United States

The Short-Term Problem of the Stimulus Package

The short-term focus of the first year's worth of stimulus package spending could be creating long-term problem's for America's already troubled infrastructure, according to this review from the Chicago Tribune's Blair Kamin.

February 22, 2010 - Chicago Tribune

Chapter 9 Cities on the Rise

The economic recession is pushing many municipalities towards declaring bankruptcy.

February 22, 2010 - The Wall Street Journal

Metros Miss Out on Stimulus Funding

Metropolitan region's make up a major part of the U.S. in terms of population and economic activity. Accordingly, the Brookings Institution was surprised to see how little of the government's first year stimulus package went to those areas.

February 21, 2010 - The New Republic

Like LEED, But For Roads

The niversity of Washington and CH2M HILL have released a new sustainability rating system for roads.

February 20, 2010 - Environmental Leader

Biking The TIGER

Bicycling and walking advocates should also be happy about the new TIGER grants - almost half of the funded projects included funding for bike and ped infrastructure.

February 19, 2010 - Sierra Club Compass blog

The "Crippling" Impacts of Evictions

Recent research explores the impacts of evictions, especially on single low-income black mothers, and finds that they are a poorly-understood factor in the cycle of poverty.

February 19, 2010 - New York Times

Infrastructure Spending Expected to Rise in Stimulus Year Two

About one-third of the federal government's $787 billion economic stimulus has actually been spent over the last year. During the next year, much of the focus of the remainder will be on infrastructure projects.

February 19, 2010 - The Wall Street Journal

American Commutes, in Font Form

Graphic designer Martha Kang McGill took commuting data from several American cities and made an easy-to-compare representation of the information using no more than a font and some colors.

February 19, 2010 - The Infrastructurist

How Affordable is Your City?

CNN ranks 10 American cities according to housing affordability, and finds that foreclosures, median incomes and the availability of developable land all influencing housing affordability.

February 18, 2010 - CNN Money

The Recession's Impact on American Cities

Next American City kicks off their new podcast by interviewing the Brookings Institution's Alan Berube about how the economic recession is playing out in American cities and metropolitan areas.

February 18, 2010 - Next American City

Homebuilding On the Rise in January

New housing and apartment construction was up 2.8 percent in January, according to the Commerce Department. That's 591,000 new units.

February 18, 2010 - NPR

Innovations in Healthy Retail Pay Off

Five speakers detail how programs to beautify streetscapes, improve neighborhood retail climates and bring fresh food to urban stores paid off for store owners and community residents alike.

February 18, 2010 - Urban Farm Hub

The Federal Government's Sustainable Urbanism Challenge

Sustainability is going federal through a new collaboration between HUD, EPA and DOT. Anthony Flint takes a look at the new coordinated effort and some of the challenges it faces.

February 17, 2010 - Citiwire

Transit-Oriented Housing Safer From Foreclosures

New research from the Natural Resources Defense Council shows that the chance of foreclosure is higher in places with limited access to public transit.

February 17, 2010 - Chicago Sun-Times

Metropolitan Well-Being

Richard Florida wades through the newly released results of the Gallup-Healthways Well-Being Index, which looks at emotional and physical health in 52 of America's biggest metropolitan areas.

February 17, 2010 - The Atlantic

Death Wish and Robert Moses

Architectural historian Keith Eggener draws a fascinating connection between the film Death Wish and architecture -- and also links the movie's main character with Robert Moses.

February 17, 2010 - Places

Millennials Aren't Buying American Dream

The younger generation of Americans will continue to rent rather than buy, predicts the Urban Land Institute.

February 16, 2010 - Examiner LA

Zoning Loosened to Help Home Businesses

The rough economy has made code officers negotiators between irked neighbors and entrepreneurs trying to make a living in their living rooms.

February 16, 2010 - Wall Street Journal

Cities Prepare for Electric Cars

San Francisco, Portland, and San Diego lead the charge to ensure everything from power grids to building codes are prepared for arrival of electric cars.

February 16, 2010 - New York Times

Wide Web of High Speed Rail Could Boost Congressional Spending

The projects receiving funding through the federal government's roughly $8 billion high speed rail investment travel through more than 40% of congressional districts. Analysts predict this will encourage more legislators to push for related funds.

February 15, 2010 - The New York Times

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.

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.