Urban Development

Plans to Close D.C. Homeless Shelter Relies on the Generosity of Landlords

Can a $52 million plan to close the D.C. General emergency shelter rely on the generosity of landlords in providing houses for the homeless?

October 21, 2014 - The Washington Post

Suburbia

A Conservative Argument against 'Suburban Primacy'

Charles Marohn argues against the staunch conservative defense of suburbs (famously voiced by Joel Kotkin) by showing how suburban development falls short of conservative ideals and cities, on the contrary, embody them.

October 20, 2014 - The American Conservative

APA Seeking Input for Updated 'Planning for Sustainability Policy Guide'

The American Planning Association (APA) is seeking input for an update of the 2000 Planning for Sustainability Policy Guide.

October 20, 2014 - American Planning Association

An Evolving Houston Plans for its Future

Houston is preparing for a new wave of population growth by preparing a comprehensive plan. The question is what kind of city Houston wants to be.

October 20, 2014 - Architect

Relaxation

Eight Ways Planners Can Rest and Rejuvenate

Few people escape on-the-job stress, but LA County Planner Clement Lau has some tips for his cohorts designed to help them recover from the pressures of work.

October 20, 2014 - UrbDeZine

Transit Oriented Development

The New Transit User Fee: Real Estate Rent

Driven by a need to meet growing costs amid unstable federal subsidies, metropolitan transit agencies are eying their properties, particularly parking lots, as money makers from new residential and commercial development.

October 20, 2014 - The Wall Street Journal

More than 60 Percent of B Corps Located in Cities—What's Their Impact?

B Labs, the nonprofit that oversees and assesses B Corps, reports that, compared to other sustainable businesses, B Corps are 68 percent more likely to donate at least 10 percent of their profits to charity.

October 18, 2014 - ICIC

Washington D.C. COnstruction

Is Urban Revitalization Possible Without Displacement and Gentrification?

Jared Green asks the billion dollar question for economic developers and planning agencies throughout the United States: is urban revitalization of neighborhoods possible without the subsequent gentrification and displacement of current residents?

October 18, 2014 - ASLA The Dirt

Participatory Budget Prompts Mixed Feelings in Paris

A poll gave Parisians direct say over which projects the city government will implement with a new participatory budget. Some city residents relished the opportunity to express their preferences. Others raised concerns.

October 17, 2014 - The Guardian

Subtle, Gentle Creep North for Development in San Francisco's SoMa

There is development life in San Francisco outside of SoMa (South of Market). Jim Chappell, former SPUR director, reviews some of the activity in this second installation of a series.

October 17, 2014 - UrbDeZine

The old and the new

Can Billionaires Revitalize Decayed Downtowns?

Quicken Loans founder Dan Gilbert has an urbanist streak. And only people with his kind of money can singlehandedly buy out big chunks of downtown Detroit. But will his approach to neighborhood-making actually benefit the city as a whole?

October 17, 2014 - Grist

Keeping Cities in the Dark

There's a third dimension to sprawl: all those photons that emanate from street lights, houses, and vehicles. As author Paul Bogard discusses in The End of Night, light pollution is an overlooked menace that presents a new frontier for planners.

October 16, 2014 - California Planning & Development Report

Ambitious Plans for 'Core to Shore' of Oklahoma City

An ongoing planning effort in Oklahoma City would revitalize a neighborhood adjacent to the city's downtown core long neglected by bad planning.

October 16, 2014 - Streetsblog USA

Touring Buffalo's Neglected East Side

Recent investment in Buffalo, New York has been celebrated in the press and the city as a renaissance after decades of decline. But rising tides don't always lift all boats. A recent article describes a unique effort to call attention to the divide.

October 16, 2014 - The Guardian (UK)

The Middle Class Fights for Survival in Lima, Ohio

An article surveys Lima, Ohio's long-term residents, politicians, and economy to weave a narrative tracing the ups and downs of the shrinking small town.

October 16, 2014 - Rolling Stone

New Jersey Cities Work Together for Waterfront Park on the Hudson River

Linh Tat reports on the opening of a new waterfront park created and maintained by two New Jersey cities: North Bergen and Guttenberg.

October 16, 2014 - North Jersey

Tysons Corner

D.C.'s New Metro Line Already Influencing the Suburbs

The Silver Line opened two and a half months ago. Already, with strong ridership in both directions, some businesses are seeing new opportunities.

October 15, 2014 - Elevation DC

A Comprehensive Accounting of Economic and Environmental Performance: Who's in?

For the last several decades, North American cities have used growth as a primary economic engine. Increasingly less dense new growth is subsidized by the more dense core, but requires a growth rate that is not supportable in the long term.

October 15, 2014 - PlaceShakers

What Next for 'Rebuild By Design'?

The Rebuild By Design competition attracted plenty of hoopla thanks to its $920 million and the critical need for projects that protect coastal cities as sea levels rise. Now that the winners have been picked, how will they deliver on their promise?

October 15, 2014 - The Architect's Newspaper

Philadelphia Mayor Nutter Touts Planning Legacy

Mayor Michael Nutter believes that his administration leaves "a template for how future development unfolds in Philadelphia" as one of its legacies.

October 15, 2014 - Philadelphia Inquirer

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.