Social / Demographics
Land Grab in Africa
In what The Guardian calls "the greatest change of ownership since the colonial era," enormous swaths of African land is being sold to foreign countries seeking agricultural lands to feed their growing populations.
Cities Take Reins in Census Marketing
While it's typically states and the federal government that spend most of the money on marketing the decennial census, cities have been taking the lead in 2010.
Understanding Mega-Cities
A new book explores the disconnect between how a "mega-city" region is portrayed through statistics, demographics, etc., and how it is perceived by the public.
Major Shift in Canadian Cities Towards Diversity
According to the latest census data projections, Canada will become a remarkably diverse nation in the coming decades, with increasing ethnic and racial mixing being concentrated in the nations' cities.
Google Gets Bike-Friendly
The latest addition to Google Maps is a bicycle service, helping cyclists plan routes, find bike trails, and avoid hills.
Can Cities "Remix" America?
Carl Anthony suggests that emerging land use policies (such as high speed rail) could threaten to exacerbate trends towards racial segregation, unless there is broader participation from people of color in planning processes.
Inchvesting in Detroit
$1 will buy you one square inch of a vacant lot in Detroit, and membership in Jerry Paffendorf's club of "inchvestors." It may sound like a scheme, but Paffendorf calls it a way to network, invest in Detroit, and attract entrepreneurs.
Infrastructure Spending, Policy Benefit Suburbs and not Cities
Harvard economics professor Edward L. Glaeser argues that the United States has a long, pervasive pattern of anti-urban behavior that needs to change.
Urbanites Make the Case for Goats as Pets
The don't bite. They don't need much space. They follow kids around like a dog. We're talking about miniature goats. Planning commissions across the country are being asked to moved the hooved animals into the "pet" category.
Can Urban Design Alleviate the Need for Cops?
A look at public space as a "community living room" and the role of police within the context of Los Angeles.
Census a Challenge in Abandoned Neighborhoods
Cincinnati's Tract 16 is the neighborhood deemed hardest to count in Ohio by census takers. As the Enquirer puts it, "high numbers of abandoned buildings, low literacy rates and urban poverty make it a people-counting quagmire."
Federal Government Redefines Poverty
The federal government is rewriting the way it defines poverty. As a result, city poverty levels are expected to see major shifts.
Designing Happiness into Cities
This piece from Shareable looks at the urban work of Enrique Penalosa and how it emphasizes the importance of happiness in cities.
The Most Obese Cities
Gallup looks at the body mass index of American cities to see which metro areas are the most overweight. Flint, Michigan and Stockton, California come out on top.
Johannesburg's BRT Controversy Underscores Class Issues
Treehugger takes a look at the new bus rapid transit system in Johannesburg, South Africa, and explores some of the controversy and tension that surrounds it.
San Diego Looks At Density to Meet Projected Housing Demand
With population estimates adding an additional 1.2 million people to the San Diego region in the next 40 years, planners say the region will need nearly 400,000 additional housing units to meet the demand.
In Land Of Hi-Tech, Why Do Newspapers Flourish?
Palo Alto is where Silicon Valley started, yet locals eagerly pick up the Daily Post, the Daily News, as well as read PaloAlto-Online. The New York Times investigates why print media flourishes here while regional and national papers struggle.
America's Path to 400 Million
The New York Times reviews a new book by Joel Kotkin about the role of immigration and minority populations in America.
Poverty Heads to the Suburbs
The migration of America's low income population is spreading to the suburbs. But the suburbs aren't ready to handle the influx, according to this piece.
The Biggest Misconceptions About the Census and Demographics
The Brookings Institution lists out the five biggest myths and misconceptions about the Census and the way demographics change in the U.S.
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.
Gallatin County Department of Planning & Community Development
Heyer Gruel & Associates PA
JM Goldson LLC
Mpact (founded as Rail~Volution)
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
Jefferson Parish Government
Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Claremont
