Altman: How Planning Can Save And Revitalize A City

Andrew Altman, former D.C. Director of Planning, describes how he and Mayor Williams used planning as the catalyst for D.C.'s revival.

1 minute read

October 31, 2005, 1:00 PM PST

By Chris Steins @planetizen


Andrew Altman served under Washington, D.C., Mayor Anthony Williams for six years as the city's planning director. Prior to that, Altman was the City of Berkeley’s Planning Director. Despite D.C.'s fiscal and management problems when he came to office, Mayor Williams and Altman intentionally elevated the role of planning within the city. Mr. Altman last year moved from planning director to head the city's redevelopment of the Anacostia River waterfront. He has announced he will be leaving to join the private sector in November.

In this exclusive interview with The Planning Report, Mr. Altman articulates how planning can save and revitalize a city.

Monday, October 31, 2005 in The Planning Report

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Use Code 25for25 at checkout for 25% off an annual plan!

Redlining map of Oakland and Berkeley.

Rethinking Redlining

For decades we have blamed 100-year-old maps for the patterns of spatial racial inequity that persist in American cities today. An esteemed researcher says: we’ve got it all wrong.

May 15, 2025 - Alan Mallach

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

May 14, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

Front of Walmart store with sign.

Walmart Announces Nationwide EV Charging Network

The company plans to install electric car chargers at most of its stores by 2030.

May 7, 2025 - Inc.

Interior of Tesla car with dashboard.

Federal Regulators Ask Tesla for Robotaxi Details Ahead of Planned Launch

Tesla CEO Elon Musk says the company will launch self-driving taxis in Austin in June and other U.S. cities by the end of the year.

15 minutes ago - Smart Cities Dive

Public Market sign over Pike Place Market in Seattle, Washington with pop-up booths on street.

Seattle’s Pike Place Market Leans Into Pedestrian Infrastructure

After decades of debate, the market is testing a car ban in one of its busiest areas and adding walking links to the surrounding neighborhood.

May 15 - Cascade PBS

Yellow and silver light rain train in downtown Long Beach, California.

The World’s Longest Light Rail Line is in… Los Angeles?

In a city not known for its public transit, the 48.5-mile A Line is the longest of its kind on the planet.

May 15 - Secret Los Angeles