Social / Demographics

Downtown Dallas Breaks Freeways' Concrete Stranglehold

Dallas is hoping to break the ring of concrete created by the surrounding Central Expressway and Interstates 30 and 35.

October 8, 2010 - Dallas News

Walled Communities in Beijing Fight Crime, Spark Controversy

Small enclaves of low-wage workers in Beijing have been walled off from their surroundings in an effort to reduce crime. The separating walls have become a local controversy.

October 6, 2010 - The New York Times

India Tries to Hide its Poor As Games Begin

As the Commonwealth Games get underway in New Delhi, India, locals are upset that officials have made efforts to hide slum areas from the view of visitors.

October 5, 2010 - Los Angeles Times

'Doubling Up' Increases

'Doubling up', when multiple families live under one roof to save money, is nothing new - it increases when economic times are difficult, especially with extended families. However, the Census reports that adults aged 35+ now exceed younger groups.

October 4, 2010 - NPR

Counting Foot Traffic in Times Square

The BBC talks with some of the people involved with counting pedestrians in New York City's Times Square. Since being closed off to cars, foot traffic has greatly increased.

October 1, 2010 - BBC

Community-Led Efforts Unseen in New Orleans

Looking back on five years of recovery in post-Katrina New Orleans, Roberta Brandes Gratz bemoans the fact that much of the community-based work remains below the radar.

September 30, 2010 - The New York Times

Taking the 'Mass' Out of Mass Transit

Is the isolation of personal rapid transit truly viable for mass transit?

September 29, 2010 - TheCityFix

Plotting the Future of Austin Amid Major Change

With more than 750,00 people expected to add on to the city's population over the next 30 years, officials and locals in Austin are trying to map out how the city should grow and change to handle the influx.

September 29, 2010 - Austin American-Statesman

HOT Lane Litigation Condemned By Legislators

Arlington County's litigation of construction of three High Occupancy Toll lanes based on civil rights violation (because of exposure to air pollution of those living near I-95/395) has prompted the bi-partisan wrath of 2 of VA's top state senators.

September 27, 2010 - The Washington Post

Teaching Interaction Design to High Schoolers

Two interaction design students in New York are starting a 10-week after school program that is trying to teach high school kids design skills that they can use in their communities.

September 27, 2010 - Urban Omnibus

The Car as Protector, and Prosthetic

Asrai Ord explicates Rebecca Solnit's belief that "the car has become a prosthetic… for a conceptually impaired body or a body impaired by the creation of a world that is no longer human in scale."

September 25, 2010 - The Planning Pool

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.

September 24, 2010 - Citiwire

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.

September 24, 2010 - 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.

September 22, 2010 - New Urban Network

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.

September 22, 2010 - Smithsonian Magazine

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.

September 22, 2010 - Guardian

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.

September 22, 2010 - Change Observer

Rappin' About Urbanism

Finnish architect Tuomas Toivonen has just released an album of urbanism- and architecture-themed rap songs.

September 21, 2010 - City Of Sound

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.

September 21, 2010 - New Urban Network

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?

September 20, 2010 - New Urban Network

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.

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Gallatin County Department of Planning & Community Development

Senior Planner

Heyer Gruel & Associates PA

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