New York

Green Retrofits Required in New York City

The New York City Council has passed a suite of bills hat require green retrofits on the city's buildings.

December 14, 2009 - The Architect's Newspaper

Steamy Streets

The steam rising from New York City streets in the winter offers a lesson about urban infrastructure, according to this explainer form Urban Omnibus.

December 11, 2009 - Urban Omnibus

Buffalo Architecture Snubs the Street

Tim Tielman, executive director of the Campaign for Greater Buffalo takes a look at the new Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus and the terrible lack of "eyes on the street" there.

December 10, 2009 - Planning Commissioners Journal

Four-Year Vacancies in NYC?

The New York City Housing Authority has come under fire because thousands of affordable rental units are sitting vacant, some for years at a time.

December 10, 2009 - The New York Times

Bike Lanes a "Religious Hazard'?

A controversy has erupted in Brooklyn over bike lanes, which are opposed by members of the Hasidic community on religious grounds [includes video].

December 9, 2009 - Huffington Post

NY Study Links Walking and Biking to Better Health

Survey data released by the New York City Department of Health indicate a strong correlation between active transportation and better health.

December 7, 2009 - Streetsblog

Bump in the Road for Columbia's Expansion Plans

Columbia's plans to use eminent domain to expand its campus may have to wait. On Thursday, an appellate court reversed a previous decision to take property on behalf of the school.

December 5, 2009 - The New York Times

Friday Funny: Hamster Rides the Subway

A photographer in the Brooklyn DA's office discovered a tiny model subway used in court cases, and decided it was a perfect set for her pet hamster.

December 4, 2009 - newyorkshitty.com

Public Space Turned Private

On Thanksgiving, the NYPD effectively turned West 61st street into a private playground for guests of the Trump Tower.

December 4, 2009 - The New York Times

Crumbling Condition

A 'staggering' number of the bridges used by Amtrak trains in and around New York City are in poor or worse condition.

December 3, 2009 - The New York Post

Goodbye, Bike Lane

Calling it redundant, NYC's DOT has chosen to sandblast 14 blocks of a Bedford Avenue bike lane away.

December 2, 2009 - Streetsblog New York City

A Bronx Tale: Freeway Widening Halted

Lessons from the Bronx: A community can halt a road expansion project if they get involved and make their voices heard. In this case, the NY DOT listened and thus chose not to widen exit ramps during a rehabilitation project on the Major Deegan.

November 30, 2009 - Mott Haven Herald

Farmers Markets + Food Stamps = WIN

In the midst of discussions over "food deserts" (areas of town with no access to fresh groceries, usually poor urban neighborhoods) comes news that a program creating food stamps for farmers markets is booming in New York City.

November 29, 2009 - The New York Times

Redeveloping Open Space to Revive Housing Projects

Public housing projects have been a thorn in the paw of New York City for years. The city is trying to figure out what to do with the perennially problem-plagued housing projects. Some groups say redevelopment is the answer.

November 27, 2009 - City Limits

Exercising Eminent Domain for Private Developers

A New York Court of Appeals ruled in favor of a private developer, who plans to build a basketball arena in Brooklyn, validating the state's use of eminent domain on his behalf. A local group says the fight is just beginning.

November 24, 2009 - The New York Times

Front Yards Are For Lawns, Not Cars, City Says

Queens and Brooklyn homeowners may soon be prohibited from converting front yards into parking pads if a set of regulations is approved. The loss of street parking from new curb cuts was cited as a reason, along with aesthetics.

November 23, 2009 - New York Times-N.Y./Region (blog)

Harassment and Assault Common on Subway

A group called New Yorkers for Safe Transit has called attention to the continual problem of female subway riders being ogled, groped, flashed, harassed and attacked.

November 23, 2009 - The New York Times

Class Divide in NY Inclusive Buildings

At the 101 Warren in Manhattan, developers split the building into luxury and affordable rentals to take advantage of tax breaks. Tensions have resulted, and now a proposed re-zoning would send the affordable residents' kids to a different school.

November 20, 2009 - Curbed

The Bowery is Booming (For Better or Worse)

Karrie Jacobs walks the Bowery, and finds it transformed by new development. Falling off the preservationist's radar, the Bowery has been left open for architectural experimentation.

November 20, 2009 - Metropolis Magazine

The Remarkable Rezoning of NYC

Recently the NYC Planning Dept. announced its 100th rezoning since Bloomberg took office. This article takes a spin through the city's remarkable shift in the last 50 years away from industry to business and tourism and a sustainable approach.

November 16, 2009 - New York Observer

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.