City Center

Philadelphia Bike Lane

Conflict in Philadelphia Over Church Parking in Bike Lanes

A long-standing policy allows parking in front of churches and synagogues but leaves cars blocking bike lanes, and cyclists want the practice to end.

October 3, 2019 - The Philadelphia Inquirer

Madrid Pedestrian Street

Driving Ban in Madrid Central Survives Despite Change of Leadership

In sharp contrast to France's yellow vest demonstrations against fuel tax hikes, Madrid residents took to the streets to keep them free of motor vehicles after new leaders were elected who vowed to rescind the driving ban enacted last November.

July 26, 2019 - CityLab

Madrid Street

Madrid’s Bold Car Ban May Become a Thing of the Past

A new conservative administration says it wants to do away with the ban on cars in the city center.

June 24, 2019 - CityLab

Pope's Visit Converts Car-Free Believers in Philadelphia

The decision to shut down a 4.7-square-mile swath of Philadelphia's Center City on the occasion of the Pope's visit last weekend has converted a lot of new believers to the open streets cause.

October 2, 2015 - Philly Voice

Glasgow City Center

Tomorrow's Digital City Center: The Glasgow Agenda

Take a walk around your downtown and what do you see. Most people are attached to their mobile phones, using them for directions, searching, and texting. See how can cities leverage digital technology to create a more engaging city center.

July 17, 2015 - Jennifer Evans-Cowley

Huge New District Expands Hamburg's City Center

An ambitious new mixed use district is gradually opening along the Elbe River in Hamburg, Germany. The project is huge in scope, expanding the city center by nearly 40%, and not expected to finish for more than a decade.

July 22, 2010 - The New York Times

Mixed-Use for Volgograd

Volgograd, Russia (formerly Stalingrad) is getting a new mixed-use city center, designed with the idea of "shopping as museum and exhibition space".

September 2, 2008 - World Architecture News

Why Isn't Our Campus Downtown?

Bruce Fisher laments Buffalo's decades-old decision to put their university campus outside of town, missing the lesson that "eds and meds" are central to the prosperity of a city.

June 23, 2008 - ArtVoice

Ambitious City Center Plan Moves Forward

Despite the economic downturn, city officials in Spokane Valley, WA move forward with a plan to build something the city has always lacked: a true city center.

June 13, 2008 - Spokane Journal of Business

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.