District of Columbia

Waterfront Redevelopment Hinges on Theater Expansion

A new expansion to a theater in Washington D.C. is seen as the centerpiece of a massive neighborhood revitalization effort.

December 10, 2010 - The Wall Street Journal

Local Digital Media Outlets Galvanize Neighborhoods

Washington's panoply of hyperlocal news media is filling the holes left by tradition outlets as web 2.0 expands. Since many of the local newspapers have folded, bloggers and other digital media have grown to cover matters at the local level.

December 4, 2010 - Next American City

D.C. Takes Long-Range Transit Planning Online

Washington D.C.'s Metro is expecting a major increase in ridership over the next 30 years. To try to meet that demand, they're recruiting ideas from the public with a new outreach effort.

December 1, 2010 - The City Fix

The First Urban Walmart

Walmart, famous for not budging on their store designs, may be ready to build an urban alternative with a handful of stores proposed for the D.C. area. Greater Greater Washington gets the scoop on the plans.

November 24, 2010 - New Urban News Network

Washington DC Considers Modifying Height Limit On New Buildings

The 1910 law, responsible for preserving views of the capitol from most roof decks, is being challenged by a small group of architects and developers who believe a modest change would inject vitality, sustainability and revenue into the urban fabric.

November 6, 2010 - The Herald Tribune

D.C. Streetcars In the Works

The District Department of Transportation recently released detailed plans for the new system, which has been in the making for more than 14 years.

October 28, 2010 - The Washington Post

Height Restrictions Mean High Prices in DC

Responding to a report by the Washington Post that office rents have now topped those in Manhattan, Matt Yglesias says the district's austere zoning is to blame.

October 20, 2010 - Think Progress

Washinton D.C. Becomes Latest City To Launch Bike Share

Washington D.C. became the latest city to launch a bike share scheme Monday. "Like bees tumbling from the nest, scores of riders on ruby-red bicycles swarmed from a lot near Nationals Park to establish Capital Bikeshare," writes Ashley Halsey.

September 25, 2010 - The Washington Post

New Carrollton: Come and Get It

With three transit stations nearby and ready-made commuters, this DC/Maryland suburb is ripe for development.

September 20, 2010 - New Urban Network

Dulles Metro Link to Run Nearly $4 Billion

The second phase of a project to connect Washington D.C.'s Metro system to Dulles International Airport will cost nearly $4 billion.

September 18, 2010 - The Washington Post

Virginia Speed Bump Leads to Neighborhood Activist's Murder

A Virginia man who rallied to have a traffic-calming speed bump installed on his street became the source of so much local controversy that a neighbor recently shot and killed him.

September 17, 2010 - The Washington Post

Sound Assault on Mall Loafers

Mall officials in Washington D.C. are fighting back against young people accused of causing a ruckus outside shopping areas by installing a device that emits an annoying high-pitched frequency only audible to young people.

September 15, 2010 - The Washington Post

Meet the Geeks Re-Shaping D.C.

Planning nerd bloggers like David Alpert of Greater Greater Washington are finding that they can have significant influence in the world of D.C. planning and development.

September 2, 2010 - Washington City Paper

Bikesharing Coming Soon to D.C.

Capitol Bikeshare will launch in September with over a thousand bikes. ReadsetDC goes behind the scenes to see the bikes and infrastructure as it is assembled.

September 1, 2010 - ReadysetDC

Score One For Livability

Senator Dodd's Livable Communities Act passed a milestone on August 3 by passing the Banking Committee on a party line vote: 12-10. Known as a "smart growth planning" bill, it would integrate transportation with housing and economic planning.

August 9, 2010 - Mobilizing the Region

Performance Parking

In this radio interview, KQED-FM reporter Kitty Felde interviews UCLA professor and parking guru Don Shoup on what he now calls "performance parking", a form of smart parking that includes congestion pricing used in D.C., SF, and soon LA.

July 28, 2010 - KQED: California Report

The Transformation Of DOT Under LaHood

Few expected this Republican in the Obama cabinet to cause such a stir. Yet, from his high speed rail advocacy to campaigning for road safety ("just say no to texting") to pushing livable communities, 64-year-old Ray LaHood has changed D.O.T.

July 1, 2010 - The Washington Post: Breaking News Blog

Do You Want a 9-Story Neighbor?

Misleading flyers are being circulated to drum up opposition to a mixed-use, transit-oriented development in the East Falls Church area of Arlington, VA., says Michael Perkins. His answer to the flyer's question? Yes.

June 10, 2010 - Greater Greater Washington

Changing Behaviors with Bike to Work Day

Cong. Earl Blumenauer and Mayor Adrian Fenty both turned out in biking gear at Bike to Work Day in Washington, D.C., along with 900 riders who committed to bike commuting on that day.

June 6, 2010 - Vimeo

Washington D.C. is the Healthiest City in the U.S.?

A new study by the American College of Sports Medicine says so, due to low rates of diabetes, obesity and several other factors. Oklahoma City is not OK, however; it's at the bottom of the list.

June 4, 2010 - Health News

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.