Urban Development

Detroit Reborn

In the first edition of a new series, Richard Florida introduces us to the inspiring stories of entrepreneurs and artists, designers and musicians invested in the bottom-up effort to revive Detroit.

May 17, 2012 - The Atlantic Cities

What's Left for Venice in Its Golden Years?

Josh Stephens muses on the modern state of an erstwhile global capital that has kept its aesthetic charms, but lost its anima.

May 16, 2012 - Next American City

In Praise of Cincinnati's Progressive Urbanism

Alan G. Brake celebrates the Queen City's utilization of public space, place making, and mixed-use development to build its competitive advantage, despite America's "deep-seated anti-urban streak."

May 15, 2012 - The Architect's Newspaper

Top 10 Websites - 2012

Our annual list of the 10 best planning, design, and development websites represents some of the top online resources for news, information and research on the built environment.

May 15, 2012 - Abhijeet Chavan

Fashioning a New Los Angeles Along Its Boulevards

Christopher Hawthorne begins a series exploring the ways in which L.A. is utilizing its boulevards to try on "a post-suburban identity for the first time", with a look at Atlantic Boulevard, a major north-south spine.

May 14, 2012 - Los Angeles Times

Designs Unveiled for Seattle's Largest Ever Development

Ariel Rosenstock delivers the details, and slick renderings, of Amazon's new 3 million square-foot downtown Seattle headquarters.

May 12, 2012 - The Architect's Newspaper Blog

A Fall From Grace Leaves Chongqing's Urban Plans Unresolved

Mostly unmentioned during the very public removal of Chinese leader Bo Xilai was the ambitious urban development program he led in Chongqing. Julia Zhou looks at those efforts and their uncertain future.

May 12, 2012 - Architizer

Has New Urbanism Reached a Midlife Crisis?

On the occasion of the 20th Congress for the New Urbanism, running through the weekend in West Palm Beach, Anthony Flint looks at what happens when a revolutionary movement becomes part of the establishment.

May 11, 2012 - The Atlantic Cities

Vision for Remaking Detroit Comes Into Focus

John Gallagher provides an update on the elements being considered for remaking the city's neighborhoods by Mayor Dave Bing's Detroit Works long-term planning team.

May 11, 2012 - Detroit Free Press

Designing the Workplace for the New Ecomony

Mike Sheridan looks at the changing types of workspaces being demanded by knowledge-economy businesses. These aren't your parents' cubicle-filled steel and glass boxes.

May 9, 2012 - Urban Land

What Gets Left Behind in the Rush to Privatize Public Improvements?

As public-private partnerships to invest in aged urban infrastructure gain in popularity in Chicago, and across the country, Christopher Weber asks who will fund the improvements unaligned with corporate interests.

May 9, 2012 - Rust Wire

Why Whole Foods' Arrival is an Auspicious Sign for Detroit

Starbucks used to be the retailer who symbolically announced the revival of an urban community. Not any longer. Will Doig looks at Whole Foods, the new gentrification symbol, who've "made a science of putting down roots" at "just the right moment".

May 8, 2012 - Salon.com

Jane Jacobs, Tea Partier?

On the anniversary of Jane Jacobs birth 96 years ago, Anthony Flint explores the striking similarities between the planning doyenne and anti-planning agitators.

May 5, 2012 - Better! Cities & Towns

What's Your "Pub Shed?"

A Cinco de Mayo mapping exercise leaves happy trails.

May 5, 2012 - PlaceShakers

WSJ Hears From CA Smart Growth Bill Author

The Wall Street Journal printed a response to the Wendall Cox opinion, “California Declares War on Suburbia” by none other than the author of the bill (SB 375) that Cox holds responsible for the war, Senate President Pro Tempore Darrell Steinberg.

May 4, 2012 - The Wall Street Journal - Letters

India's Megacity Discusses its Mega-Problems

Naresh Fernandes chronicles a recent upsurge in events providing opportunities for Mumbai's residents, and fascinated guests, to discuss the city's myriad challenges, and possible solutions. But can all the talk result in real action?

May 4, 2012 - The New York Times

SF Looks to Cultivate its Urban Gardens

Stephanie M. Lee reports on the complicated nature of creating an urban garden in San Francisco, and how the area's Planning and Urban Research Association (SPUR) hopes to streamline the process.

May 3, 2012 - SF Gate

New York City Sidewalks Overflowing with Vibrancy, and Conflict

Jeremy Smerd describes the competition over sidewalk space in New York, as commerce overflows out of buildings and into public space.

May 2, 2012 - Crain's New York Business

Traffic Fatalities: How Manslaughter Became "Accidents"

Sarah Goodyear chronicles the transition of streets in America from public space to the exclusive domain of autos. Professor Peter Norton, author of "Fighting Traffic: Dawn of the Motor Age" explains the ingenuous strategy of the auto industry.

May 2, 2012 - The Atlantic Cities

An Indoor Food-Truck Court, High Above Manhattan

Glenn Collins reports on what has to be the most innovative, and convenient, food-truck location in the country, the vertical food-truck court in the top floors of the 81-year-old, 19-story Starrett-Lehigh Building in West Chelsea.

May 1, 2012 - 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.