Historian Larry Gerckens outlines the ten successes that have shaped the modern American City -- from sewage systems to integrated transportation.
From Success #9, "Control of Land Subdivision", Gerckens write:
"From William Penn's 1683 plan for Philadelphia to the latest neo-traditional addition, the primary American town building motivation has been land speculation. In the nineteenth century this led to oversubdivision, resulting in vacant lots, undeveloped streets, and large-scale default of property to the public through failure to meet tax payments. Lots were often sold with inaccurate or nonexistent surveys, with no access to public streets, or with areas too small to be built upon. Streets were laid out with either inadequate or overly generous rights-of-way, and often on slopes too steep to be negotiated.
Laurence Gerckens is the national historian for the American Institute of Certified Planners and founder of The Society for American City and Regional Planning History.
Thanks to Wayne Senville
FULL STORY: Ten Successes that Shaped the 20th Century American City (PDF, 100KB)

Trump Administration Could Effectively End Housing Voucher Program
Federal officials are eyeing major cuts to the Section 8 program that helps millions of low-income households pay rent.

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

Ken Jennings Launches Transit Web Series
The Jeopardy champ wants you to ride public transit.

Driving Equity and Clean Air: California Invests in Greener School Transportation
California has awarded $500 million to fund 1,000 zero-emission school buses and chargers for educational agencies as part of its effort to reduce pollution, improve student health, and accelerate the transition to clean transportation.

Congress Moves to End Reconnecting Communities and Related Grants
The House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee moved to rescind funding for the Neighborhood Equity and Access program, which funds highway removals, freeway caps, transit projects, pedestrian infrastructure, and more.

From Throughway to Public Space: Taking Back the American Street
How the Covid-19 pandemic taught us new ways to reclaim city streets from cars.
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.
Heyer Gruel & Associates PA
Ada County Highway District
Institute for Housing and Urban Development Studies (IHS)
City of Grandview
Harvard GSD Executive Education
Toledo-Lucas County Plan Commissions
Salt Lake City
NYU Wagner Graduate School of Public Service