North America
40 Years Later: The Way Forward for the Nation's Clean Water Act
The Clean Water Act turns 40 this week. For Mark Gold, this calls for a celebratory overview of the many environmental successes it has produced, as well as careful consideration of the steps needed for it to be effective in years to come.
Can Strategic Urbanism Heal Broken City Governance?
Alex Steffen, a "leading voice in planetary futurism," muses on what he believes could be a way to move beyond NIMBYism and incremental urban planning, to provide an antidote to fundamentally broken city governance.
For Cycling Advocates, One Question Reigns: Got Networks?
As the level of sophistication in cycling infrastructure increases, the value of networks becomes even more apparent.
Small Screens Make for Better Cities
News out last week that big-box retailer Staples plans to reduce its square footage by 15 percent heralds a larger trend of smaller screens necessitating smaller boxes. Lydia DePillis examines why this will be a boon to cities.
How Far Should Communities Go To Subsidize Companies?
Tax breaks, cheap energy, and investments in infrastructure are among the subsidies often requested of local communities by companies searching for locations for their operations. Edward Alden asks what companies owe in return.
How is Architecture Failing its Next Generation?
Caela J. McKeever traces the ways in which the gap between the passion of architecture school and the stark realities of professional practice are discouraging young architects.
Will D.C. Stand Up for America's Cities?
In his column Urban Nation, Harry Moroz argues for deeper involvement from the federal government in urban policy in order to give American cities the fighting chance they deserve to be healthy and enjoyable places to live.
On Authenticity and 'Traditional-Style' Development
Scott Doyon takes on the oft-expressed gripe that Traditional Neighborhood Development somehow feels fake. Doyon sees value in incorporating the collective wisdom learned over generations, regardless of whether it's reminiscent of another time.
The Politics of Zoning Reform: Know Your Audience
In a blog post for Better! Cities & Towns, Susan Henderson compiles a comprehensive list of the types of personalities that must be brought on board to navigate the politics of zoning reform.
Strolling Among the Tree Tops
Stacey at Gardenista has collected images and descriptions of four sublime "canopy walks" that "make it easy to walk from tree to tree at an altitude typically reserved for birds."
Meeting on Common Ground: Community Development and Health Philanthropy Working Together
Often times, the community development field and health philanthropy have worked in the same neighborhoods, but separately. This is changing, and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation’s (RWJF) Marjorie Paloma told Shelterforce how.
Super Rich Drive Residences to New Heights
The number of super-tall residential buildings continues to grow globally, with top floor residences fetching nine-figure prices. Historically, the world's tallest buildings housed offices.
Love Thy Neighbor Through Delineated Design
Getting along is much easier when the fronts and backs of buildings are rational: public activities out front, private out back, and a street wall to keep them orderly.
How Mixed-Use Centers Can Supplant Single-Use Office Parks
In the latest article from Better Cities & Towns' series on healthy, walkable town centers, Geoff Dyer offers insight into the ways that locating office space in mixed-use centers can improve economic vitality.
Friday Funny: Comic Extolls the Delights of Suburban Planning
Accomplished comic author, and orthodontist-in-training, Grant Snider turns his acerbic attention to his neighborhood, and the wonders of "Suburban Planning."
Architects Work to Design Bird-Friendly Buildings
Modern architecture's infatuation with glass, seen in sparkling residential and office towers rising in cities across North America, has been a bird killer of staggering proportions. Christopher Joyce profiles those trying to solve the problem.
Bringing Market Analysis to the Public Planning Process
In an op-ed for New Geography, Skip Preble argues why communities can benefit from incorporating market analysis and financial modeling techniques into their planning processes.
America's Next Eminent Domain Battle: the Keystone XL Pipeline
Although the Obama administration is still weighing whether to give the Keystone XL pipeline the necessary approvals to begin construction, the courts are already deciding that eminent domain can be used to secure access to private land.
A New Tool for Measuring Walkability
Steve Mouzon finds fault with the uniform application of the 1/4 mile walkability radius, regardless of context. And, in the first in a series of articles, he introduces a new tool for understanding and building walkable places.
Pagination
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.
City of Mt Shasta
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
Transportation Research & Education Center (TREC) at Portland State University
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
Municipality of Princeton (NJ)
Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada