The Daily Source of Urban Planning News

Hated Sidewalks, Unwanted Renters

In the nation's suburbs antipathy toward sidewalks is common, renters are "undesirable" and "New Urbanism" is unpopular.

July 24 - Daytona Beach News Journal

Inability To Plan Will Hurt U.S. Regions

U.S. regions are not geared to competing in the harshly competitive in the 21st century's international economy.

July 24 - The Washington Post Writers Group

Cohousing: Bridging The Neighbor Gap

Architects and planners are using New Urbanism and Cohousing to create housing environments that make neighbors friendlier.

July 24 - The Washington Post

Special Censuses Conducted To Seek More Funding

In the burgeoning southwest suburbs of Chicago, several towns are undertaking special censuses 'in hopes of reaping more state tax dollars.'

July 24 - The Chicago Tribune

Should Governmental Bodies Regulate Urban Planning?

A fascinating four-part series examines to what extent and in what ways governmental bodies should regulate urban planning?

July 24 - Journal Of Markets & Morality


Land Use Changes By Referendum Only

A petition drive in Florida calls for a constitutional amendment that would forbid land-use changes without a referendum.

July 23 - Sun-Sentinel

New Chicago Dorm Elevates Student Housing

Residence hall blends modernity, ammenities, site appropriateness at the Illinois Institute of Technology

July 23 - Crain's Chicago Business


Rural Megachurches: Assets Or Environmental Threats?

Critics say large-scale churches seeking to locate in rural preserves increase traffic, invite strip malls, pave over open space, and undermine conservation efforts.

July 23 - The Washington Post

Agency Faces Lawsuits Over Affordable Housing Program

Condominium owners in Orange County, CA are accusing the California Coastal Commission of 'abusing a low-income housing program.'

July 23 - The Los Angeles Times

Smart Tool

Cape Coral, Florida, uses an interactive growth model to plot its future intelligently.

July 23 - Planning Magazine

Not A Suburb

Mountain House, CA is 'not a suburb' but a new town built from scratch.

July 23 - The Chicago Tribune

Sprawl And Urban Growth

Sprawl is not the result of explicit government policies or bad urban planning, but rather the inexorable product of car-based living.

July 23 - Harvard University

Staples Center Called A Success

Officials are calling the Staples Center in Los Angeles a 'triumph,' given that cities across the country have built sports arenas that have 'wound up costing taxpayers money.'

July 23 - The Los Angeles Times

The Quintessential American Porch

After falling out of fashion in the 50s and 60s, the "American Porch" is making a comeback in New Urbanism communities.

July 23 - Preservation Online

Rethinking Parking Requirements

One of the biggest barriers to new development in urban areas is parking.

July 23 - Livable Places

New Urbanism Reaches Tennessee Countryside

New Urbanism is slowly showing up in suburbs and bedroom communities where it has been previously been met with resistance.

July 22 - Tenessean

AOL Time Warner's New $2.2-billion Home

Building the opulet $2.2-billion AOL Time Warner Center along Manhattan's Columbus Circle is like "mounting two, 900-lb gorillas on a jungle gym..."

July 22 - Engineering News Record

Europe's Population Problem

The economic and political consequences of Europe's population implosion are alarming.

July 22 - The Economist

Southern California's Dirty Harbor Secret

Even Southern California's wealthy communities are feeling the effects of years of unchecked urban runoff and silt.

July 22 - The Los Angeles Times

Dr. Gridlock: The Problem With SUVs

Readers write in from both sides of the SUV debate.

July 22 - The Washington Post

Post News

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.

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.