District of Columbia

Neighbors, Restaurant Clash over Liquor License in D.C.

Eric Fidler observes how residents of a Washington, D.C. neighborhood fight against the granting of a liquor license to a proposed restaurant, using the emotional health of school children as part of their argument.

June 28, 2012 - Greater Greater Washington

D.C. Loosens Up its Tie

Amanda Kolson Hurley surveys the innovative architecture and urban planning transforming America's notoriously stodgy capital into a model of progressive urbanism.

June 22, 2012 - The Architect's Newspaper

The Pied Piper of Public Pests

Policy Matters looks at a recent article in The Washington Post about Terry Lynch, the city's notorious "pest" who complains about all matters of urban blight, and argues why cities would be better off with more Terrys.

June 19, 2012 - Policy Matters

Ahoy, Housing Relief in Sight for D.C.

Lydia DePillis describes the "apartment iceberg" coming to Washington D.C. in 2013 that has developers on edge, and tenants salivating.

June 14, 2012 - Washington City Paper

The Best Rec Centers of the Recent Past

Writing in Urban Land, Ron Nyren identifies ten community/recreation centers completed in the last five years that go far beyond merely providing exercise opportunities, to better serve their communities.

June 5, 2012 - Urban Land

Will Narrow Focus Sink Plans to Clean D.C.'s Polluted Waters?

A 20-year, $2.6 billion Clean Rivers Project intended to eliminate sewage discharge into D.C. area waterways will benefit the entire region. So, Carol O’Cleireacain asks, why only stick Washington's residents with the bill?

June 4, 2012 - The Washington Post

The History of the American House, In Five Rooms

Amanda Kolson Hurley reviews the ambitious exhibit House and Home, on view at the National Building Museum in Washington D.C.

May 31, 2012 - The Architect's Newspaper

Should D.C. Break From Its Architectural Tradition?

Perhaps no American city is as defined by a single architectural style as Washington D.C. is by classically inspired architecture. Roger K. Lewis argues why the nation's capital needs to break from its historical antecedents.

May 30, 2012 - The Washington Post

D.C.'s Popularity Brings Growing Pains

Jonathan O’Connell looks at Washington's remarkable growth over the past decade, as the city has become a magnet for young professionals, and wonders if the city will be able to retain those residents as they become parents.

May 29, 2012 - The Washington Post

The Value of Walkability

In an opinion piece for The New York Times, Christopher B. Leinberger summarizes a new report he's co-authored for the Brookings Institution that demonstrates the correlation between walkability and real estate value.

May 26, 2012 - The New York Times

Has Our Crush on Cars Run Its Course?

Ashley Halsey III probes the end of America's monogamous love affair with the automobile, as a younger generation experiments with alternative transportation lifestyles.

May 23, 2012 - The Washington Post

Will Gehry Revisions Placate Memorial Critics?

Frank Gehry unveiled revisions to his controversial design for a proposed memorial honoring Dwight D. Eisenhower this week, in an effort to appease a chorus of critics that includes Ike's own family, reports Lonnae O'Neal Parker.

May 18, 2012 - The Washington Post

D.C.'s Rapidly Disappearing Affordable Housing

In a city that survived the recession better than most, efforts to meet the demand for upscale housing will "change the face of the city for decades to come," reports Annys Shin.

May 7, 2012 - The Washington Post

Can LivingSocial Help Establish D.C. as a Tech Hub?

Ken Archer opines on whether proposed tax incentives being offered by D.C. to retain the corporate offices of website LivingSocial are a smart trade-off amongst a backdrop of sparse public resources.

April 30, 2012 - Greater Greater Washington

D.C.'s Proposed Palace Courts Controversy

Justin Jouvenal tells of plans for a 25,424-square-foot mansion modeled on the Palace of Versailles, to be built in a Washington D.C. suburb, that's causing a collision between "new and old ideas about the way Washington expresses its success."

April 29, 2012 - The Washington Post

D.C. Makes Plans to Go Green, Starting With Rooftop Farms

Tim Craig explores one developer's efforts to start the ball rolling on the capital's new 20-year sustainability goals.

April 27, 2012 - The Wahington Post

Temporary Projects Seek to Inspire Long-Term Change in DC

Lydia DePillis spotlights a host of temporary projects in D.C., from a shipping container fairgrounds to a three-month-long arts event, which have residents, leaders, and organizers seeing vacancy as an opportunity, and permanence as optional.

April 26, 2012 - Washington City Paper

A Facelift for the Nation's Front Lawn

Kaid Benfield laments the capital's "blah"-inspiring National Mall, and discusses three design competitions underway that could give it a second life.

April 20, 2012 - Switchboard

Are DC's Strict Height Limits and Arbitrary Planning Rules Hurting the City?

Two commentaries pick up on the recent push to loosen Washington D.C.'s notoriously conservative height limits, and argue that such controversial changes are overdue and, in fact, don't go far enough.

April 19, 2012 - The Atlantic

Push to Loosen D.C. Height Limits Gains Momentum

Tim Craig reports on a new push by federal and city officials to relax Washington D.C.'s building height restrictions, reopening decades-old debates about the look, feel and character of the city.

April 13, 2012 - The Washington Post

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.