Social / Demographics

Fox River

Economic Evolution of the Rust Belt

Can Rust Belt cities evolve from low-skill factory jobs and paternal company town employers in to more diverse and dynamic entrepreneurial economies?

December 12, 2017 - Brookings Institution

Portland's Jade District Is a Planner's Nightmare (and Dream)

The Jade District on Portland's distant east side is a typical geography of wide streets and sprawl, but is also a relatively complete, self-contained community.

December 3, 2017 - Oregon Public Broadcasting

Houston

Houston Unveils Blueprint for Equity

A city task force has proposed an ambitious public jobs program as a way to make an immediate impact.

December 1, 2017 - Urban Edge

Inglewood, California

When Whites Return to the Black Neighborhoods They Fled

Los Angeles Times op-ed writer Erin Aubry Kaplan shares her feelings upon seeing whites return to Inglewood, California half a century after they fled. One consistent theme emerges: "Whatever black people have can be taken away."

November 29, 2017 - Los Angeles Times

Baltimore Rowhouses

Baltimore Confronts Underinvestment in Communities of Color

As part of an interdepartmental effort, the city's planning department is embedding an explicit equity lens into how it considers the distribution of civic resources.

November 29, 2017 - Next City

MTA Bus

Report: NYC Bus System in Crisis

A new report cites decreased ridership and dismal service despite a growing need for more and better routes.

November 28, 2017 - The New York Times

Who Opposes New York's BQX Streetcar? Not Who You Think

Brooklyn and Queens need better transit, but activists say this waterfront "luxury trolley" is not the way to get it.

November 28, 2017 - Technical.ly Brooklyn

Vacancies Come in All Forms, Even New Affordable Apartments in Brooklyn

A 298-unit, 18-story tower in Pacific Park Brooklyn opened its doors to new renters in various categories of affordability over five months ago. 27% remain empty in the higher income tiers, and unlike market-rate units, the asking rent won't drop.

November 26, 2017 - The New York Times

Swiss National Museum

Rejecting Flashy Forms, New Architecture Embraces the 'Boring'

Christopher Hawthrone discusses the rise of a "quiet style" in architecture that returns to basic shapes and resists the urge to look futuristic.

November 25, 2017 - The Los Angeles Times

Farebox

D.C. Makes the Case for Decriminalizing Fare Evasion

The District may soon remove criminal penalties from fare evasion with a proposal that would lower fines and strike the possibility of jail time.

November 21, 2017 - The Washington Post

Seattle Brick Loft

Affordable Housing Near Transit: Seattle's REDI Makes Its First Loan

For a city in the middle of a rent crisis, the Tacoma Housing Authority project can't come too soon.

November 20, 2017 - Curbed Seattle

Narikala Castle

Churches and the Creation Of Landscape

A visit to Tbilisi, Georgia, reveals that churches are crucial elements in the creation of landscape. Their civic functions are at least as important as their theological functions.

November 20, 2017 - Common Edge Collaborative

New York Public Art

The 'Deliberately Unkind' Public Art of the High Line

"You could be forgiven for reading the art as a message to less-than-opulent New Yorkers: You’ve lost your place," writes Michael Friedman.

November 16, 2017 - CityLab

Tenderloin District

Rent Control's Mixed Effects in San Francisco

As California debates the future of rent control in its municipalities, a group of Stanford economists have conducted research that connects San Francisco's existing policy with higher housing costs.

November 14, 2017 - The Mercury News

Crime Watch

Study: Nonprofits, Ordinary Citizens Played Major Role in Crime Decline

As many wonder whether the nation's multi-decade crime decline will continue, research suggests that community groups and local nonprofits have played a larger role in that story than they're given credit for.

November 14, 2017 - The New York Times

School Buses

Chicago-Based Equiticity Takes Mobility Justice Nationwide

The new group will challenge the unequal distribution of mobility resources to low-income communities of color.

November 10, 2017 - Chi.Streetsblog

Tulsa Arkansas River

How Tulsa Beat Flooding Without Saying 'Climate Change'

An oil town in a red state proves we don't have to talk about climate change to adapt to it.

November 9, 2017 - Governing

Columbia River Gorge

White House Denies Funding to Replace Tribal Villages

The federal government appears to be reneging on yet another promise to Native American tribes.

November 6, 2017 - The Oregonian

HUD

Is Now Really the Time to Cut HUD Funds for Renters?

The Secretary of Urban Housing and Development wants to make renters "independent," but at least two experts say that's a terrible idea.

November 6, 2017 - Urban Institute

New York City Pedestrians

'Walking Summit' Highlights Long Path Ahead

A piece from the Congress for the New Urbanism discusses the 2017 National Walking Summit. The proceedings included the release of the nation's first walkability report card.

November 6, 2017 - Public Square: A CNU Journal

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.

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.