United States

The Trouble With Using GDP to Measure Economic Growth

Following recent bad news about the sluggish growth of the country's gross domestic product (GDP), the Brooking Institution reminds policy makers that growth does not necessarily trickle down to economic well-being.

February 1, 2016 - Brookings Institution

How to Beat Extreme Heat

Louisville, Kentucky has recently been named the "most rapidly growing urban heat island" in the U.S., but what led to this title? Jeff Byles traces how cities are becoming increasingly warm through a number of different factors, including economic.

February 1, 2016 - Doggerel

Advocating for Planning When Presidential Campaigns Come to Town

All eyes are on Iowa's caucuses today, but presidential campaigns will be touring communities all over the country for months. The APA wants planners to be ready to explain the importance of planning when such rare opportunities arise.

February 1, 2016 - APA Policy News

Facebook Developing Carpool Capabilities

The most popular social media site in the world is the latest entry in the quickly evolving world of mobility applications after filing a patent to for technology that would connect carpoolers.

February 1, 2016 - Tech Insider

Protecting the Lungs of Children by Improving School Location

With the national spotlight rightfully focused on the irreversible effects of lead in the drinking water of Flint, Michigan, another insidious threat remains: motor vehicle emissions affecting children's lungs.

February 1, 2016 - EPA Connect

Wave of Walmart Closures Cuts Across the Rural, Urban Divide

January marked an unprecedented contraction for Walmart, which closed 269 stores, including all 105 of its small format Walmart Express stores.

January 31, 2016 - The Dallas Morning News

How the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Failed the People of Flint

While blame squarely lays with Michigan state officials, agencies, and possibly Gov. Rick Snyder himself, the EPA also played a role by both detecting the cause of the problem but not acting on the reports of improper treatment of river water.

January 31, 2016 - Huffington Post

Boston Aerial

Digging Deeper Into the Deal That Brought GE to Boston

The big news about GE moving to Boston is more than just a story about a large company moving from the suburbs to the big city—it's also about how far cities will go to attract new jobs, and at what cost.

January 31, 2016 - The Boston Globe

Bikeshare Means Transit to New Yorkers

A case is emerging from data shared by Citibike that the system gets the most use by commuters. Federal legislation is in the works that would make bikeshare-as-transit official.

January 31, 2016 - Next City

Op-Ed Details Sordid Anchorage Development Deal

Local officials accused of being "gullible" as they mull a proposed development deal that would redevelop an iconic downtown theater and knock down a derelict hotel in Midtown Anchorage, Alaska.

January 29, 2016 - Anchorage Dispatch News

Rua Goncalo de Carvalho

How Neighborhood Trees Improve Public Health

New research reveals more of the details of how trees provide therapeutic effects for humans.

January 29, 2016 - The New Yorker

2008 Presidential Election

The New Political Map of the United States

A new book published by the Pew Research Center details the demographic changes that will shape the politics—beyond presidential elections—of the future.

January 29, 2016 - Pew Research Center

Eminent Domain an Issue in Republican Presidential Primary, Again

Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) is using a new ad against GOP frontrunner Donald Trump, a billionaire real estate developer, based on his use of eminent domain against an elderly woman in Atlantic City. Trump strongly defended using the controversial tool.

January 29, 2016 - Vanity Fair

Kansas Plains

Friday Eye Candy: Mapping the Least Dense Places in the U.S.

A map-making effort by The Washington Post's Wonkblog puts the Western United States' population, or lack thereof, in perspective.

January 29, 2016 - The Washington Post - Wonkblog

Mapping the Best and Worst Places for Rooftop Solar

A new scorecard, called "Freeing the Grid," evaluates states on the incentives they offer homeowners and businesses to install rooftop solar.

January 29, 2016 - CityLab

Comparing the Market Caps of Corporations and Cities

City Observatory puts the housing market of major U.S. cities in perspective by comparing the value of housing markets to the value of large corporations.

January 28, 2016 - City Observatory

How to Help Seniors Rock City Life

A new report issued by McGraw Hill Financial Global Institute provides new thinking about how to create "age-friendly cities."

January 28, 2016 - Grist

Building Children Out of Our Cities

It's been said that children are the indicator species of urban health and great neighborhoods. By this measure, Oakland is in trouble.

January 27, 2016 - Shelterforce/Rooflines

Expert Voices 2016: Urban Policy and the Presidential Election

Penn IUR Faculty Fellows and Scholars weigh in on the 2016 Presidential election. What urban issues should the candidates be focusing on?

January 27, 2016 - PennIUR

Reports Ranks U.S. 26th for Environmental Performance

The Environmental Performance Index (EPI) ranks performance on environmental issues in two areas: protection of human health and protection of ecosystems. "The U.S. falls in between Canada and the Czech Republic."

January 27, 2016 - Yale School of Forestry & Environmental Studies

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.