Social / Demographics

How To Really Fix L.A.'s Skid Row

Joel John Roberts looks to Hong Kong for a solution to Los Angeles' homelessness problem.

October 2, 2006 - The Los Angeles Times

Lennar Defies Housing Market Trends

Across the country home sales are slowing and prices are dropping. The trend is causing most production home builders scale back their development plans. However, Lennar views the slowdown differently.

October 1, 2006 - The Miami Herald

The Environmental Impact of 300 Million

As the U.S. population ticks ever closer to the 300 million mark -- 299,800,000-plus and counting -- many environmentalists worry that the rising numbers will amplify existing environmental problems.

September 30, 2006 - The Christian Science Monitor

Londoners Oppose Increasing Mayor's Planning Powers

The majority of London residents oppose a proposal to grant increased power to the city's mayor to more tightly control the planning process.

September 29, 2006 - eGov Monitor

'Hug-A-Thug' Model Wins Praise For Getting Dealers Off The Street

An initiative by the High Point, North Carolina police department has shown results in cleaning up a drug-riddled neighborhood by using "soft" pressure from families and community members to change behaviors.

September 28, 2006 - The Wall Street Journal

Communities Unprepared For Aging Baby Boomers

A recently released study shows that less than half of the nation's communities are preparing for the growing ranks of the aging population in America.

September 28, 2006 - The Houston Chronicle

Planning Bodies To Oversee Indian Metro Areas

Three major metropolitan areas in India will soon have Metropolitan Planning Committees, a move expected to greatly improve coordination of local planning agencies and developers. The committees will also give a greater voice to local residents.

September 28, 2006 - Mumbai Newsline

Will New York City Go On A 'Zoning' Diet?

Following in the footsteps of cities in California, Michigan, and Massachusetts, the New York City Council majority leader is throwing his weight behind a proposal to restrict the number of high-calorie, fast-food giants in the city's neighborhoods.

September 25, 2006 - The New York Times

In Genoa, Aging Italians Outnumber Children

This Mediterranean city epitomizes Europe's declining birthrate and the challenges cities face because of the aging population.

September 24, 2006 - The New York Times

S.F. Redevelopment Opposition Denied On Technicality

A referendum opposing a redevelopment plan signed by more than 33,000 San Francisco voters has been ruled invalid, angering many who feel that the city is bending rules to appease developers and gentrify their neighborhood.

September 22, 2006 - San Francisco Bay Gueardian

Stockholm Votes In Congestion Pricing -- And Its Opponents

Sorting out the politics of Stockholm congestion charging with James Savage, editor-in-chief of the Swedish, English-language newspaper, The Local.

September 22, 2006 - Streetsblog

It's The Middle Class, Not The Creative Class

Joel Kotkin argues that cities need to win back the middle class by focusing on their basic needs -- affordable 'market-rate' housing, schools, and public infrastructure -- if they are to be genuinely successful at urban revitalization.

September 21, 2006 - Democracy

Bio-Diesel As A Rural Development Strategy

Having become the world leader in ethanol production, Brazil turns to bio-diesel, with a policy that is intended to benefit small, family farms so as to keep them on their land, and benefit President Luiz da Silva in his reelection bid.

September 21, 2006 - Los Angeles Times

Anti-Sprawl Law Revised To Encourage Sprawl

Revision to a Maryland state homebuying assistance program is catching some resistance from smart growth advocates as changed language seems to go against the original anti-sprawl intent.

September 20, 2006 - The Baltimore Sun

Community Voices Heard in L.A.

Neighborhood Councils in Los Angeles have stopped the city's elected Council from using a misleading title for a ballot initiative facing voters in November. The volunteer groups are moving closer to providing a voice for the community at City Hall.

September 20, 2006 - The Los Angeles Times

Understanding First Ring Suburbs

A presentation from a recent meeting of city officials in New Jersey offers information about the direction of first-ring suburbs, many of which find themselves in the crossfire of the urban-suburban divide.

September 19, 2006 - The Brookings Institution

Sprawl: History Or Myth?

A critical review of Robert Bruegmann's book 'Sprawl: A Compact History' asserts that Bruegmann's work exemplifies several common myths about sprawl.

September 19, 2006 - Social Science Research Network

Go, West? Not So Fast

The Rocky Mountain West, an area where people were content to let others do what they pleased with their land, is moving towards increasing growth controls as the region's population explodes.

September 19, 2006 - New West

Megacities And The Future Of Architecture

An exhibition challenges stereotypes and explores the role architects will play in shaping the megacities of tomorrow.

September 15, 2006 - Abhijeet Chavan

City Indicators For Success

CEOs for Cities editorial writer interviews economist Joe Cortwright on what makes cities successful. Hint: Don't copy other cities.

September 15, 2006 - Richmond Times-Dispatch

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.

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.