New York

Activists protest fracking

Is Fracking Fine for New Yorkers?

A recent headline in The New York Times said it all: "Gas Drilling Is Called Safe in New York." But, according to Philip Bump, the leaked report that was the basis for the article was filled with so many caveats and outdated info as to be useless.

January 5, 2013 - Grist

Crime Watch

As Cities Become Safer, Crime Decamps for the Suburbs

Homicides are decreasing nationwide, but a federal study reveals that the rate has decreased about 17% in cities and increased by the same rate in suburbs. Two WSJ reporters look behind the numbers for the causes with a focus on Atlanta's suburbs.

January 2, 2013 - Wall Street Journal

Bold Pragmatism of Urban Innovators

While Washington bickers over partisan issues, mayors in the rest of the country are showing strong leadership and innovation. Newsweek has compiled a list of the top cities pushing education reform, public safety, quality of life, and job creation.

January 1, 2013 - The Daily Beast

The History of NYC's Peculiar New Year's Eve Tradition

Ever wonder why New York City drops an 11,875 pound ball on New Year's Eve? Onerous regulations, an indefatigable newspaper publisher, and New York's second tallest building fill Conor Friedersdorf's history of the Times Square ball drop.

December 31, 2012 - The Atlantic Cities

'App Breakthrough' Benefits NYC Straphangers

Friday marked a milestone in the effort to bridge the gap between NYC's century-old subway system and emerging technologies; "a leap forward for a service that has lagged behind its peers both at home and abroad in adopting new technologies."

December 29, 2012 - The Wall Street Journal

NYC's Historic Buildings Steal the Energy-Efficiency Spotlight

NYC's recently released energy efficiency ratings are full of surprises: 1930s landmarks such as the Chrysler and Empire State Buildings outperformed later mid-century structures, as well as contemporary LEED-rated designs.

December 29, 2012 - The New York Times

New York's MTA Seeks New Leader

Joseph Lhota, the chairman and chief executive of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, has announced his resignation at the end of this year. Who will be next to lead the nation's largest public transportation system?

December 27, 2012 - The New York Times

Trainjacking America's Finance Industry

Acela has improved connectivity along the Northeast Corridor, but is that actually a good thing? Aaron M. Renn argues that high-speed rail has actually hurt America by giving the finance industry a stranglehold over fiscal and monetary policies.

December 26, 2012 - New Geography

'Smart Screens' to Provide City Data in New York

Can 250 high-def, touch-screen kiosks make New York City more user-friendly, personalized and safe?

December 26, 2012 - The Citistates Group

Louisiana Museum - West 57 project

'Most Unusual Apartment Building' in NYC Gets Penultimate Approval

The BIG news out of New York City last week was the City Planning Commission's approval of Durst/Fetner's pyramid shaped apartment building slated for the west side of Manhattan, reports Matt Chaban.

December 25, 2012 - The New York Observer

Is Columbia University Snubbing Harlem Architects?

Arch527, a coalition of African-American architects from Harlem with an impressive portfolio, says Columbia University is failing to include them in its $6.3 billion campus expansion into West Harlem, in violation of a community benefits agreement.

December 24, 2012 - DNAinfo.com

Despite Sandy, Brooklyn Waterfront Still Primed for Development

“Several new developments are slated for construction in areas damaged by the storm such as Gowanus, Red Hook, and DUMBO,” writes Nicole Anderson, raising concerns about the appropriateness of development there and proper due diligence.

December 24, 2012 - The Architects Newspaper

Legendary Map Designer Disses Competition

At a recent talk at the New York City Transit Museum, Massimo Vignelli, designer of the iconic 1972 NYC subway map, discussed his opinions of the subway maps that preceded and followed his groundbreaking design.

December 22, 2012 - Transportation Nation

Will Designs Placate Critics of NY Public Library Reno Plans?

Much has been written, both in favor and against, ambitious renovations planned for New York's landmark Public Library building on Fifth Avenue. Until this week, those opinions were written without the benefit of the architect's design concepts.

December 20, 2012 - The New York Times

The Promise and Perils of Modern Disaster Communications

During and after Sandy, transportation workers had the responsibility of informing riders of changing conditions and schedules. Ray Rivera compares the different communication approaches of New Jersey Transit and the Long Island Rail Road.

December 19, 2012 - The New York Times

World Trade Center wreckage-Fresh Kills landfill on Staten Island

New York's Next Post-Industrial Success Story?

Michael Kimmelman tours Fresh Kills landfill, once the world's largest garbage dump, and now a model for landfill reclamation and, unexpectedly, climate change mitigation.

December 18, 2012 - The New York Times

NYC-crosswalk

The Science, and Art, of Navigating a Crowded Sidewalk

Like a school of fish navigating the ocean depths or a mass migration of wildebeests, pedestrians follow fundamental laws of swarm behavior when making their way through crowded sidewalks. Alexandra Horowitz explains the laws of the herd.

December 17, 2012 - The New York Times

Brooklyn to Apply Lipstick to Elevated Expressway Pig

Nicole Anderson discusses plans to create a "funderpass" to "ameliorate the awkward neighborhood divisions caused by the BQE." Are a catchy name and new amenities enough to mend the tear in the city fabric caused by the elevated expressway?

December 16, 2012 - The Architect's Newspaper

Apps for Hailing Cabs Cause Controversy in NYC

NYC's Taxi and Limousine Commission approved a pilot program for apps that will allow users to request a yellow taxi ride on their smartphones rather than having to “raise [their] arms toward oncoming traffic” the old-fashioned way.

December 15, 2012 - The Wall Street Journal

Even 'Starchitects' Need a Good Pitch to Win

'Starchitects' compete for prime real estate in New York City, and selling their stuff isn’t as easy as one might think. See four famous architects in action as they pitch designs for a new office tower on Park Avenue.

December 15, 2012 - The Guardian U.K.

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.