United States

Clunkers Program Works Better For Purchasing SUVs & Trucks

While much attention has been lavished on fuel sippers like the Ford Focus, Toyota Corolla, and Honda Insight as the most popular models purchased with CARS.Gov credits, it turns out there is another list showing SUVs and trucks in the top ten.

August 19, 2009 - Sacramento Bee

Want To Encourage Bicycle Commuting? Build Parking

A lack of decent parking is the biggest reason more people don't bike to work. Several American cities are now trying to deal with the issue by adding more parking for bicyclists.

August 19, 2009 - Slate Magazine

Better Walkability, Higher Value

A recent study finds a correlation between a neighborhood's walkability and its home values.

August 18, 2009 - Inman News

Feds to Invest $4.25 Billion in Rental Housing

The Obama Administration has announced a plan to invest $4.25 billion of stimulus money to build low-income rental housing.

August 18, 2009 - The Boston Globe

Renting the American Dream

Home ownership remains a major part of the American dream. But more and more people are beginning to question the wisdom of investing in a home and are leaning towards renting.

August 18, 2009 - The Wall Street Journal

The Problem With Coal

In his new book, Big Coal: The Dirty Secret Behind America’s Energy Future, author Jeff Goodell uncovers the damage the coal industry has done to America's landscape.

August 17, 2009 - Great Lakes Bulletin News Service

A Survey of American Drinking Fountains

Public drinking fountains are a useful if underappreciated urban amenity. The New York Times asked eight illustrators around the U.S. to watch one fountain in their cities and report back.

August 17, 2009 - The New York Times

Recovery Through Self-Discovery

Some economists are starting to believe that the U.S. is on its way to economic recovery. But recovery from what, asks William Shutkin in this piece. He suggests the recovery should really be a discovery of better ways of developing and using land.

August 16, 2009 - Citiwire

Highway Funding an Endless Source for Appalachian States

A seemingly never-ending incentive program for Appalachian states provides $4 dollars for every $1 dollar spent by the state on interstate highways.

August 16, 2009 - Next American City

The Top 30 Housing Markets in America

According to some real estate data, there are more than 30 housing markets in the U.S. that are seeing increases in housing prices. Topping the list is Boulder, Colorado.

August 15, 2009 - Business Week

Entering a Strange New World of Public Participation

Changing technologies and erratic political schedules are altering the way the public interacts with elected officials. For some politicians, the new form of public participation can get them into trouble.

August 14, 2009 - The New York Times

Would High-Speed Rail from Dallas to Houston Make Sense?

Edward Glaeser continues his series on cost-benefit analysis of high-speed rail in the US, imagining a mythical route between Dallas and Houston.

August 14, 2009 - NY Times: Economix Blog

Banks Holding On To Toxic Real Estate Assets

The Congressional Oversight Committee tasked with looking into the economic crisis says in a new report that there is a continuing risk of banks holding onto troubled assets, including real estate. Minnesota Public Radio talks to noted experts.

August 14, 2009 - Minnesota Public Radio

Municipal Bond Default Wave - But Not in Cities

Municipal bonds are being defaulted on left and right. But the news sounds worse than it is. Few of those defaults are by cities -- for now.

August 13, 2009 - Governing

Giant Tripod Towers Terrorize Suburbs

When Dwell Magazine asked for submissions to their Re-Burbia contest reimagining the suburbs, they probably didn't count on a 3000 ft. geothermal tower on legs that rips homes out of the ground and files them into its towering heights.

August 13, 2009 - Dwell

Placemaking Through Zoning

Zoning is often portrayed as the great evil of city planning, but Les Pollock of Camiros argues that we shouldn't dismiss the power of zoning to create great communities.

August 13, 2009 - Leslie S. Pollock, FAICP

Affluent Suburb Agrees to Affordable Housing Overhaul

Westchester County, NY will be required to invest in the provision of affordable housing units in communities that lack minorities. Furthermore, they will have to actively market these units towards minority populations.

August 12, 2009 - The New York Times

Local Currencies Flourishing Amid Recession

Local currencies are seeing a resurgence in American communities.

August 12, 2009 - Los Angeles Times

Cities Adjust to Presence of "Tent Cities"

Nashville is just one of many cities that have stopped dispersing and penalizing tent city settlements, but instead are relaxing some regulations and providing basic services.

August 12, 2009 - Wall Street Journal

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.