate on the use of green space.

December 11, 2005 - The Washington Post

Author Claims Suburban Sprawl Is Beneficial

Robert Bruegmann, author of "Sprawl: A Compact History" claims that even ancient settlements had sprawl, and that it's a good thing.

December 10, 2005 - The Los Angeles Times

A Journalist's Guide To Urban Sprawl

Designed for both broadcast and print journalists, this guidebook includes background information on the issues as well as numerous story ideas and annotated lists of sources and research materials.

December 8, 2005 - Smart Growth America

Is The L.A. Times Ignoring Eminent Domain Issues?

Matt Welch, a media columnist for Reason magazine, charges that the LA Times "consistently failed to cover the property-seizing excesses of the school district's historic building boom."

December 8, 2005 - The Los Angeles Times

Sierra Club Promotes Alternatives to Sprawl

The Sierra Club has published a guidebook of 12 healthy and livable communities, built on redeveloped urban sites.

December 8, 2005 - San Jose Mercury News

An Urban Planning Crisis in Australia?

House prices in most capital cities in Australias have doubled, putting them out of reach for young Australian families.

December 7, 2005 - The Australian

The New Mile High City

Many plans are underway in rethinking Denver's future -- from a new light rail service to high-density developments and new, mixed-use neighborhoods.

December 7, 2005 - High Country News

Transforming Dubai

Crown Prince Sheikh Mohammed's dreams of turning Dubai into an internationally renowned city is getting a boost from 'Dubailand' -- a themepark almost twice as large as Disneyworld.

December 7, 2005 - The Business Online

Urban Designer Gets Jaywalking Ticket After Car Strikes Him

Reknowned urban designer Charles Atherton was hit while crossing a busy D.C. street, and was issued a $5 jaywalking ticket before being rushed to the hospital with critical injuries.

December 6, 2005 - The Washington Post

With Help From Prince Charles, New Urbanism Is Hot Worldwide

Prince Charles’ vigorous touting of sustainability and Smart Growth while he visited Washington, D.C., hurricane-stricken New Orleans, and other American cities last month came as no surprise.

December 5, 2005 - Michigan Land Use Institute

Sprawl, Smart Growth, And The Free Market

The free market tends to produce density and growth patterns similar to smart growth argues Jay Bookman.

December 5, 2005 - Atlanta Journal Constitution

Does Smart Growth Raise Housing Prices?

A new report suggests that stringent land use regulations result in increased housing prices.

December 5, 2005 - Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development

Is New Urbanism Just Slickly Packaged Sprawl?

Location may be key to New Urbanism-inspired developments.

December 5, 2005 - Richmond Times Dispatch

Mississippi's Governer Learns A New Word: 'Charrette'

The prominence of the Congress for the New Urbanism in the Katrina rebuilding effort seems to be making some professionals -- such as architect Eric Owen Moss to author Mike Davis -- nervous.

December 4, 2005 - The Los Angeles Times

Planning Denver's Civic Center

Several 'starchitects' are clamoring to build Denver's new Civic Center -- but the city shouldn't forget about the important principles of 'public' and 'place'.

December 3, 2005 - The Denver Post

APA's New Orleans Team Releases Rebuilding Report

A special six-member team of planners assembled by the APA put published its report, "Charting the Course for Rebuilding a Great American City," which includes short-and long-term recommendations for improving the city's planning.

December 2, 2005 - American Planning Association

'The World' Comes To Dubai

Dubai's most ambitious architectural project since 'The Palm' is garnering worldwide attention, much to the delight of city officials.

November 30, 2005 - The Guardian

The Trouble With Virginia's Growth Legislation

Leonard Gilroy sees two problems with Virginia's proposed growth legislation and explains why he thinks it would steer the state in the wrong direction.

November 30, 2005 - Reason.org

The Border Boomtown Trend

Increased vigilance forces migrants to cross to US from remote areas, creating new boomtowns.

November 30, 2005 - The Christian Science Monitor

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.