Urbanism
10 great urban planning summer reads
Wherever you're going (or staying) this summer, here are some suggestions for books to bring along.
April must-reads: Top 10 articles from last month
The world's longest car-free bridge opens in Finland, Amtrak's new Mardi Gras line shatters ridership predictions, and Bay Area commuters could lose a third of Caltrain stations.
Northwest Arkansas grapples with growth as it prepares to host New Urbanism gathering
A compelling story of a fast-growing, polycentric region grappling with identity and affordability, Susan Henderson reframes CNU 34 as a hands-on workshop, inviting planners to explore Northwest Arkansas as it decides what it will become.
America’s urban FIFA stars won’t be stadiums — it will be our downtowns. Let’s not blow it.
When the World Cup visits cities across America this summer, it’s a rare chance to shift the perception of our downtowns on the global stage. The secret? What makes downtowns great for FIFA makes them great for everyone, all the time.
A New Urbanist’s roadtrip guide to Northwest Arkansas
Heading to the CNU conference next month? A Northwest Arkansas urban planner has custom designed a roadtrip just for you.
March Must-Reads: Top 10 Articles From Last Month
Seattle may roll back a development fee as housing permits plummet, an ambitious Google-led project in the heart of San Jose goes sideways, and a list of sci-fi books to feed your futurist dreams.
Everything you Need to Know from the APA’s 2026 Trend Report for Planners
Plus, a conversation with the APA’s Chief Foresight and Knowledge Officer, Petra Hurtado.
War and Place: The Iran you Don't see in the News
The world is watching Iran right now through the narrow lens of conflict. When governments see the world through a target reticle, smoke fills the frame — and the places people actually live get ignored.
Eight Sci-Fi Books That Teach Urbanists the Dos and Don’ts of the Future
Science fiction has long painted a picture of the city of the future. What if it’s our roadmap out of dystopia?
What the Data Center Boom Means for Planners
It’s tempting to write off the havoc that data centers are wreaking in communities across the country as an IT problem. The truth? It’s a planning problem.
The Parking Lot Maternity Leave
New parenthood is the stress test of suburbia. I’ve learned the hard way just how spectacularly it fails.
Decades of Curbed Archives are Gone
The urban-focused publication amplified important voices discussing urbanism and development. Many of those articles are now unavailable.
Mess Might Just be the Secret Weapon That Planners Forgot
In “Messy Cities: Why We Can’t Plan Everything” 43 writers from around the world sing the praises the gentle chaos that exemplifies a thriving metropolis.
Publishing for Planners: A New Era for Island Press
As the legendary legacy publisher transitions into a new life phase, publisher Heather Boyer and senior editor Stacy Eisenstark reflect on the past and the future of creating books for planners.
Planning Trends for 2026: States and Cities Take Initiative, Passenger Rail Gains Steam, and the Costs of AI Revealed
With federal funding for everything from transportation projects to housing assistance under threat, city and state governments are poised to take a stronger role in building strong, resilient local economies and public services.
The Superstar Metro Argument... And Why It Fails
One argument against solving the housing shortage in large, expensive cities is that growth in those cities will drain people and wealth from declining areas. Data does not agree.
“Skin, Like a City, Will Tell You if You’ve Ignored its History”
Once an urban planner, Sean Colgrave traded in infrastructure for ink when he became a tattoo artist. Now he says: one profession has a lot to learn from the other.
William Whyte’s Seminal Urban Film Restored
‘The Social Life of Small Urban Spaces’ changed the way planners view public space and ushered in a new way of understanding urban patterns.
Video: Jane Jacobs’ ‘Sidewalk Ballet’ is Alive and Well
“Streets Make Cities” takes viewers on a stroll down West 4th Street in Greenwich Village, illustrating the many ways that streets and sidewalks form the lifeblood of a city.
August Must-Reads: Top 10 Articles From Last Month
In suburban Houston, cities are scrambling to expand water infrastructure to serve new communities. But can sprawl be part of a workable solution to the housing crisis?
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.
KFH Group Inc.
Greater Baltimore Committee
Eagle County Government
The Architects Foundation
University of Cincinnati Online
The Pocatello Development Authority
The Urban Renewal Agency of the City of Pocatello
