United States

When Architecture Goes Bad

Fast Company looks at six examples of architecture that rebelled, from SOM's Lever House to Boston's John Hancock Tower.

December 10, 2009 - Fast Company

How to Make Vacant Properties Disappear

Vacant properties are considered blight instead of potential, argues John Kromer of the Fels Institute. By acting strategically and thinking smaller, officials can revitalize their cities and attract new, more stable investment.

December 10, 2009 - John Kromer

'No Substitute for Physical Inspection of Rail Lines'

The newest transit safety bill was unveiled yesterday to cautious praise. While states are struggling to fund transit, FTA chief Peter Rogoff says the goal is to create a nationwide floor for transit safety.

December 9, 2009 - Streetsblog Capitol Hill

130,000 Homeless Veterans

This article, by Dr. Ellen Bassuk of the National Center on Family Homelessness, explores the challenges faced by returning veterans in housing.

December 9, 2009 - The Washington Times

City Data to the Masses

A growing number of cities are opening up public data streams to computer developers. Some say the move will improve civic discourse, but the nascent trend is still developing.

December 8, 2009 - The New York Times

The End of the Middle Class?

The growing concentrations of the super-wealthy in America contrast sharply with the erosion of the middle class. It is time for a new set of rules to protect ordinary Americans, writes Elizabeth Warren.

December 8, 2009 - Huffington Post

Count Trouble Foreseen As Census Approaches

The recession, the housing bust and the rise in immigrant populations are cited as some of the main challenges facing the U.S. Census Bureau as it prepares for its decennial count in April.

December 8, 2009 - The Seattle Times

States Look to Claim Part of $69 Billion in Infrastructure Funds

The Obama Administration is set to announce a new jobs bill and state officials are clamoring to get their hands on some of the $69 billion the federal government is dedicating to the next batch of stimulus-related infrastructure projects.

December 8, 2009 - The Washington Times

Property Values Not Hurt By Proximity to Wind Turbines

According to a new report from Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, the proximity of homes to wind turbines showed no average negative impact on property values.

December 7, 2009 - The New York Times

A Stoplight With A Countdown

Designer Damjan Stanković has proposed a stoplight with a "progress bar," the same sort of countdown that many walk signals have today. Zach Patton wonders if this is a good idea.

December 7, 2009 - Governing Magazine

Distilling the Best Practices for Sustainable City Planning

Planner Alex Aylett discusses the challenges municipalities face when trying to create a successful sustainability plan, and how to overcome them with a new toolkit that takes cues from New York City's PlaNYC.

December 6, 2009 - WorldChanging

Lobbying Up As High Speed Rail Funding Increases

Stimulus funds directed at high speed rail projects have inspired a flood of lobbying efforts across the country, according to this analysis from the Center for Public Integrity.

December 6, 2009 - The Center for Public Integrity

Getting Rural

The recession and fewer urban job prospects are driving young American families to try rural living.

December 5, 2009 - The Wall Street Journal

Federal Government May Fund Urban Parks

New legislation looks to boost the federal government's investment in urban parks for the first time in eight years.

December 5, 2009 - Gotham Gazette

Obama Addresses the Controversy Over "Shovel-Ready"

Since the stimulus package was announced, the emphasis on 'shovel-ready' projects elicited criticism from urbanists. At yesterday's White House jobs summit, Pres. Obama acknowledged the tension it has caused.

December 4, 2009 - Streetsblog

Liveability a "Major Priority" at DOT

Among the criteria for evaluating projects, livability is at the top, along with safety and economic competitiveness.

December 4, 2009 - New Urban News email

And the Winners Are...

Kaid Benfield offers an overview of the winners of the EPA's 2009 national awards for smart growth achievement.

December 4, 2009 - Sustainable Cities Collective

Redefining Blight

From New London to the Atlantic Yards, the last month has seen a flood of news around the issue of eminent domain. Diana Lind wonders if we need a new definition of 'blighted.'

December 4, 2009 - Next American City

Feds Discuss Gas Tax Increase While Nixed In Jersey

Discussion of raising the gas tax is quashed in NJ by Gov.-elect Christie while encouraged in DC by DOT Secretary LaHood and Congressional Transportation Chair James Oberstar. LaHood had an open dialog on the various forms of revenue strategies.

December 3, 2009 - NorthJersey.com

Food Stamps Across the Country

The New York Times' has created an interactive map of food stamp usage breaking down recipients by county across the United States.

December 3, 2009 - NYTimes.com

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.

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.