Right-sizing

Aerial view of Newark Bay Bridge with light traffic.

New Jersey Governor Kills ‘Boondoggle’ Highway Expansion

Gov. Sherrill ‘right-sized’ the Newark Bay Bridge reconstruction project, nixing a second proposed bridge and road expansion.

March 8, 2026 - City Observatory

Canton Mellett Mall

Two Rustbelt Cities Take Similar Tacks to Future Planning

Erie, Pennsylvania and Canton, Ohio have faced the challenges of shrinking populations and fewer job prospects, but new comprehensive plans in each city may provide a pathway to resurgence

May 6, 2016 - The Canton Repository

Baltimore Demolition

Struggling Cities Demolish Their Way to Growth

Saddled with thousands of vacant buildings, and little hope of recovering lost population, cities such as Baltimore, Buffalo, and Cleveland are pursuing large-scale demolitions. Shrinking cities are changing the very practice of urban planning.

November 12, 2013 - The New York Times

Downtown Flint Michigan along Saginaw Street

Shrinking Cities Seek to Shrink Streets

In Rust Belt cities like Flint, Michigan, a loss of population translates to less cars on oversized streets. Angie Schmitt examines how Flint, and other cities like it, are trying to right-size their transportation infrastructure.

October 30, 2013 - DC.Streetsblog

Downsizing Detroit: How They Found the Money to Shrink, and What We Can Learn

Cities like Detroit can find the funds and initiative to make downsizing work by identifying as many stakeholders and potential partners as possible, writes Alison Bates, who thinks that "right-sizing" is the right move for the city.

May 9, 2011 - Alison Bates

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.

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.