Social / Demographics

Mental Map

Using Neuroscience to Build Neighborhoods

The brain has a complex, ancient relationship with place. Mental maps are the manifestation of our brains' perception of place and wayfinding. These maps can have profound impacts on how residents appreciate, and improve, their neighborhoods.

June 11, 2015 - Pacific Standard

New York City Construction

U.S. Opposition to New Development

New data from the 2015 Saint Index shows what projects provoke the most opposition in the United States when proposed "In your community."

June 10, 2015 - The 2015 Saint Index

McKinney: Public, Private Divide Often Follows Race

Urbanism media noted the growing privatization of recreation facilities, such as pools, as one of the lessons to be taken from a controversial encounter between police and black teenagers in McKinney, Texas over the weekend.

June 9, 2015 - The Atlantic

Uhaul Trucks

The New Housing Crisis: Declining Homeownership, Increasing Rental Costs

Research from the Urban Institute identifies market and demographic trends that could mean a future housing market that will stand in stark contrast to the "subprime mania of the early 2000s."

June 9, 2015 - The Wall Street Journal

Bus Stop Winter

People Still Want Buses, But Buses Aren't Delivering

Urban light rail has enjoyed a renaissance since the Great Recession, but during the same period cities have quietly reduced bus service. Daniel Hertz argues that while rail is commendable, buses remain a vital transit component.

June 8, 2015 - City Observatory City Commentary

Should Young Artists Move to Detroit?

Two University of North Carolina School of the Arts students spend a month investigating the artistic climate of Detroit and whether it's a place where young theater artists should move.

June 8, 2015 - Investigate Detroit

Inner Harbor, Baltimore

Shaking the 'Inner City' Stigma

The recent riots in Baltimore have revived the old stereotype of poor, crime-infested inner cities. Orlando Patterson argues in the New York Times that the truth about inner cities is much more nuanced and hopeful.

June 6, 2015 - New York Times

Austin Texas

Census Data: Growth Trends Favor Sunbelt Cities

Although city growth continues to outpace the suburbs, the nation's three largest cities are experiencing a growth slowdown. Sunbelt cities like Austin and Orlando are picking up the slack.

June 6, 2015 - Brookings

San Francisco Houses

San Francisco's Proposed Housing Moratorium Is a Bad Idea

After San Francisco Supervisors reject housing moratorium, proponents vow ballot initiative. But a moratorium is the wrong solution to the problem and would likely lead to continued price increases, condo conversions, and Ellis Act evictions.

June 4, 2015 - Reuben Duarte

Crowd

Whatever Happened to the Population Bomb?

Biology Professor Paul Ehrlich's 1968 book, "The Population Bomb," took America and the world by storm. The apocalyptic vision based of population outgrowing its resources appeared to make inherent sense.

June 3, 2015 - The New York Times - Retro Report

Protesting racism

Composing Cosmopolis

It’s wise to search widely across time and space for good examples of processes and products for intercultural city building.

June 1, 2015 - Dean Saitta

Millennials in the Wild

Do Millennials Opt for Cities or Suburbs? Yes.

Recent stories claiming that millenials either (a) prefer cities to suburbs or (b) prefer suburbs to cities both have some basis in reality.

June 1, 2015 - Michael Lewyn

Medical Marijuana Emerges from the Haze in Florida

A new medical marijuana industry has been on hold in Florida, but permit processing can now begin following a court decision this week that upheld newly-developed regulations.

June 1, 2015 - Orlando Sentinel

Construction crane in foreground, Denver skyline in background

Census Data: City Growth Strong, but Limited

Rates of growth in America's largest cities increased dramatically in 2010 but have leveled off. Suburbs are growing at nearly identical rates to center cities.

May 31, 2015 - Brookings: The Avenue

Street Musician

Street Performers: Nuisance or Necessity?

With its eclectic music scene, Asheville, North Carolina is a popular spot for street musicians. They can bring a vibrancy the town might suffer without. But some residents fear a rise in panhandling and homelessness.

May 31, 2015 - The New York Times

Second Largest Bikeshare in U.S. will be Bay Area's by 2017

Bay Area Bike Share will grow from 700 to 7,000 bikes by 2017 after the expansion proposal was approved by a unanimous vote of the Metropolitan Transportation Commission. It is a regional, not a city program, though most usage is in San Francisco.

May 30, 2015 - Metropolitan Transportation Commission

San Francisco Homeless

San Francisco Mayor to Increase Homeless Relief

Mayor Ed Lee has announced plans to devote $28.9 million to housing, medical aid, and counseling programs. Nonprofits will partner with the city in an effort to put rising municipal revenue to good use.

May 30, 2015 - SFGate

Bus Stop Winter

Poor Suburbs Struggle with Job Sprawl

Although unemployment has declined, according to this report commutes are getting longer. "Job sprawl" often plagues minority and poor areas where housing is more affordable.

May 29, 2015 - Al Jazeera America

Tacos and Beer

Trendy Chicago Taco Bell to Serve Alcoholic Drinks

Would you like a cerveza with that? A hip neighborhood in Chicago will play host to the first alcohol-serving Taco Bell. Isolated incident, or the future of fast food?

May 29, 2015 - Chicago Tribune

Study Finds a New Narrative About Racial Segregation

New analysis of U.S. Census data dating back to 1880 reveals more about the breadth and depth of patterns of racial segregation.

May 22, 2015 - Vox

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.

Associate/Senior Planner

Gallatin County Department of Planning & Community Development

Senior Planner

Heyer Gruel & Associates PA

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.