The Daily Source of Urban Planning News

Review of Sprawl: A Compact History

A review of "Sprawl: A Compact History," a book by Robert Bruegmann.

December 13 - The Washington Times

Rio Rancho: Watching A Suburban Transformation

Rio Rancho, a suburb of Albuquerque, is changing sleepy suburb into an urban center that could one day rival Albuquerque in size. This in-depth, multi-part series focuses on the town's potential and growing pains.

December 13 - The Albuquerque Tribune

What’s Good for Farms Is Good for Michigan

Protecting farmland not only aids thriving farms, it is also vital to the state’s economy.

December 12 - Michigan Land Use Institute

Recycling The Student Ghetto

As students leave rundown houses for newly-built, amenity-filled complexes, near-campus housing stock in walkable neighborhoods opens up for faculty/staff restoration.

December 12 - Wisconsin State Journal

Oil Crisis To Worsen Over Winter

A controversial analyst predicts that oil will reach $100 a barrel in six months.

December 12 - The Guardian


Wealthy Maine Island Enclave Looks to Limit Growth

Isleboro Maine, an island that is home to wealthy summer vacationers such as John Travolta and Kirstie Alley, faces several challenges as development pressure increases.

December 12 - Maine Sunday Telegram

Is America too Broke to Rebuild New Orleans?

Despite promises made by President Bush to rebuild the City of New Orleans, reluctance on the part of the federal government to invest in rebuilding the levees and other reconstruction efforts is essentially a "death warrant" for the city.

December 12 - Michael Dudley


Anxiety and Stress Permeate New Orleans

Despite a few publicized accomplishments, New Orleans is decidedly not ok. Nearly 100 days after Hurricane Katrina, the city is stuck is disrepair waiting for the government to make a commitment to protect the city from future hurricanes.

December 12 - The Los Angeles Times

Is Boston's Real Estate Bubble About To Burst?

Though prices started to drop last summer,in recent months real estate agents in the Boston metro area have witnessed an acceleration in price cutting.

December 12 - The Boston Globe

Gentrification Lite

The rich and poor live side by side as city planners and elected officials redevelop Raleigh's toughest 'hoods.

December 12 - The Christian Science Monitor

Flint's Death Rattle

With the recent bankruptcy of Delphi Corp, a spinoff of General Motors, the once proud middle-class City of Flint, Michigan faces an even bleaker future.

December 12 - The Detroit News

Data for World's 673 Largest Urban Areas

Demographia publishes a report with the population, land area and density for all 673 the world's agglomerations with populrations over 500,000. The report also contains data for 1,117 urban areas in 164 nations and territories.

December 12 - Demographia

BLOG POST

Google Owns Your Getting Around

Okay, somebody out there try <a href="http://www.google.com/transit">this</a>. Somebody who knows their way around Portland, Oregon. And then you, somebody, whoever you are, send an email reporting back. Because this is Google's new trip planner beta -- it uses Google Maps and transit info to tell you how to get from here to there on bus and so forth, as long as "here" and "there" are in Portland. And I haven't spent real time in Portland in almost 20 years.<br /> <br /> But it's Google, right? And they're smarter than all of us.

December 11 - Anonymous

The World After Globalism

An interview with John Ralston Saul, the author of "The Collapse of Globalism."

December 11 - Mother Jones

Studying Surburbia

Suburban ecosystems are one of the last frontiers for scientists trying to understand how people change the natural world.

December 11 - The Mercury News

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 - The Los Angeles Times

Does Light Rail Pay for Itself?

Among the arguments rail advocates use is that rail transit costs less to operate than buses. The savings, they suggest, will soon pay for the cost of rail construction.

December 11 - The Thoreau Institute

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 - 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 - The Los Angeles Times

Mexico's Textile City Dies Slow Death

Three years ago, Mexico's Textile City had dreams of competing with Asia for the garment industry -- but the dreams have turned to dust.

December 10 - The Los Angeles Times

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.