United States
For Affordable Housing, Stay Away from Boulevards
New findings published by Trulia, the real estate website, show the connection between home values and road names. "Boulevard" carries the most cache, and "street" the least, reports Lew Sichelman.
Is Rent Control the Solution for Rising Unaffordability?
With rental vacancy rates declining across America, the expansion of rent control policies may seem like a logical solution for protecting vulnerable renters from fast rising prices. But Peter Tatian argues there's little evidence that it works.
A Preview of the Year Ahead in U.S. Transit Projects
Dozens of transit expansion projects will start, continue, or complete construction this year across America. Yonah Freemark delivers a thorough rundown of the exciting year ahead in transit construction and makes note of a dark cloud on the horizon.
Resolving to View City Planning as ‘Preventative Medicine'
Jason Corburn issues an indictment of the "community malpractice" by policy-makers that's led to America's glaring health inequalities, and argues that 2013 must be the year that planning works towards improving the living conditions of the poor.
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.
Could Fortress-Like Schools Prevent Shootings?
The mass shooting at Newton, Connecticut brought gun control, violence in TV and video games, and mental health care to the forefront of a national debate. As talk turns to school design, architects consider the tradeoffs of fortress-like schools.
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.
And the Next EPA Administrator Will Be....
Several potential replacements for Lisa Jackson are said to be under consideration. One thing that person can count on is a very thorough, if not grueling, confirmation process. Unless the Senate changes the filibuster rules, 60 votes will be needed.
Watch Your Step Tomorrow
Please be careful if you're out walking late tonight and tomorrow: January 1st is the deadliest day of the year for pedestrians. The outlook for drivers isn't much better, writes Sarah Kliff.
Historic Homes Are Losing Visitors, But Perhaps There’s An App for That
Of the thousands of historic homes across the country, many are seeing steep declines in visitors, reports J. Freedom du Lac. Consolidation and new technologies, such as smartphone apps, may be the best alternatives to closing doors.
Lisa Jackson Leaves Behind Mixed Legacy at EPA
This week Lisa Jackson made public her decision to step down as administrator of the EPA. Despite many hard-fought victories, Jackson's tenure is also associated with a lack of significant action to address climate change.
Midwestern Drought Threatens the Mississippi River
The Mississippi River handles $7 billion in trade as one of the world's largest navigable inland waterways. A Midwestern drought has brought the river to water levels so low that they threaten to shut down shipping, reports John Schwartz.
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.
How Smart Is Smart Parking - And For Whom?
Parking enforcers, not motorists in search of available parking, may be the main beneficiaries of 'smart parking' technology as they have the ability to immediately spot parking spaces where vehicles have overstayed their time limits and by how long.
Can Narrow Lanes Improve Traffic Congestion?
Comparing wide versus narrow lanes, Kenneth A. Small and Chen Feng Ng examine the relatively unexplored design of building more compact roads to alleviate traffic congestion.
Top Preservation Presents of 2012
As usual, 2012 has seen a host of prominent buildings threatened with demolition - from Chicago's Prentice Hospital to Baltimore’s Mechanic Theatre. But preservation has also seen some great successes. The National Trust tallies the top 10.
'Cycle to Work' Scheme Subsidizes Bikes for Brits
Sarah Goodyear reports on how Britain's 'Cycle to Work' scheme has decreased carbon dioxide emissions, and transformed the lives of individuals such as Toby Field.
Big Houses Return
Homeowners have been downsizing their homes in the last five years, but now 84 percent of homeowners want to stay put or move into a larger home. This change in trend can be attributed to growing families and their need for more living space.
Friday Funny: Traffic Jam 2013
From the satirical paper The Onion comes news of Traffic Jam 2013 -- a highway concert series that is either commentary on the placelessness of the country's vast highway system or just another way to poke fun at Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood.
Coal Ascendant in the 21st Century
Coal burning is rising everywhere save the U.S. If no changes are made to promote alternatives, it will overtake oil as the world's top energy source within a decade according to a new report from the Paris-based International Energy Agency (IEA).
Pagination
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.
Eagle County Government
Harvard University Graduate School of Design
Nashville Planning Department
The Architects Foundation
University of Cincinnati Online
The Pocatello Development Authority
The Urban Renewal Agency of the City of Pocatello
Journal of the American Planning Association