United States

Celebration Florida

Can the Garden Suburb Save the Suburbs?

“Can Paradise be Planned?” asks Allison Arieff in a recent op-ed. The article discusses new books by architect Robert A.M. Stern and photographer Christoph Gielen to look for reasons for optimism with regard to suburbs and planning.

April 21, 2014 - New York Times

Top 10 Reasons for a New American Dream

For three generations, the American Dream was largely defined by continual suburban expansion. A new urban dream has emerged, and it is here to stay.

April 21, 2014 - Better! Cities & Towns

Study: Active Commutes Correlate to Positive Public Health Outcomes

The Alliance for Biking and Walking’s 2014 Benchmarking report found a strong correlation between active commuting rates and health outcomes like diabetes, obesity, and high blood pressure.

April 20, 2014 - Streetsblog USA

Uhaul Trucks

The Urban Reordering: Can the United States Make it Stick?

The trend toward the urban has been documented from every possible angle, but a recent op-ed wonders whether it will be possible for the federal government to make a course correction that ceases the endless subsidies for the suburbs.

April 20, 2014 - New York Times

Breaking News on Keystone XL Pipeline: More Delay

Don't expect President Obama to issue a yes or no decision on whether to build TransCanada's Keystone XL pipeline until after the November elections. A pending Nebraska court case and millions of public comments were given as the reason for the delay

April 19, 2014 - USA Today

Desert Signage

Mapping Where People Don't Live

A map released this week and shared on numerous websites shades the 4,871,270 U.S. Census Blocks with zero population. That includes rugged backcountry and suburban super malls.

April 18, 2014 - mapsbynik

Study Maps the Spatial Patterns of U.S. Environmental Injustice

A new study by researchers from the University of Minnesota presents a sweeping portrait of trends in exposure to nitrogen dioxide across the United States.

April 18, 2014 - The Washington Post - Wonkblog

Coal Power Plants Dealt Blow by Appeals Court Ruling

The nation's first standards requiring power plants to reduce hazardous emissions, including the neurotoxin mercury, a coal-burning by-product, was upheld by a federal appeals court in a major win for public health, the EPA, and President Obama.

April 18, 2014 - The Wall Street Journal - Politics and Policy

Strip Mall

Is it a Suburban Exodus Yet?

A new report finds that suburban areas are losing residents to urban areas like New York City and Washington D.C., even well past the point when people would have traditionally made the choice to return to the suburbs.

April 18, 2014 - New York Times

Chicago Bungalows

Rent Unaffordable in 90 U.S. Cities

Several recent reports lend credence to the “rent is too damn high” narrative. But exorbitant rents aren’t just a story in New York City or San Francisco—median rent is higher than 30 percent of median income in 90 cities in the United States.

April 17, 2014 - New York Times

Arguing for City-Focused Sustainable Development Goals

Richard Florida joins the chorus calling for the United Nations to make “cities the centerpiece of its forthcoming Sustainable Development Goals.”

April 17, 2014 - Atlantic Cities

Why Don’t More Conservatives Support Smart Growth?

A self-identified conservative who supports the “broader vision of smart growth” has identified a reason why more conservatives don’t support smart growth: the political economy of sprawl.

April 17, 2014 - Bacon's Rebellion

What Does 'Feminine' Mean to Women Who Bike?

Women are less likely to ride bikes than males in the United States, and part of the complicated issues of gender and biking have at least partly to do with perceptions. A recent article examines what it means to be “feminine” while riding a bike.

April 16, 2014 - Atlantic Cities

Beyond Oil: Trains Turn to LNG Fuel and Hybrid Locomotives

According to a new EIA report, the cost advantages of liquefied natural gas make it an attractive alternative to diesel fuel for major U.S. freight railroad companies. Hybrid diesel-electric locomotives on order for 5 states will power HSR routes.

April 16, 2014 - Progressive Railroading

Making Multifamily Truly Urban

The multifamily industry is building more in walkable locations, but developers still need instruction on the manners of placemaking. Here are some hints.

April 15, 2014 - Better! Cities & Towns

Young Driver

Unprecedented Demographic Trends Define the 'Next America'

The Paul Taylor and the Pew Research Center have released a new book called The Next America, which describes a country in the “throes of a demographic overhaul.”

April 15, 2014 - Pew Research Center

Pulitzer Prize

Pulitzer Prizes Awarded for Urbanism and Built Environment Journalism

The 2014 Pulitzer Prizes yesterday awarded the best work of journalists over the past year. Included in the roster of winners were journalists and publications covering issues of relevance to Planetizen readers.

April 15, 2014 - Pulitzer.org

Building Support for Affordable Housing

A recent article on PlannersWeb acts as a kind of playbook for building public support for affordable housing projects.

April 14, 2014 - PlannersWeb

As the Seas Rise, Cities 'Dither'

The world’s coastal cities now face an impossible situation as a result of climate change. While the impacts and catastrophes become inevitable, why do cities like San Francisco dither rather than act?

April 14, 2014 - SPUR

Multifamily Evolution: From 'Train Wreck' to Urban

In a comprehensive piece called "What's New in New Urbanism," Multi-Housing News reports that new urban ideas have "swept the industry over the past 20 years."

April 14, 2014 - Better! Cities & Towns

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.