Seattle

Students a Bright Light for the Future of Planning at the APA National Conference

The American Planning Association has invited students to contribute blog posts on their reactions to the APA National Conference. Their thoughts so far have revealed holistic concerns and creative thinking—positive signs for the next generation.

April 20, 2015 - American Planning Association

American Planning Association 2015

Welcome to a New Era of Planning: the APA National Conference Draws a Crowd

The American Planning Association's 2015 National Conference has launched in Seattle, with more attendees than any event since before the recession.

April 19, 2015 - James Brasuell

Planning for New Protected Bike Lanes in Northeast Seattle

The Seattle Department of Transportation is pitching new bike routes as safe infrastructure for all ages.

April 18, 2015 - The Urbanist

Homelessness

Seattle's Homeless Population Is Booming Too

While rates of homelessness drop elsewhere, tents and cardboard are becoming a very regular sight in Seattle. New wealth and newly unaffordable housing may be twin culprits.

April 15, 2015 - NPR

Seattle Residents Look to Community Land Trusts to Insulate from Displacement

Community land trusts are gaining popularity as a tool for building and protecting affordable housing. Seattle residents are the latest to consider the option in the face of rapid gentrification and displacement.

April 14, 2015 - Seattle Transit Blog

Seattle Streetcar

New Seattle Streetcars Begin Tests

The First Hill line's streetcars are set to begin service in summer of 2015, and the city is already assembling funds for an extension.

April 13, 2015 - Capitol Hill Times

Rooftop Solar Panels

Seattle Eco-District Fosters Green Development

In a bid to knit sustainability into large-scale community development, Seattle's Capitol Hill EcoDistrict is exploring several avenues toward greener land use.

April 12, 2015 - ASLA The Dirt

Can Seattle Build 20,000 Affordable Units in 10 Years?

Frank Chiachiere provides some advice on how Seattle can achieve its ambitious goals for affordable housing over the next decade: build transit to places where land is less expensive.

April 10, 2015 - Seattle Transit Blog

Study Finds Economic Value in Urban-Dwelling Birds

Researchers at the University of Washington and Humboldt State University have produced evidence value added by birds in urban settings.

April 9, 2015 - UW Today

Visioning Edges in Cities, and the Spaces Beyond

In an inspirational essay about the undeveloped boundaries of the public domain (such as street-ends), Chuck Wolfe urges innovation in city spaces where we "blend the familiar with the edge of the unknown."

April 9, 2015 - The Huffington Post

'Facadism' Passing for Preservation in Seattle

Lamenting the gutting of historic buildings and leaving them a shell of their former selves.

April 3, 2015 - Crosscut

Seattle skyline

Out-of-State Migrants Flock to Seattle's King County

During the year 2014, a record number of people chose to make their home in King County, Washington. And 2015 may shape up to shatter last year's record.

March 30, 2015 - The Seattle Times

Using Urban Observation to 'Ghost-Bust' Cities

Chuck Wolfe champions urban observation, emphasizing "ghosts" that are important to the authenticity of today's urban change, like oral histories among indigenous peoples passing on cultural traditions from one generation to the next.

March 27, 2015 - The Huffington Post

Bell Street Seattle

'Move Seattle': a $900 Million Plan to End the 'Multi-Modal Wars'

City officials in Seattle have proposed a levy on property owners that would finance an integrated approach to transportation infrastructure improvements.

March 25, 2015 - Crosscut

Seattle Streetcar

Has Seattle Found the Way Forward for Streetcars?

A planned streetcar line in Seattle will have its own dedicated lane, but perhaps even more interesting is that the existing South Lake Union Streetcar could also get a lane dedicated to transit. Is Seattle's leadership a way forward for streetcars?

March 23, 2015 - the transport politic

Downtown Seattle's Workforce Abandoning Solo Car Commutes

Downtown Seattle is doing something right to get drivers out of cars: a recent survey reveals that fewer and fewer commuters are driving alone, and the fastest growing modes for commuters are of the non-motorized variety.

February 26, 2015 - The Urbanist

Bertha on the Move Again in Seattle

Finally, a breakthrough we've all been waiting for: Bertha is on the move again in Seattle and will soon be ready for repairs. The tunnel Bertha was built to drill will have to wait, however.

February 20, 2015 - The Seattle Times

Dublin Skyline

Reading Cities Cover to Cover, and Why

Chuck Wolfe underscores the importance of a holistic view of urban places, referencing themes of common experience, aesthetics, feelings of happiness, safety, or security—a basic narrative of the city that often goes beyond first impressions.

February 11, 2015 - The Huffington Post

Seattle skyline

Seattle-Portland Rivalry Escalates Over Transit

Amid the constant battle between Seattle and Portland, Seattle-based writer Eric Scigliano responds to an Oregonian article praising Seattle's transit system. Praise is all right, writes Scigliano, but the Oregonian missed a few lowlights.

February 5, 2015 - Crosscut

High Tech Stores Provide New Leases on Life for High-End Malls

Big-name technology companies with retail stores, like Apple, Microsoft, and Tesla, have enabled many Class A malls to not just stay in business, but thrive. Record sales per square foot are flowing.

January 31, 2015 - The Wall Street Journal

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.

Senior Manager Operations, Urban Planning

New York City School Construction Authority

Building Inspector

Village of Glen Ellyn

Manager of Model Development

Central Transportation Planning Staff/Boston Region MPO

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.