Is Ed Glaeser an Antiplanner?

In his new book "Triumph of The City," Glaeser gives high regard to high-density urbanism and the city but criticizes planners and historic preservationists for over-regulation in land use planning.

1 minute read

February 17, 2011, 5:00 AM PST

By Shay Kahen


Lydia DePillis says that Glaeser scrutinizes historic preservation boards and unnecessary zoning regulations for obstructing growth and believes some powers should be diminished.

She sees that "Glaeser tends toward the assumption that complicated regulations are necessarily anti-urban. But just like good schools, low crime, and affordable housing, designing with the public realm in mind-which developers are warming to, but don't necessarily always do on their own-makes cities a viable alternative to the suburbs for all those folks who'd otherwise be carbon bigfoots. And that, as I understand it, is the whole point of Glaeser's book."

Monday, February 14, 2011 in WashingtonCityPaper

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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

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