Social / Demographics

Civil Rights Activists Target Baltimore Red Line Cancellation

A complaint filed with the U.S. Department of Transportation alleges that Maryland Gov. Hogan's decision to cancel the long-planned Red Line rail project violates the Civil Rights Act.

December 26, 2015 - The Washington Post- Wonkblog

Shanghai Shopping

Visualizing Global Urban Growth Through 2030

Geographer Duncan Smith mapped the predicted trajectory of worldwide urban growth from 1950 through 2030. Concentric circles of different shades show where and when growth was (or will be) the most dramatic.

December 24, 2015 - CityLab

Both Sides of the Controversial Renewal of the EB-5 Immigration Program

A regional perspective on the Congressional action to renew the controversial EB-5 program.

December 23, 2015 - KPCC

California's Population Now Tops 39 Million

New figures released by the California Department of Finance show that the state grew by 346,000 (to July 1, 2015). As in past years, the increase comes from natural births and immigration while more left the state than entered.

December 23, 2015 - California Department of Finance Press Release

Detroit Street Art

Detroit's Getting Better, Say Detroiters

According to a wide-ranging poll conducted by the Detroit Free Press, residents have regained some optimism about their city and its management. Sixty-nine percent said Detroit is headed in the right direction.

December 21, 2015 - Detroit Free Press

Washington D.C. Metro

Rail Access in High Demand Among the Young, White, and Well Educated

Washington, D.C. provides a model for trends found in other cities: people living near transit are trending younger, whiter, and more educated.

December 20, 2015 - The Washington Post - Wonkblog

Shut It and Gut It: Anchorage Takes Hard Look at Transit Center

After 500 hours of analyzing its downtown transit center, Anchorage officials have come to one conclusion: The only way to fix this building is to shut it and gut it. The transit center, over three decades, has become a blight on Downtown.

December 18, 2015 - Alaska Commons

New Year 2015

The Most Popular Planetizen Posts of 2015

The results of a year's worth of writing, reading, sharing, and commenting are in. These are the most popular Planetizen posts from the year 2015.

December 18, 2015 - James Brasuell

If/Then

Urban Planning's Broadway Moment

Elizabeth Vaughan, the lead character in the Broadway musical 'If/Then' may be the most famous urban planner in the United States, thanks to the star power of Idina Menzel and a surprisingly accurate portrayal of the planning field.

December 14, 2015 - California Planning & Development Report

Durham, North Carolina

The Cities Best Positioned for Growth Based on the Right Mix of Jobs

Having the right mix of jobs in a local economy might be a predictor for future growth.

December 13, 2015 - JedKolko.com

Census Data Reveals Slight Decline in Racial Segregation

It's too soon to declare the beginning of the end for segregation, but one demographer is hopeful that there are opportunities to better integrate different racial groups.

December 12, 2015 - Brookings

Last of the color coding

Four New Map Books Reviewed

Looking for the perfect holiday gift for a planner? Check out these new map books.

December 9, 2015 - New York Times

Gentrification Is More Widespread Than We Think

Gentrification is happening faster than our ability to track it via census data. What is rental data telling us now?

December 8, 2015 - Shelterforce/Rooflines

For Rent

When Discussing Median Rents, Let's Make Sure We Have All the Data

Reports about the median rents rising or falling in a community garner a lot of attention, but it's a good idea to understand where the data is coming from.

December 7, 2015 - City Commentary

Atlanta 24-27 Feb 2010

The Nation's Most Equal (and Unequal) Cities

In the United States, urban wealth and poverty are often quite segregated. But they can also be next-door neighbors. This article looks at cities with the highest and lowest levels of income inequality.

December 7, 2015 - Atlanta Business Chronicle

To Solve Sao Paulo's Water Crisis, Collaboration Is Key

Brazil is rethinking it's approach to water infrastructure. Brazilian think-tank Arq Futuro and Arup's Pablo Lazo give their take on the state of South America's most populous country.

December 4, 2015 - Doggerel

Kid on Bus

Public Transit May Boost Mental Health

A new study based on an analysis of the residents of Turin, Italy, a city of over 900,000, reveals that walkable access to public transit and urban services benefits mental health, particularly for women and seniors.

December 4, 2015 - CityLab

Refugees

Urban Planners Have a Role to Play in Humanitarian Crises

"Humanitarians are conditioned to think about people, urban planners are conditioned to think about how the place affects people."

December 3, 2015 - International Rescue Committee

Living Alone Now the Most Common Type of Household

A revealing examination of demographic data shows a country that bears little resemblance to the 1950s era that bequeathed its housing and transportation models to current generations.

December 2, 2015 - Stat Chat

Not in my back yard

Will Millennials Remake Suburbs in Their Image?

The "hipsterification" of cities is a well-known phenomenon. But as the millennial generation ages and settles down, will they import that same cultural ethos to locations more suburban?

December 2, 2015 - The Washington Post

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.