New York

NYC: 7 Things at Risk, Post-Bloomberg

As Mayor Bloomberg gets set to leave office in New York, here are 7 things that may dramatically change under a new administration.

November 6, 2013 - Future Cities

Tappan Zee Scores Largest Ever TIFIA Loan, But How Will It Be Repaid?

New York State received good news on Oct. 31: A $1.6 billion loan has been approved toward the $4 billion replacement of the Tappan Zee Bridge. The remainder will be borrowed from the private sector. A commission will offer ways to repay the loans.

November 5, 2013 - The Buffalo News

Life in the Slow Lane: NYC Considers Lowering Speed Limits Citywide

As New York's City Council considers lowering the speed limit in the city's residential neighborhoods to 20 miles per hour, advocates can look to the Claremont neighborhood in the South Bronx where such a move has been well received.

November 5, 2013 - Crain's New York Business

In Defense of Architectural Nostalgia

Robert A.M. Stern doesn't get much respect from the architectural avant-garde. In a time in which sleek glass and curves are all the rage, Stern goes against the grain with his use of stone and nods to history. Does that make him a lesser architect?

November 5, 2013 - New York Magazine

Who's Buying NYC's New Castles in the Sky?

With prices at Manhattan's new luxury towers such as One57 reaching $6,000 a square foot and up, these sky-high mansions are actually a bargain compared to other sought-after cities. The "deals" are attracting buyers from around the world.

November 4, 2013 - The New York Times

The Urban Election Onstage in Seattle

Chuck Wolfe comments on this week's mayoral election in Seattle, suggesting the pending populist model for New York City is already on display.

November 4, 2013 - myurbanist

Friday Funny: How to Turn Your Subway Conductor's Frown Upside Down

Subway conductors, especially in New York, can be a gruff lot. And not without reason: they have a serious and essential job to do in very public, often stressful, conditions. To show their appreciation, two riders devised a way to make them smile.

November 1, 2013 - Gawker

Bloomberg's Legacy: Freedom-Hating Nanny or Public Health Visionary?

To his critics, Mayor Bloomberg's initiatives aimed at decreasing smoking, increasing active lifestyles, and tackling obesity add up to the creation of a "Nanny State". A new article challenges the critics by framing him as a public health pioneer.

November 1, 2013 - The Atlantic Cities

A Monstrous Price Tag for the World's Most Expensive Hallway

One of the first portions of the World Trade Center PATH station has opened beneath West Street in Manhattan. The 100-foot-long pedestrian passageway provides a taste of Santiago Calatrava's design and what a seemingly unlimited budget can buy you.

October 31, 2013 - Next City

New Yorkers Take Pride in Resilience, Preserve Scars from Sandy

As New York and New Jersey continue to recover from Hurricane Sandy, some residents choose to preserve the watermarks left on their homes and businesses as a way to commemorate their survival.

October 29, 2013 - The New York Times

Aerial views during an Army search and rescue mission show damage from Hurricane Sandy to the New Jersey coast, Oct. 30, 2012.

The Era of “When, Not If,” Compels a New Approach to Waterfront Development

On the anniversary of Hurricane Sandy, ULI offers guidance on post-disaster rebuilding and building in anticipation of future disasters in a way that helps preserve the environment, boost economic prosperity, and foster a high quality of life.

October 29, 2013 - Patrick L. Phillips

Breakthrough Building is Assembled Like an Airplane Engine

In Brooklyn's Navy Yard, the largest modular high-rise building in the world is being assembled one floor at a time by teams of 10 to 15 union workers. Sydney Brownstone tours the milestone in modular construction.

October 28, 2013 - Fast Company Co.Exist

How "Train Nerds" Saved NYC's Subway from Sandy

It took an effort that was both well-planned and ad-hoc to save NYC's backbone from Hurricane Sandy, and have the city's transit system back up and running again soon after the storm. Robert Sullivan examines that effort and what happens next time.

October 28, 2013 - The New York Times

What Did New York Sound Like in the 1920s?

"The Roaring 'Twenties", an interactive soundscape created by a historian of sound, technology and cultures of listening at Princeton, seeks to immerse people in the sounds of 1929 New York City, and demonstrate that noise pollution is nothing new.

October 27, 2013 - The New York Times

A Year Later, Sandy Recovery Shows That Building Resilience Takes Time

Despite warnings of the threats posed by rising seas and more extreme storms in the years leading up to Hurricane Sandy, the New York region's preparations lagged behind where experts thought they should be. Has anything changed since Sandy?

October 25, 2013 - Fast Company Co.Exist

Fast Food Restaurants

Why Do Certain Retail Stores Cluster Together?

Ever notice how competitors like Target and Walmart tend to cluster together? Ken Steif has, and through a close analysis of retail location trends in NY, NJ, and CT, he examines which businesses tend to agglomerate and why.

October 24, 2013 - Ken Steif

De Blasio Indicates He May Revisit Popular Times Square Pedestrianization

In a debate held on Tuesday, and in a subsequent radio interview, leading New York City mayoral candidate Bill de Blasio indicated he'd like to study whether to bring back automobiles to a stretch of Broadway that had been closed for pedestrians.

October 24, 2013 - WNYC: Transportation Nation

Bloomberg Gives East Midtown Rezoning One Last Push, But Will City Council Budge?

After rezoning 37 percent of New York City, Mayor Bloomberg is pursuing one last major rezoning plan before he leaves office. But will a lame duck Council speaker and her colleagues grant the mayor a final victory?

October 23, 2013 - The New York Times

NYC Releases New Street Design Manual

New York City's Department of Transportation has officially released the second update to its Street Design Manual, providing specifics on new and forthcoming alterations to the city's streets and street furniture.

October 22, 2013 - Future Cities

New York Is One Disaster Away From a Food Crisis

Recent disasters have exposed New York's dangerous reliance on consolidated supply chains and just-in-time practices to maintain the city's food supply. Siddhartha Mahanta looks at the food system changes that've left NYC vulnerable to a food crisis.

October 22, 2013 - The Atlantic Cities

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.