New York City

Steamy Streets

The steam rising from New York City streets in the winter offers a lesson about urban infrastructure, according to this explainer form Urban Omnibus.

December 11, 2009 - Urban Omnibus

Four-Year Vacancies in NYC?

The New York City Housing Authority has come under fire because thousands of affordable rental units are sitting vacant, some for years at a time.

December 10, 2009 - The New York Times

The Battle for Bedford Avenue

For a myriad of personal and professional reasons I moved to New York City this fall. Part of the reason I uprooted myself from the pastel, sun soaked streets of Miami Beach to the chaos of New York is because Gotham has made such incredible strides in becoming one of America's most bicycle-friendly cities. 

December 9, 2009 - Mike Lydon

Bump in the Road for Columbia's Expansion Plans

Columbia's plans to use eminent domain to expand its campus may have to wait. On Thursday, an appellate court reversed a previous decision to take property on behalf of the school.

December 5, 2009 - The New York Times

Public Space Turned Private

On Thanksgiving, the NYPD effectively turned West 61st street into a private playground for guests of the Trump Tower.

December 4, 2009 - The New York Times

Goodbye, Bike Lane

Calling it redundant, NYC's DOT has chosen to sandblast 14 blocks of a Bedford Avenue bike lane away.

December 2, 2009 - Streetsblog New York City

Redeveloping Open Space to Revive Housing Projects

Public housing projects have been a thorn in the paw of New York City for years. The city is trying to figure out what to do with the perennially problem-plagued housing projects. Some groups say redevelopment is the answer.

November 27, 2009 - City Limits

Architecture From Algae

UCLA's cityLAB sponsored a competition to envision new ways public works projects could be used to improve the country's infrastructure. The winning idea: algae-based urban parks connecting Manhattan and Brooklyn.

November 17, 2009 - Fast Company

The Remarkable Rezoning of NYC

Recently the NYC Planning Dept. announced its 100th rezoning since Bloomberg took office. This article takes a spin through the city's remarkable shift in the last 50 years away from industry to business and tourism and a sustainable approach.

November 16, 2009 - New York Observer

Time Shares Go Urban

Urban time shares get a boost as Hilton gets in on the action. A new NYC property is gaining attention and, surprisingly enough, selling units.

November 13, 2009 - The New York Times

Bloomberg's Coney Island Dream

NYC has purchased 7 acres of Coney Island from a developer, with the hopes of breathing new life into the People's Playground.

November 12, 2009 - The New York Times

Barroom Dispute Lands Planning Professor in Handcuffs

An argument in a New York City bar elevated to violence recently, when a male Columbia University planning professor punched a woman in the face.

November 12, 2009 - The New York Times

New York Tries to Dodge Superfund Status for Canal

New York City's Gowanus Canal has been heavily polluted for years. Mayor Bloomberg said the cleanup would happen, but it never did. Now the EPA is calling the troubled waterway a Superfund site and the city is kickstarting action.

November 12, 2009 - The Architect's Newspaper

The Animated History of Midtown Manhattan

This animation from The New York Times examines the history of Midtown Manhattan -- from pristine island environment to bustling metropolis.

October 31, 2009 - The New York Times

Hurry Up and Wait

NYC's Mayor Bloomberg oversaw the rezoning of thousands of blocks, yet many of the development projects he envisioned as the key to the city's future success are now stalled or in jeopardy.

October 29, 2009 - The New York Times

Residential Construction Declines Sharply in New York City

2009 is expected to turn out as a bad year for residential constructoin in New York City. After five consecutive years with more than 30,000 units constructed, at total of 6,300 are expected this year.

October 26, 2009 - The New York Times

Splicing Planning Students into Community Boards

Planning students from New York-area universities are being integrated into the city's community boards through an innovative new fellowship program.

October 24, 2009 - The Architect's Newspaper

Redeveloping Brooklyn's Waterfront Wasteland?

Developers and NYC's Mayor Bloomberg have hit a speed bump in revitalizing the Gowanus Canal. It may be designated as a Superfund site.

October 23, 2009 - The New York Times

Connecting New York City's Immigrants With Parks

This piece from Urban Omnibus looks at a collaborative effort in New York City to get immigrant populations better engaged in the city's public parks.

October 18, 2009 - Urban Omnibus

42nd Street Light Rail?

Vision 42 has proposed closing NYC's 42nd Street to car traffic and adding light rail along its length. The Mayor isn't interested, but lots of others are.

October 17, 2009 - The New York Times

FREE Course: Walkable City 1: Why Walkability?

After describing his path towards focusing on walkability as the essence of good planning, Jeff Speck marches through his five principal reasons for making more walkable places.

Reinventing Malls: Planning Alchemy—Turning Gray Fields Into Gold

The course focuses on the opportunities and imperatives that shape reinvention of mall sites.

Senior Planner

City of Thousand Oaks

Community Development Director

City of Wisconsin Rapids

Professor of Urban Planning

Harvard University Graduate School of Design

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.