United States
The "Crazy Days" of Homeownership Are Over - But That's a Good Thing
Sara Robinson explains how the historical view of American homeownership -- that of a life-long commitment to place and "housey goodness" with no expectation of financial gain -- may be coming back.
How Do Your City's Parks Score?
A new tool for assessing the quality of the park systems in America's cities was unveiled this week by The Trust for Public Land. Ryan Donahue delivers the rankings.
Did Your Traffic Improve Last Year?
According to a new study out this week by research group INRIX, urban traffic congestion in the U.S. plummeted last year by 30 percent over the previous year. Angie Schmitt summarizes the surprising findings, and investigates what the cause may be.
Coal-Generated Power Plummets Due To Cheap Natural Gas
According to the Energy Information Agency's (EIA) May outlook, expect coal-generated electric power to drop a full 15% for 2012 while natural gas generated power increases by 24%. Coal dropped from 45% to 36% as the source of U.S. power generation.
PILOT Agreements Gain in Popularity, As Non-Profits are Asked to Pay the Piper
The financial crises faced by many municipalities has them searching for ever more creative means to bolster city budgets. As a result, non-profit institutions are increasingly being asked to complete payments in lieu of taxes (PILOT) agreements.
The U.S. Military: The Next Apostle of New Urbanism?
The Department of Defense has released new guidelines encouraging mixed-use, compact, walkable development throughout the nation's military bases, Sean Reilly reports.
Has Our Crush on Cars Run Its Course?
Ashley Halsey III probes the end of America's monogamous love affair with the automobile, as a younger generation experiments with alternative transportation lifestyles.
Explaining America's Great Inversion
Richard Florida speaks with Alan Ehrenhalt about the subject of his new book, The Great Inversion and the Future of the American City: the reversal of the last century's great shift in people and economic activity to the suburbs
Is Corporate Sponsorship the Solution to Budget Shortfalls?
Inspired by the corporate sponsorship that made New York City's new bike share system possible, Steve Smith believes that public facilities across our cities are ripe for branding.
Biking Saves Billions
A new study released on Friday, coinciding with National Bike to Work Day, finds that bicyclists in the United States save at least $4.6 billion a year by riding instead of driving, reports Tanya Mohn.
Is Public Transit Addictive?
Recent studies seem to indicate that public transportation is habit-forming, and, as Brad Plumer notes, that may not be a good thing.
Rooftop Greenhouses, Now by Mail Order
A Switzerland-based design group is bringing back the geodesic dome in a big way with an aquaponic greenhouse that can be placed on just about any flat roof, Zak Stone reports.
Are Smart Phones Spoiling Our Public Spaces
The smart phones that keep us constantly connected to cyberspace may have detrimental effects on our public spaces, writes Emily Badger.
After the Crash: How Will People Live and Spend in the New Economy?
Kathleen Madigan takes a look at new research that considers the shift in America's living situations, and what it means for consumer behavior.
How Design Professionals Can Effect Change on Capitol Hill
Congressman Earl Blumeanauer explains what landscape architects, architects, planners and engineers can do to bridge the gap between politics and more livable communities during ASLA's advocacy day.
Quality of Place Trumps Density, says Richard Florida
Ten years after publishing of The Rise of the Creative Class, the prominent city-booster says high-rises are “vertical suburbs” and we need “urban environments that stir the spirit.”
Friday Funny: Best Cities for Cheapskates
Granted, this post may straddle the borderline between funny and sadly pertinent in these challenging economic times. But, we think any rankings that rely upon the number of Dollar General stores in a 30-mile radius deserves a bit of a chuckle.
Minority Births Now Majority
In another milestone demonstrating the coloring of America, the Census Bureau reported this week that 2011 saw 50.4% births of color. In addition to the ethnic make-up of the country, aging data was reported.
Will Sixties Architecture Go Down Without a Fight?
As the number of prominent buildings from the 1960s facing the wrecking ball increases, from the Mummers Theater in Oklahoma City to the Mechanic Theater in Baltimore, Mark Lamster bemoans the assault on the architecture of that era.
What Will It Take to Make the Electric Car Affordable?
Even as auto manufacturers roll out bigger, better technology for electric vehicles, high production costs – particularly from battery manufacturers – are keeping sales figures low, Tim Fernholz reports.
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.
Gallatin County Department of Planning & Community Development
Heyer Gruel & Associates PA
JM Goldson LLC
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
Transportation Research & Education Center (TREC) at Portland State University
Jefferson Parish Government
Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Claremont
