United States

A Failing Anchor Sinks All Mall Businesses

The big anchor businesses of malls are bleeding business and closing stores, dragging the rest of the mall business down with them.

February 24, 2016 - The Wall Street Journal

Millennial Crowd

'Peak Millennial' Has Passed: What Comes Next for Cities and Suburbs?

The largest cohort of Millennials (those born in 1990) recently turned 25, leaving only smaller waves of their generational peers to follow. Are economic and generational trends primed for another, suburban shift?

February 23, 2016 - The Urban Edge

Angry Public Meeting

9 Ways to Ruin a Community Meeting

An article in CityLab says organizers and facilitators should avoid a few simple mistakes to help improve community meetings.

February 23, 2016 - CityLab

Study: Location Matters for Farmers' Markets

Research conducted in Flint, Michigan, found that changing the location of the local farmers' market had a dramatic effect in how residents shopped.

February 23, 2016 - NPR

Urban Planning Model

Has Planning Become Too Rational?

A recent study describes the evolution of planning has become far too sensitive to government thinking (i.e., fiscal conservatism and economic logic) instead of the emotional processes of citizens.

February 23, 2016 - Next City

National Safety Council Reports Huge Jump in 2015 Traffic Fatalities

According to preliminary estimates from the National Safety Council, 38,300 people were killed on U.S. roads in 2015, an 8 percent jump from 2014. In fact, the annual increase is the most in half a century. Note that the figure differs from NHTSA's.

February 22, 2016 - National Safety Council

Empty Parking Lot

The Continuing Story of the High Costs of Free Parking

A new study has found that despite higher monetary incentives, most commuters won't ditch their cars as long as their parking remains free.

February 22, 2016 - CityLab

San Francisco Bay bridge and Treasure Island aerial view

The Lost Art of Great Infrastructure in America

Writing in the New York Times, Allison Arieff asks what happened to the great works of public infrastructure from years past that stand as today's monuments to America’s achievements.

February 22, 2016 - The New York Times

U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission: Hoverboards Unsafe Until Regulated

The federal government will implement safety protocols for the popular new personal mobility device known as hoverboards. Hoverboards are deemed officially unsafe until the industry complies with the new regulations.

February 22, 2016 - Mashable

Auto Repairs From Potholes Got You Down? You Are Not Alone

A new report from the AAA indicates that American motorists encounter damage from potholes three times a year, with each incident costing an average $300 to repair. Middle and working class drivers feel the pinch disproportionately.

February 20, 2016 - AAA

Federal Report Finds Increasing Numbers of Traffic Deaths

With more driving comes a lot more deaths on the nation's roads. The question is why traffic deaths increase at a greater rate than vehicle miles traveled.

February 19, 2016 - City Observatory

Report Supports Road Tolls and VMT Fees over Gas Tax

The Congressional Budget Office takes aim at transportation funding and spending. It notes with alarm a $143 billion federal subsidy since 2008 and recommends charging motorists directly via vehicle-miles-traveled fees and road tolls.

February 19, 2016 - Congressional Budget Office

Champion of L.A.'s 'Neighborhood Integrity Initiative' Speaks

A longtime Los Angeles journalist has joined the cause of a sweeping anti-growth initiative that has city leaders on high alert.

February 19, 2016 - The Planning Report

America's Coast-to-Coast Toxic Crisis

Flint, Michigan is not an anomaly.

February 19, 2016 - TomDispatch

So, About That Anti-Inclusionary 'Study'

Last week, I submitted the following letter to the editor of the Los Angeles Times in response to a vicious, and more importantly, extremely misleading op-ed that decried inclusionary housing as a development killer.

February 19, 2016 - Shelterforce/Rooflines

Friday Funny: Eminent Domain in the Presidential Campaign

A humorous campaign ad targets Donald Trump on the issue of eminent domain.

February 19, 2016 - The Washington Post

Public Meeting Speaker

Socially-Blind Urban Planning

In this era of increased inequality, socially-blind urban planning is morally questionable. Specifically, on the issue of homelessness in America, there are three problems to which planners need to pay particular attention.

February 18, 2016 - Shelterforce/Rooflines

L.A.'s New Planning Director Vince Bertoni Shares His Vision

The new director of the Los Angeles Department of City Planning arrives at a pivotal moment for planning in the city, as countywide investment in public transit is blowing up and the flames of old development debates are being fanned.

February 18, 2016 - The Planning Report

Are State Rebates Necessary for Electric Vehicle Sales?

Campaigners for the Sierra Club's electric vehicle initiative make the case that New York State Gov. Andrew Cuomo needs to offer a state rebate of $2,000 to $4,000 to make EVs more attractive to car buyers now that he's phasing out coal power.

February 17, 2016 - Sierra Club Compass

Toronto Mid-Rise

Zillow: Suburbs Becoming More Like Cities

According to the real estate website, urban home values are growing faster than those in the suburbs, bucking a longtime trend. This isn't exactly surprising, but it has serious social justice implications.

February 17, 2016 - Puget Sound Business Journal

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.

Home and Land Services Coordinator

Appalachian Highlands Housing Partners

Associate/Senior Planner

Gallatin County Department of Planning & Community Development

Senior Planner

Heyer Gruel & Associates PA

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.