Michigan

Motorcycle No Helmet

The High Cost of 'Motorcycle Freedom'

Michigan's mandatory motorcycle helmet law was repealed in April 2012. It only took a week for Dr. Carlos Rodriguez to notice an increase in patients not wearing a motorcycle helmet in his trauma unit in Grand Rapids, so he launched a study.

January 12, 2016 - Huffpost Healthy Living

Detroit Bus Drivers Union in Dispute Over Regional Transit Expansion

Detroit Department of Transportation drivers are mobilizing against a plan to expand regional service on the SMART system. Supporters say the proposed changes are for the benefit of commuters.

January 6, 2016 - Detroit Free Press

What Downtown Development Means for Detroit

A preliminary picture of the new Detroit is coming into focus, while much of the city still struggles with vacancies and blight and downtown anticipates a wave of development and new residents.

January 5, 2016 - Detroit Free Press

Utah's New Years Day Surprise: Nickel Gas and Diesel Tax Increase

The fuel tax increases in the Beehive State by 4.9 cents on Friday. But don't count on gas prices increasing. Not only are prices dropping due to plummeting crude oil prices, but service station owners may be reluctant to pass on the increase.

December 31, 2015 - The Salt Lake Tribune

Detroit Redevelopment Boom Expected for 2016

An in-depth look at some of the high-profile properties slated for redevelopment in Detroit in 2016 provides inspiration for some of the properties that still need solutions.

December 29, 2015 - Detroit Free Press

Downtown Detroit

Detroit First U.S. City Awarded U.N's 'City of Design' Status

The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization has recognized the singularity of Detroit, dubbing the motor city the country's first "City of Design."

December 23, 2015 - Crain's Detroit Business

Detroit Street Art

Detroit's Getting Better, Say Detroiters

According to a wide-ranging poll conducted by the Detroit Free Press, residents have regained some optimism about their city and its management. Sixty-nine percent said Detroit is headed in the right direction.

December 21, 2015 - Detroit Free Press

State of Emergency Declared in Flint Water Crisis

A crisis that stretches back for several months escalated this week, bringing this news of the very bad variety to national attention.

December 16, 2015 - The Washington Post

Seattle SUper Bowl Parade 12th Man Flag

Seattle as the 'Next Detroit'

As the automotive industry of Detroit once inherited the wealth and assets of Pittsburgh's steel industry, one writer argues Seattle has now inherited the wealth and assets of the Silicon Valley.

December 15, 2015 - Pacific Standard

Coming Soon to Detroit: An Urban Livestock Ordinance

Planners and citizens in Detroit are wrapping up a year's worth of research and community engagement before drafting an urban livestock ordinance.

December 3, 2015 - The Detroit News

Report: Detroit's Property Tax System in Need of Major Overhaul

Detroit's comeback has been well documented, as has its efforts to remove blight and demolish vacant properties. A new report sheds light on another of the city's deepest challenges: how to reform property taxes to achieve fiscal certainty.

November 11, 2015 - At Lincoln House

Detroit Vacant

Detroit Receives Funding for Another Demolition Push

A recent influx of money to Detroit for demolitions of abandoned properties brings the city's total to $107 million. That money has established Detroit as the country's proving ground for the idea that demolitions stabilize struggling neighborhoods.

November 10, 2015 - Detroit Free Press

Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder to Sign 7.3-cent Gas Tax Hike Today

After years of debate, Republicans from both chambers agreed to a transportation plan raising the gas tax 7.3-cents and registration fees by 20 percent, effective 2017. Democrats objected to the amount of general funds that will be directed to roads.

November 10, 2015 - MLive

Midwest Flags

12 Maps to Explain the Midwest

Aaron Renn scours the Internet to find 12 maps that attempt to do the impossible: define the geographic and cultural expanse known as the American Midwest.

October 30, 2015 - The Urbanophile

Wild Detroit

The Motown Sound Came From Single-Family Homes

Would the Motor City have produced Motown without pianos in every living room?

October 22, 2015 - Urbanophile

New Releases: A Field Guide for Transforming Vacant Lots

Detroit Future City has released a guidebook for the process of redeveloping, renovating, and remediating neighborhoods full of vacant and blighted properties.

October 22, 2015 - The Detroit News

When a Summer Resort Town Finds Year-Round Success

Northern Michigan's "premier summer resort town" finds itself embroiled in a heated development controversy, reflecting that town's changing population.

October 19, 2015 - Detroit Free Press

Ambitious Complete Streets Plan Proposed for Woodward Ave Between Detroit and Pontiac

The Woodward Avenue Action Association recently approved a plan for a complete streets makeover that would connect to the forthcoming M-1 streetcar and cross several city boundaries.

October 17, 2015 - Detroit Free Press

Power Plant

25 Coal Power Plants to Shutter in Michigan in Five Years

Credit EPA emission regulations for the decisions by utilities to close the aging plants. Michigan receives half its power from coal—the most polluting fossil fuel. The new Clean Power Plan rule will cause more remaining plants to close in time.

October 15, 2015 - Power Engineering

Vacant Lot in Detroit

Innovation in Detroit Turns to the Worm

Faced with an estimated 24 square miles of vacant land, Detroit is turning its empty lots into test beds of urban innovation.

October 13, 2015 - Detroit Free Press

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.

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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.