United States
Who's Winning the Competition for America's College Grads?
Sabrina Tavernise explores "one of the most important developments in the recent economic history of this country" - the growing divide between metro areas with large numbers of college graduates, and those struggling to keep those they have.
The History of the American House, In Five Rooms
Amanda Kolson Hurley reviews the ambitious exhibit House and Home, on view at the National Building Museum in Washington D.C.
Project Seeks to Build World-Class Cycling Networks Across America
The last five years have seen an explosion of bicycle safety improvements across America. A new project launching this week in six cities seeks to connect officials and planners to the best practices transforming our transportation networks.
Unveiling the Municipal Subsidy Hall of Shame
Daniel Denvir's article will have you thinking twice about whether your elected officials should be dedicating public resources to support the newest mega-project in your city as he explores "Great Moments in the History of Boondoggles."
First Lady Shows Off Her Green Thumb
In a new book out this week, Michelle Obama explores the lessons she's learned while cultivating the First Garden, which has blossomed into a nationwide anti-obesity campaign, writes Marian Burros.
Urban Trees: Friend or Foe to Crime?
A new study published in the June issue of Landscape and Urban Planning intends to settle once and for all the debate about whether urban trees provide a deterrent or inducement for crime, writes Eric Jaffe.
How Can We Get NIMBYs to Say Yes?
Will Doig reflects on the scourge of public micromanagement that has "essentially become an official part of the urban planning process in many cities," and explores the psychology behind anti-development activism.
Why Car Sharing Won't Reduce Emissions
A new study by the RAND corporation highlights the various benefits of expanding car-sharing nationwide. It turns out, however, that significantly reducing carbon emissions isn't one of them, writes Brad Plumer.
In Defense of the American Community Survey
Recently Congress voted in favor of a GOP measure to scrap the American Community Survey, on the basis of its alleged intrusiveness. Now a backlash is growing in defense of the survey, even among some conservatives, reports Matthew Yglesias.
How to Get Rural Transit Right
With nearly 40 percent of the United States’ transit-dependent population living in rural areas, it's imperative that rural transit agencies get the most out of their investments. A new report explores how some are getting it right.
Examining Zoning's Origins to Shed Light on Current Critiques
As traditional zoning comes under increasing criticism for its exclusionary practices, strict separation of uses, and controls on density, Daniel Nairn explores its genesis and the arguments of pioneering planner Edward Murray Bassett.
McMansions: They're Baaack
Well that didn't take long. After falling out of favor during the economic downturn, AnnaMaria Andriotis examines how the rise in new home sales is being driven in part by demand for those maligned symbols of conspicuous consumption.
Heat Islands May Not Be So Bad After All
Emily Badger reports on pioneering research that is looking into ways to utilize the heat trapping properties of asphalt, rather than fighting it.
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.
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
