United States
The Transformation of our Cities
'I'm pretty convinced we're in the midst of a transformation which is probably as profound as what happened immediately after the Second World War,' says planner Ken Greenberg in an interview in Metropolis.
Cities in Constant Flux
While cities may seem permanent, a group called Architecture 2030 claims that a majority of the buildings in cities today will be rebuilt by the year 2035.
U.S. Military Base Plans Threatened by New Mayor of Japanese Town
The recent election of a new mayor in a small town on the Japanese island of Okinawa has severely threatened plans to build a new U.S. military base in the town.
Moving the Tipping Point for Creative Places
Human-scaled, creative development isn't getting built because most of the money in real estate comes from institutional investors that prefer predictable, large scale projects like subdivisions and strip malls, says Neil Takemoto of CoolTown Beta Communities.
Manufacturing Jobs Returning to U.S.
As offshoring becomes more expensive due to the higher costs of shipping an international infrastructure, more companies are making plans to expand their manufacturing operations at home.
The Density Game - On YouTube
Dan Zack, downtown development coordinator for Redwood City, CA, gave a 50-minute presentation on Delightful Density to a Palo Alto audience on Nov. 5. This 12-minute excerpt is composed of 17 buildings - get out your pencils and guess their density.
Wind Could Generate Lots of Power for East, Say Feds
With a substantial investment, it would be possible for the eastern half of the U.S.to get 30% of its electricity from wind power, according to a new report from the Energy Department's National Renewable Energy Laboratory.
A City To Live In
The tide is turning from the last half century, with population trends heading inward and urban from the sundered seas of suburbia.
D.C. Awash in Transportation Lobbyists
In the 2nd part of an expose featured previously on Planetizen, reporter Matthew Lewis uncovers the significant number of lobbyists influencing transportation policy in Washington.
Who Takes Out the Trash?
The expense of properly carrying out recycling and trash programs is weighing on cash-strapped states. Government is pushing back, with new requirements mandating that manufacturers take some of the load.
Conservation Easements on the Rise
This piece from Miller-McCune looks at the conservation easement and explains how the legal device is being used to protect land and prevent sprawl.
America's Depression, Infrastructure and Stubborn Way of Life
This essay from Places looks at today's economic depression, the nation's crumbling infrastructure, and various efforts to rethink they way America looks at fixing its cities.
Suburban Poverty Increasing: Report
A new Brookings Institute study shows that the recession has exacerbated conditions of poverty in America's suburbs, to the point where they hold the greatest proportion of the nation's poor.
Feds Going Online to Solicit Ideas and Feedback
The U.S. Federal Government has released a new online tool to help in the collection of feedback and ideas from the general public.
Obama Is At War With Suburbia, Says Kotkin
Joel Kotkin says that the recent Republican win in Massachusetts shows that suburban voters are in revolt against the Obama administration's urban-centric policies.
New Research: Lawns Aren't Green
Lawns - long known to be the main culprit in urban water consumption, now can be blamed for another environmental woe - greenhouse gas producer in excess of whatever carbon it 'sinks'. The gas is nitrous oxide - 300 times more potent than CO2.
The Cure for Ailing Parking Lots
In Portland, up to 400 food stands have sprung up around the city, enlivening underused spaces.
Corner Stores and Fat Kids
Urban convenience stores are being further linked to childhood obesity after the release of a new study from Temple University.
The Worst Commutes in America
The Daily Beast has released a list of the 75 worst commutes in America. Top of the list: L.A.'s Hollywood Freeway.
Cities With High Percentage of Car-less
Transportation planner Jarrett Walker looks at the top 50 cities of over 100k people and the percentage of people who don't own a car. Do the cities that made the list shed some light on how planners can discourage car use?
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.
City of Rosemead
Rutgers University, Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy
One Hundred Miles
University of Michigan School for Environment and Sustainability (SEAS)
Hunter College, City University of New York (CUNY)
The Architects Foundation
City of Cambridge
Montrose County
The Pocatello Development Authority