Social / Demographics
Daley's Success As Chicago's 20-Year Mayor
Neal Pierce argues that retiring Mayor Daley's achievements in Chicago "stand out as beacons for mayors, American and worldwide, to emulate." He attributes some of his success to sheer political skill, but also examines seven effective policy shifts.
From Displacement to Permanent
In Haiti, displacement camps full of people left without homes after the devastating January earthquake are becoming more and more permanent. Deborah Gans argues that these sites should be more carefully planned to foster functioning places.
Does This City Make Me Look Suburban?
Travel + Leisure magazine confuses suburbs with small cities in a recent article called "Coolest Suburbs Worth a Visit." The New Urban Network shows how they got it wrong.
Amid Growth, the Colorado River is Running Dry
Freshwater resources are running out and being overused -- a global crisis that can be seen in the declining flows of the Colorado River.
Irrigation Project Spurs Protests in Peru
A proposed irrigation project near the Incan citadel of Machu Picchu in Peru that would divert water away from small villages has sparked violent protests.
A Museum-Based Charrette on Riverfront Revitalization
A new museum exhibit in Vermont invites visitors to review various proposals for updating the riverfront in Brattleboro -- and allows them to submit their own ideas.
Rappin' About Urbanism
Finnish architect Tuomas Toivonen has just released an album of urbanism- and architecture-themed rap songs.
PARK(ing) Day: Laid Back and Literal
Without a word of protest, San Francisco's Rebar Group leads the 5th annual worldwide event which highlights the need for public green space.
Bikers Behaving Badly: Is Street Design to Blame?
Cyclists who disobey traffic laws are the No. 1 police complaint among residents of Manhattan's Upper East Side. Could the built environment be the real culprit?
The Top 10 Most Global Cities
Emily Peck counts down the top ten most global cities now that more than half the world's population is urbanized. The 21st century will be dominated by the city, writes Parag Khanna. “The age of nations is over. The new urban age has begun.”
Urban Living Linked To Heightened Risk of Schizophrenia
For some time researchers have noticed more instances of non-affective psychosis in urban populations than in rural groups. Now the American Medical Association has found "certain elements of city living raise the risk of developing schizophrenia."
Urbanization Multiplies The Phenomenon of Strangers
Kio Stark, professor at NYU's Interactive Telecommunications Program explains lucidly how strangers and cities are "inherently intertwined."
Enticing Millennials to a New Suburbia
At a seminar on "Re-working Suburbia" in San Leandro, California, urban designers and planners strategized for ways to upgrade Bay Area suburbs to attract millennials.
Virginia Speed Bump Leads to Neighborhood Activist's Murder
A Virginia man who rallied to have a traffic-calming speed bump installed on his street became the source of so much local controversy that a neighbor recently shot and killed him.
Church Goers on the Defense Against New Urbanism's Anti-Sprawl Crusade
This commentary from church architect Randy Bright argues that New Urbanists unfairly attack church sprawl, and that the cost of developing denser communities is the freedom of the people.
India's Slum Population Nears 100 Million
The population of India's slums is expected to rise close to 100 million in 2011.
Combatting the Food Desert of Detroit
Grist's food editor visits Detroit, where the lack of grocery stores has inspired a number of innovative, locally-grown food projects.
A Very Small-Scale Bike Sharing Program in Seattle
A local activist in Seattle has started his own small-scale ad hoc bike sharing system with a handful of free bikes scattered throughout his neighborhood.
EU Blasts France's Expulsion of Gypsies
The conservative government led by French President Nicolas Sarkozy has been deporting hundreds of Gypsies, the nomadic people who number in the thousands in France. EU officials have called the move "a disgrace".
Sound Assault on Mall Loafers
Mall officials in Washington D.C. are fighting back against young people accused of causing a ruckus outside shopping areas by installing a device that emits an annoying high-pitched frequency only audible to young people.
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.
City of Moorpark
City of Tustin
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
Transportation Research & Education Center (TREC) at Portland State University
Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada
Toledo-Lucas County Plan Commissions
