Social / Demographics

Diversity Leads to Tranquility in Astoria, Queens

The community was long known as predominantly Greek and Italian, but tensions existed with the African-American community. As whites moved to the suburbs, they were replaced with a "poly-glot mix" without the tensions. Next challenge: gentrification.

March 31, 2015 - NPR Code Switch

Lombard Street San Francisco

Cars Are Expensive (And Other Things the Census Taught Me)

National tables from the 2013 American Household Survey (AHS) are now public.

March 31, 2015 - Michael Lewyn

Shopping Mall

Death of the Shopping Mall May Be Exaggerated

Despite threats like online retail, upscale sectors of the mall market are prospering. This is good news for what are, perhaps, the only walkable 'streets' in some parts of the country.

March 31, 2015 - CityLab

Seattle skyline

Out-of-State Migrants Flock to Seattle's King County

During the year 2014, a record number of people chose to make their home in King County, Washington. And 2015 may shape up to shatter last year's record.

March 30, 2015 - The Seattle Times

Ticky tacky

Suburbs Come Roaring Back

For nearly a decade, the narrative of the move back to the city has held sway in American life. But newly analyzed Census data indicate that the presumed death of the suburbs may have been premature.

March 30, 2015 - The Washington Post - Blogs

Homeless sleeping

Report: Which American Cities Are the Most Unequal

According to Brookings, this research is intended to inform local debates over the minimum wage. Drawing on Census data, the report finds that astronomical income gains are still concentrated among the biggest cities.

March 28, 2015 - Brookings Institution

Slab City

Slab City May Not Be Forever

A longtime colony for independent spirits in the California desert, Slab City may soon face mass eviction. A potential response by the community has its denizens divided.

March 28, 2015 - New York Times

AAA Takes on Teenage Driving in New Study

Teenagers have a lot on their minds, which is not a bad thing, except when it comes to getting behind the wheel. A report released March 25 reveals that six out of ten teen crashes involve driver distraction—400 percent greater than a prior study.

March 26, 2015 - KHOU 11 Houston

Transit Rendering

Architectural Renderings Depict Only the 'Wired and Young'

John King shares his thoughts on modern renderings. In too many drawings a hipster cult of youth is normalized, and it threatens to paint regular folks and true nonconformists out of the picture.

March 24, 2015 - San Francisco Chronicle

Rich Suburban House

Affluence Still at Home in the Suburbs

Commentators often say an influx of wealth is transforming American cities. But if prosperity is really still suburban, what are the consequences for the environment?

March 19, 2015 - Grist

Older People

Redefining Public Spaces for Older People

The elderly population in cities is growing, and research points to the health benefits of an active, connected lifestyle. So why are cities still so inhospitable to aging?

March 18, 2015 - The Guardian

Alberta Arts District Mural Portland

A Response to the Loss of Black Communities in Portland

A five-minute video funded by the James F. and Marion L. Miller Foundation tells the story of black communities struggling to preserve their traditions in what's been called the whitest city in the United States.

March 17, 2015 - Oregon Humanities

aerial view of downtown detroit showing lots of parking lots

Exploring the Unique Geography of Detroit

One of Detroit’s most defining modern characteristics—and most pressing dilemmas—is its huge amount of neglected and vacant land.

March 13, 2015 - Mapping Detroit

Millennial Advisory Panel Convened for Atlanta's Regional Planning Effort

The Atlanta Regional Commission is engaging Millennials in an ongoing planning effort that will determine the shape of the region through 2040.

March 13, 2015 - Atlanta Regional Commission

French Suburb

Renzo Piano on the Potential of Suburbs

In an interview, architect Renzo Piano says European suburbs are not desolate. He argues they shouldn't be treated as such in the quest for cohesive cities.

March 12, 2015 - WNYC

Teotihuacan

How Ancient and Modern Cities Compare (and Why Planners Should Care)

A new scholarly paper argues that ancient and modern cities can be usefully analyzed in a comparative perspective. But what you do with the comps depends on how much you value similarities versus differences in urban form.

March 9, 2015 - Dean Saitta

Woman Walking

Women Redefining the Boundaries of Urban Design

There is increased call for inclusion and diversity in architecture. This London exhibition profiles five female architects and urban designers at the forefront of their profession.

March 9, 2015 - The Guardian Cities

Study: Affordable Housing Policy Increases Segregation in the Twin Cities

A new study by researchers at the University of Minnesota identifies the consequences of Twin Cities affordable housing policy: deepening racial and economic segregation.

March 7, 2015 - MinnPost

We're All Complicit in Change—Now What?

Be a citizen, not just a consumer.

March 5, 2015 - PlaceShakers

Downtown Phoenix

Where the United States Is Diversifying the Fastest

The Brookings Institution has been using new media formats to illustrate the striking demographic changes sweeping the country.

March 3, 2015 - Brookings

Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools

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Planning for Universal Design

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