Massachusetts

Friday Funny: New York vs Boston, Which is the Better Sports Town?

On the eve of the Super Bowl, Richard Florida attempts to answer one of the most critical debates concerning metropolitan vitality today -- which is the superior sports town: Boston or New York?

February 3, 2012 - The Atlantic Cities

What Defines a 'Place'?

It's been more than 50 years since Boston's old West End was demolished, so why does the neighborhood still have its own newspaper, museum, and weekly gatherings?

January 13, 2012 - The Boston Globe

The 'Sword and Shield' Approach to Preventing Foreclosure Evictions

An innovative tenants-rights organization in Boston combines community activism and financial backing to force banks to sell foreclosed homes back to the previous owners.

January 8, 2012 - Shelterforce

What Is Christmas Without the Department Store?

Robert David Sullivan writes that the Main Street America department store is a holiday tradition, a grand public crossroads for celebrating the season.

December 12, 2011 - Boston Globe

Mitt Romney, New Urbanist?

During his tenure as governor, Romney took several pro-smart growth actions, says Alec MacGillis in the New Republic.

December 2, 2011 - The Oregonian

Public Market to Open Over Big Dig

The Boston Public Market construction has been slow going - in fact, it's still in the blueprint stage - but officials say work will begin this summer in a site along the Rose Kennedy Greenway, the part built over the Big Dig site.

December 2, 2011 - The Atlantic Cities

Boston Area Cities Receive Smart Growth Funding

Each of the cities just north of Boston will use its federal funds however it sees fit to boost smart growth principles and local economic development.

November 13, 2011 - The Boston Globe

Five Moves to Fix Boston's Housing Problem

In this post, John Keith suggests five methods to help Boston be more affordable to live in, including striking out the city's affordable housing program altogether.

November 10, 2011 - CharlestownPatch

Innovative Public/Private Model to Revitalize a Downtown

Quincy, Massachusetts is planning to clear out 50 acres of its city center and build $1.3 billion in retail shops, offices, parking garages and more, plus $300m in new infrastructure. A new financial model is making it possible.

October 17, 2011 - Governing Magazine

New MIT Data Analysis Tool Aims To Rationalize Planning

Andres Sevstuk, lecturer at MIT and head of the City Form Research Group describes how the new Urban Network Analysis toolbox is "taking a much more rigorous approach to look at the work of urban design."

October 4, 2011 - The Boston Globe

Boston Bike Share Program Surpasses Expectations in Early Success

Boston's bike share program Hubway has attracted 2,319 annual subscribers and had 36,612 station-to-station trips after one month of being open, reportst Erick Moskowitz for The Boston Globe.

September 7, 2011 - The Boston Globe

The Many Faces of Exurbia

While the South is king when it comes to exurbs (low density, with workers who mostly commute to an urban area), the exurban experience has many faces, including small town New England.

September 6, 2011 - Places

All That Glitters in Provincetown, Mass.

With same-sex couples coming out in record-breaking number on the 2010 Census, West Hollywood and San Francisco are dethroned as the meccas of gay cities - at least for those who chose to settle down.

September 3, 2011 - The New York Times

Last in the Walkability Ratings

Franklin, Massachusetts tied for last place in WalkScore's ranking of walkability in the state. Taryn Plumb says the city isn't taking the ranking in stride.

August 29, 2011 - The Boston Globe

New MIT Data Analysis Tool Aims To Rationalize Planning

Andres Sevstuk, lecturer at MIT and head of the City Form Research Group describes how the new Urban Network Analysis Toolbox is, "taking a much more rigorous approach to look at the work of urban design."

August 4, 2011 - The Boston Globe

Boston's Transit Achieves New Balance with Bike-Sharing Program

Mayor Thomas Menino declared that "the car is no longer king in Boston" as the Hubway bike-sharing system made its debut this week, putting the city abreast with Washington D.C.

July 30, 2011 - WBUR

A More Entertaining Transit Hub

In an effort to improve the visitor experience and boost business, operators of a busy transit hub in Boston are bringing in performers and various activities to entertain people waiting and convince others to linger longer.

July 19, 2011 - The Boston Globe

MIT Develops New Fuel, Dubbed "Cambridge Crude"

A post at The Polis Blog asks the question, "how might Cambridge Crude change cities?"

July 15, 2011 - The Polis Blog

New Electric Fuel Behaves Like Gasoline

Researchers at MIT have developed a radical new approach to electric vehicles: a liquid fuel carrying electrically-charged particles that could refuel cars just like gasoline.

June 9, 2011 - Grist

If A Park is Beautiful But No One Uses It, Is it Still A Park?

Robert Campbell keeps hoping that the Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy Greenway (the park built over the Big Dig site) will attract visitors. But even as it gets more beautiful, it still fails in terms of usage.

May 18, 2011 - The Boston Globe

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.