New York City

How Taxis Augment Public Transit

Urban Planning Professor David King has found that rather than working in competition, taxi cabs actually augment public transit networks.

February 5, 2012 - The Atlantic Cities

Mapping Energy Consumption, Block-by-Block

A new interactive map produced by researchers at Columbia University reveals the energy use of nearly every building in New York City. Besides being an interesting curiosity, the map is a crucial first step in improving energy efficiency.

February 3, 2012 - Fast Company Co.Exist

As New York Plants One Million Trees, Benefits—and Some Burdens—Grow

The city’s MillionTrees program fights asthma and global warming. But tightening maintenance budgets, increasingly severe weather and decades-old planting decisions complicate trees’ contribution.

February 1, 2012 - City Limits

The Economics of Traffic Jams

Writing in the Economix blog for the New York Times, Nancy Folbre investigates the economic impact of traffic and revives the idea of congestion pricing for Manhattan.

January 31, 2012 - The New York Times

Sidestepping Zoning to Build Green in NYC

Even in New York City, it's a pain to try to "green" a building with insulation, overhangs, and other methods that violate zoning. Katharine Jose reports on the Zone Green Text Amendment, which addresses such impediments, and the team behind it.

January 31, 2012 - Capital New York

SoHo Residents Balk at BID

Is it justified to believe that a proposed SoHo business improvement district, widely embraced elsewhere in the city, would only attract more hordes of visitors and non-residents? Proponents say that residents are fear-mongering.

January 30, 2012 - The New York Times

Friday Funny: Pantsless in New York

The Daily News does its best to, ahem, "cover" this year's version of the annual New York City "No Pants Subway Ride." Beware, potentially NSFW.

January 20, 2012 - New York Daily News

An Ever Evolving Zoning Code

However one's feelings on zoning, New York City's Resolution has changed over the years to positively reinforce good social initiatives over the outright banishment of negative uses, Julie V. Iovine reports.

January 20, 2012 - The Wall Street Journal

Upzoning Midtown

Catering to potential office tenants who would want more modern spaces, New York City officials are toying with rezoning a swath of midtown Manhattan, allowing for even more density and the replacement of aging office buildings.

January 15, 2012 - The Wall Street Journal

NYC Diversifies With Tech Sector

"Look out, Silicon Valley"-- A decades-long effort to bring technology-based firms to New York City is beginning to see a payoff, according to this piece from The Economist.

January 11, 2012 - The Economist

A Call to Reject the NYU Expansion Plan

New York University's 20-year expansion plan could become a dangerous precedent for overbuilding by bypassing the city's open space zoning rules, argues Andrew Berman, executive director of the Greenwich Village Society for Historic Preservation.

January 8, 2012 - The Villager

Cuomo Unveils Economic Development Plan for New York

New York Governor Andrew Cuomo proposes closing the Javits Center and opening a bigger, convention center to spur economic development. Other proposals included new power transmission lines and Las Vegas-style casinos.

January 6, 2012 - Streetsblog

For NY Governor, Javits Center is Out

The 80s-era convention center on the far west side of Manhattan would be turned into a mixed-use development and a Malaysian gambling company would instead redevelop the Aqueduct Racetrack in Ozone Park, Queens.

January 6, 2012 - Bloomberg

How NYC was Zoned...and Rezoned

Why rezone? John Farley summarizes the factors leading up to some of the city's biggest and more recent rezonings, as well as their impacts on on their surroundings.

January 5, 2012 - Thirteen.org

Manhattan Parking Reforms Loom

After a flawed parking study on Manhattan's core last fall, the NYC Department of City Planning have released a revised version that calls for an end to parking minimums, especially those linked to affordable housing.

January 4, 2012 - Streetsblog New York City

Reviewing the History of New York's Grid

The New York Times' architecture critic, Michael Kimmelman, reviews a new exhibition exploring the history of the city's grid and streets.

January 4, 2012 - The New York Times

Stranded Metro Riders Sue New York MTA for Better Emergency Response

Last winter, subway riders were stuck on a New York City train overnight. Now some have filed a lawsuit against the MTA for its poor handling of the situation, highlighting the need for emergency planning in public transit agencies.

January 1, 2012 - Transportation Nation

Branding Buildings in NYC

What's in a name? For some of New York City's buildings, a brand that reflects history, mood, and even geography. Joanne Kaufman takes us through the naming process for some of the city's newest buildings, and what they might mean to buyers.

December 27, 2011 - The New York Times

Northern Manhattan Sees White Collar Boom

Traditionally immigrant neighborhoods in the northernmost reaches of Manhattan, Washington Heights and Inwood are seeing new, white collar companies set up shop in the low-rent neighborhoods.

December 26, 2011 - City Limits

Food Vendors Invited Onto Vacant Lots

With few other options for stalled construction sites, real estate companies have begun inviting food vendors to set up shop on the sites, often for free, and often to both parties' benefit.

December 23, 2011 - 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.