Social / Demographics
Beauty And Brains
Vancouver has been named one of the world's "smartest" cities in a recent list, which also includes cities from Australia, Ohio, Scotland, and India.
Baghdad's Babysteps Back To Normality
City life edges back towards normalisty in Baghdad where residents are noticing improvements in security and lower rates of violence. More people are traveling across the city and staying out at night, and even the liquor stores are opening back up.
Enabling Retirees To Stay Put
Retirees are less inclined to move out of their homes as they ages, so a cooperative group in Connecticut is creating a network amongst retirees and service providers to enable people to stay put.
New York And Berlin In Parallel
The development patterns of New York and Berlin have some striking similarities, according to a new exhibition looking at the circumstances influencing each of the cities.
'Most Dangerous Cities' List Released, Met With Criticism
The latest report on America's most dangerous cities has been released, and Detroit is once again at the top. Critics are bashing the study, saying the FBI crime statistics it is based on do not tell the whole story of each city.
Alaska Grows And Grays
Demographers are estimating that the population of Alaska will surpass 800,000 by the year 2030. The population 65 and older is expected to grow the fastest between now and then.
Washington Struggles With Housing Affordability
Housing affordability is becoming a major issue in Washington, where workers increasingly have to "drive to qualify".
Freeway Seems Likely, But Residents Cry For Transit
Growth in the Western Salt Lake Valley is creating a need for better mobility. Plans are bubbling for an eight-lane freeway, and while many residents support the plan, others are calling on officials to consider transit options more seriously.
Finding A Housing Balance: Houses Vs. Apartments
A planning expert in Wales is warning that many cities are endanger of pushing families out to the suburbs by focusing solely on high-density development.
The Suburbs Aren't Family Friendly After All
While hard-working families with children often head out to the suburbs for an affordable home, the hidden toll is the long commutes by car -- and its frequently women who bear the brunt of the costs.
A 'Tsunami' of Homeless Veterans?
A new documentary portrays a grim new reality: veterans make up 25% of the homeless population in America -- a percentage which is expected to rise.
High-Rise Proposals Spur Outrage In Paris
Officials in Paris plan to unveil sketches of high-rise developments proposed for the outer rings of the city -- a development type nearly two-thirds of Parisians oppose. Many argue that the aesthetic focus shortchanges social concerns in the city.
Demographics Shift From Sydney To Melbourne
Rising home prices and cost of living are steering more Australians away from Sydney and towards Melbourne, creating a boom in population that has put the city on track to become the country's biggest city.
Combatting 'Food Deserts'
Chicago struggles to overcome its battle with "food deserts" -- areas in the city with little or now access to groceries.
America's Most Caffeinated Cities
Is your city addicted to caffeine? Need Coffee Dot Com shares a study commissioned by HealthSaver to determine the most and least wired of America's cities. And no, it's not Seattle.
Friday Funny: Disney's 'Urban Adventure'
As the Disney Corporation and the city of Anaheim, California, squabble over a proposal to build affordable housing near the Happiest Place on Earth, Morris Newman suggests turning the affordable housing project into an "urban theme park".
Pedestrians Fight For Rights In Greece
Cars and scooters rules the roads -- and often the sidewalks -- in Greece, making things difficult for the country's pedestrians. A new activist movement is looking to bring illegal parking and pedestrian-right-of-way violations to light.
UK Healthy Towns: A Step Too Far?
The government in the UK has announced plans to create "healthy towns" that encourage exercise through urban design. Is this idea going too far to control peoples' activity?
Race-Related Sprawl
In this interview, civil rights leader and environmentalist Van Jones talks about the interconnections between urban sprawl, racism and the "prison-industrial complex".
Shhh, Don't Share This News About Portland
After a New York Times real estate article points out that on top of being one of America's most livable cities it is also one of its most affordable, there could be mass migration to Portland.
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.
planning NEXT
Appalachian Highlands Housing Partners
Mpact (founded as Rail~Volution)
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
City of Portland
City of Laramie
