United States

Stimulus Spreading Work to Otherwise Barren Field of Architecture

Work has been hard to find for many architects over the last year. But for architects doing federal work, the story is a bit different.

September 16, 2009 - Architectural Record

Study Shows TND Encourages Walking

Orenco Station in Portland, OR shows that traditional neighborhood development (TND) can decrease car use and encourage walking, according to a new study.

September 16, 2009 - New Urban News

Senate Blocks Funds to ACORN

Yesterday, the Senate voted to block ACORN (Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now) from receiving grants from HUD. ABC News looks at the latest complaints against the group, and ACORN's chief organizer speaks in defense.

September 15, 2009 - ABC News

Manhattan is the Greenest City

A review of GREEN METROPOLIS: Why Living Smaller, Living Closer, and Driving Less Are the Keys to Sustainability by David Owen, expanding on his groundbreaking essay in the New Yorker in 2004 on why New York is the greenest city around.

September 15, 2009 - The New York Times

Millions of Reluctant Landlords

About 2.5 million homes have been converted into rental units since 2007 as homeowners try to wait out the loss in value of their properties, according to a new study.

September 15, 2009 - The Huffington Post

Guaranteeing You Won't Get Stranded By Transit

An often cited reason for not using alternative transportation is the unpredictable: what if I need a car for something unexpected? A non-profit is now offering guaranteed rides to those who ride transit, bike, or walk, up to $100 per year.

September 15, 2009 - San Jose Mercury News

Deadly Water Going By Unregulated

This investigation from The New York Times examines water pollution records from across the country and finds more than half a million violations that are causing deadly pollution to local water resources.

September 15, 2009 - The New York Times

Rethinking Residential

Can you create a community with design? This is one of the questions raised at a panel hosted by Future Shack, a project sponsored by the Seattle AIA and The Seattle Times to reconsider residential architecture.

September 14, 2009 - Northwest Hub

Don't Forget Roads, Says Kotkin

Joel Kotkin explains why the Obama Administration's focus on transit is wrong-headed and doesn't do anything for the majority of Americans.

September 14, 2009 - New Geography

"Polluted and Dangerous" Abandoned Properties

Tufts urban planning professor Justin Hollander appeared on C-SPAN's Washington Journal to answer questions about his new book, Polluted & Dangerous: America's Worst Abandoned Properties and What Can Be Done About Them.

September 14, 2009 - Washington Journal

Energy from the Landfill

Landfills produce a lot of methane gas, one of the main greenhouse gases contributing to global warming. In an effort to both reduce that impact and responsibly reuse the gas, some municipalities are converting it into energy.

September 13, 2009 - Governing

The Role of Artists in the Creation of Public Space

Public space plays an important role in cities. Essential to creating good public spaces, according to this commentary from The Nation, is the art community.

September 13, 2009 - The Nation

U.S. Poverty at 11-Year High

The poverty rate hit an 11-year high in 2008, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

September 12, 2009 - Los Angeles Times

AASHTO Picks Top 10 Transportation Projects

The American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials has selected finalists in its 2009 America's Transportation Awards competition. Projects range from lane-widening in Delaware to HOT lanes in Miami.

September 11, 2009 - AASHTO

Finding Efficiency At Home, In the Trash

Solar-powered trash compactors, while not cheap, pay for themselves relatively quickly. With state and city budgets more liquid thanks to stimulus money, municipalities are snapping them up.

September 11, 2009 - Slate.com

Tapping Outside Experience to Build U.S. High Speed Rail

As the race for high speed rail stimulus dollars gets underway, international firms stand to gain the most benefit as few if any U.S. firms are capable of building the rolling stock the new systems will need.

September 10, 2009 - The Wall Street Journal

New Parks Across US Boom, Dazzle

Neal Peirce says this is a 'bonanza decade' for parks, thanks to the many benefits of parks to cities and a 'wow' factor found in some of the newest parks around the U.S., including St. Louis' Citygarden and Manhattan's High Line Park.

September 8, 2009 - Citiwire.net

U.S. Oil Consumption On The Decline...Permanently

For political, technological, and even demographic as well as economic reasons, don't expect American oil consumption to increase over 2007 levels. $3 gas is here to stay, and the days of the petrol-gulping SUVs and guzzlers may be numbered.

September 8, 2009 - Barrons

Rail Riders Discover that Going the Extra Mile is the Hardest Part

Many would-be train riders are frustrated by poor transit options at their destination city.

September 8, 2009 - National Public Radio

TRB Report Evaluates Densification & VMT Reduction

A new Transportation Research Board study examines the relationship between land use and carbon emissions - specifically reduction of vehicle miles traveled resulting from densification and the shape of new growth to come.

September 8, 2009 - Streetsblog

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.