Social / Demographics

Emergence in Public Parks

The sudden appearance of a ping pong table in a public park in Dallas is a perfect example of the concept of emergence in cities, according to this post on Pegasus News.

June 10, 2011 - Pegasus News

Urban Planners as "Zookeepers"

At the National Building Museum's Intelligent Cities Forum, one participant compared creating healthy cities to creating healthy animal environments in zoos.

June 8, 2011 - THE DIRT

LaHood and DOT Employees Bike to Work (VIDEO)

This two-minute video features U.S. Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood discussing the merits of bicycling and bike friendly places as he and other DOT employees bike to work.

June 8, 2011 - Vimeo

Could Detroit Rise Again?

Detroit has become our most notorious story of urban collapse. But reporter Matthew Power suggests that we consider the city's official motto: "It shall rise from the ashes."

June 6, 2011 - OnEarth Magazine

The Social Life of Dallas City Hall Plaza

Filmmaker Aaron Garcia uses narration from William H. Whyte's classic The Social Life of Small Urban Spaces to highlight the failings of the I.M. Pei-designed Dallas City Hall Plaza.

June 6, 2011 - The Better Block: A living Charette

Long Commute Takes a Toll on Relationships

Latest study by a Swedish university shows that couples whose commute time exceeds 45 minutes are 40% more likely to experience marital problems.

June 5, 2011 - The Infrastructurist

Where Have All The Children Gone?

Decreasing fertility rates of non-Hispanic whites and black women, plus the tendency of families with children to cluster, have caused declines in the '18 and under' population share in 95% of U.S. counties.

June 5, 2011 - USA Today - Census

The Food System's Negative Impact on Communities

In this food-focused installment of a series on "great places", Grist's Tom Philpott argues that food system as currently structured creates the opposite of great places.

June 4, 2011 - Grist

Luring Luxury and Expelling the Lower Class

New York City's policy that incentivizes luxury development has had deleterious impacts on the city's lower and middle classes, according to the new documentary "The Vanishing City".

June 4, 2011 - The Architect's Newspaper

Listening to the People's Voice in Detroit

In this op-ed for The Detroit News, Rob Goodspeed argues that Detroit needs to exert more effort to dialog with its citizens about how the city should change.

June 4, 2011 - The Detroit News

Latin American Population Rising in Oregon

The Latin American population is on the rise in many parts of the country. Oregon is seeing its own shifts in population, and this piece takes a look at whats driving the changes.

June 2, 2011 - Oregon Public Broadcasting

Urban Exploration Misinterpreted

Urban explorer and urban ethnographer Bradley L. Garrett argues that the act of urban exploration has become increasingly misunderstood, and misinterpreted through the lens of a recent popular fascination with ruin fetishism.

June 2, 2011 - domus

The Challenges of Legitimizing Informal Settlements

Informal settlements like slums and favelas have been perplexing governments in Latin America for decades. A new report looks at two of the ways governments are addressing these areas, and the challenges that remain.

June 1, 2011 - Citiwire

New Report: Measuring Pedestrian Safety in the U.S.

Transportation for America (TfA), a campaign to strengthen the nation’s transportation network, released an update to its “Dangerous by Design” report, an analysis of pedestrian safety in the design and use of American streets.

May 31, 2011 - TheCityFix.com

Johannesburg's BRT System Makes Good with Minibus Drivers

Minibus drivers in Johannesburg, South Africa, were not happy about plans to build a city-wide bus rapid transit system, worrying it would take their business away. After sometimes violent debates, the drivers have compromised with the city.

May 31, 2011 - Citiscope

New Study: Sprawl Is Bad for Marriage Sustainability

According to a recent study in Sweden, long distance commutes (characteristic of sprawling suburbs) put a major strain on personal relationships and increase the chances of marriage ending in divorce.

May 28, 2011 - GOOD Magazine

A Broader Look at Creativity in the World's Top Cities

Top livable cities may be be good for families or corporations, but they don't often fuel or enable creativity the way their listers think they do, according to this piece.

May 28, 2011 - Future of Business

Britons are Driving Less

British cities report 9% fewer car trips per person and a 5% decline in distance traveled by car. That's because fewer young people are deciding to learn how to drive, says Prof. Phil Goodwin of the University of West of England.

May 27, 2011 - TheCityFix.com

New Zealand's Hillside Sign Idea Irks Hollywood

The city of Wellington, an emerging center for filmmaking in New Zealand, is considering a plans to build a hillside sign with the word "Wellywood" -- an homage to the famous "Hollywood" sign. Hollywood is not flattered.

May 27, 2011 - Los Angeles Times

City of Crows

Crows are seemingly everywhere, including cities. A new book looks at the relationship between people and crows in urban areas and what it says about modern cities.

May 27, 2011 - THE DIRT

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.