Detroit

Voting

This November, Four Major Transportation Measures at Stake

If you live in Detroit, Atlanta, Seattle, or Los Angeles, you have more to look forward to in November than choosing Donald or Hillary. Major decisions concerning regional transportation are on the line.

August 31, 2016 - Governing

Detroit Street Art

Detroit to Explore 'Pink Zoning' to Reduce Red Tape

Detroit is looking for ideas to make it easier to revitalize neighborhood main streets.

August 12, 2016 - The Detroit News

Ann Arbor

Southeast Michigan Regional Transit Plan Back From the Dead

The board of the Southeast Michigan Regional Transit Authority found a compromise and managed to get a regional transit plan onto the ballot for voters to consider in November.

August 4, 2016 - Detroit Free Press

Detroit Motor Bus

A Call to Action After Detroit Suburbs Kill Regional Transportation Plan

A $4.7 billion regional transportation plan died at the hands of suburban interests around Detroit last week. An op-ed describes the action as the same kind of racial disharmony that defined the mid- and late-20 century.

August 3, 2016 - Detroit Free Press

A Summary of CNU24 Detroit

Miss the Congress for the New Urbanism in Detroit? Hazel Borys shares some highlights, with help from Twitter urbanists.

July 8, 2016 - PlaceShakers

Getting to Know the Bike Lanes of Detroit

Where they are, what they're like, and what they mean for the city.

July 5, 2016 - WDET

aerial view of downtown detroit showing lots of parking lots

20-Minute Neighborhoods In Detroit

If Detroit needs to be "rebuilt" or "reimagined," why not do so around a walkable, convenient ideal? A compact Motor City where essential goods and services are available within a 20-minute walk?

July 2, 2016 - Detroit Free Press

Motown Muster

Military Veterans Deploy to Detroit to Take on Blight-Busting Volunteer Work

A volunteer organization called The Mission Continues connects veterans with volunteer work around the country. The healing power of their efforts goes both ways.

June 30, 2016 - Fox 2

Development Details for Detroit's Brush Park

Inside big redevelopment plans for Brush Park in Detroit—one of the neighborhoods attracting investment attention from Dan Gilbert.

June 17, 2016 - The Architect's Newspaper

Detroit People Mover

Car-Free in Detroit

A short guide to a few of Detroit's historic neighborhoods.

June 16, 2016 - Michael Lewyn

Pilot Project Transforms Vacant Lots Into Bioretention Gardens

A pilot project combining the brain power and political will of the Detroit’s water department, Land Bank Authority, and the University of Michigan recently completed the first of four vacant lots into beautiful and functional bioretention gardens.

June 12, 2016 - The Detroit News

Bank Owned

Mapping Tool Enables Housing Action in Detroit and Beyond

A web tool that helped Detroit develop a housing plan may ultimately provide public data on every parcel in the country.

June 9, 2016 - The Washington Post

Self-Driving Car

Michigan Bill Would Be First to Allow Cars to Drive Without Humans

A state legislation package is aiming to clear hurdles obstructing the development of autonomous vehicles.

June 3, 2016 - GOV TECH - FUTURE STRUCTURE

Detroit Vacant Properties

Federal Agencies Investigating the Rising Costs of Detroit's Blight Program

Detroit's aggressive blight reduction strategy, to demolish vacant homes by the thousands, is coming under scrutiny for rising costs. The FBI and the U.S. Inspector General are investigating.

May 31, 2016 - Detroit Free Press

Detroit People Mover

Transit Planners Put Ann Arbor-Detroit Commuter Rail in Motion

A long-stalled, but partially built-out, commuter rail line has achieved institutional legitimacy with the Regional Transit Authority of Southeast Michigan. Novembers will have a chance to decide on the idea in November.

May 24, 2016 - The Detroit News

Detroit

Can Detroit's Urban Revitalization Undo the Mistakes of Urban Renewal?

Some experts think the language used to describe a redevelopment project in Detroit might be overly ambitious.

May 17, 2016 - Detroit Free Press

Community Garden

A New 'Learning Garden' for Detroit's Osborn Neighborhood

A new garden has opened in Detroit's Osborn neighborhood. It's described as the city's first outdoor learning garden.

May 11, 2016 - The Detroit News

Balancing the Scales of City Sustainability

Urbanism and smart growth are great for cities, people, and "the environment"—but neighborhood impacts must be mitigated. Kaid Benfield gives pointers on balancing the scales.

May 10, 2016 - PlaceShakers

Meet the New 'Lean Code Tool'

Susan Henderson investigates ‪Lean Urbanism‬ strategies for incremental code reform to improve walkability and reduce financial and regulatory burdens in a manner that matches local capacity.

May 3, 2016 - PlaceShakers

Ford Headquarters

Ford Plans New Headquarters for a New Century

Following the example of much newer corporations in Silicon Valley, the Ford Motor Company is planning a $9 billion new campus in Dearborn, to be built over ten years.

May 3, 2016 - The New York Times

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.