United States

Sotomayor on Property Rights

Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor was part of an appeals-court panel in 2006 that favored a private developer with the authority to seize land by eminent domain.

July 27, 2009 - The Christian Science Monitor

Taking to the Road? More Power to You

Two inventors explain devices that would allow energy to be harvested along highways and from the highways themselves.

July 27, 2009 - The New York Times

LaHood To Congress: VMT-Reduction A 'Must' To Reduce Global Warming

Testifying to the Senate Environment & Public Works Committee on July 14, DOT Secretary Ray LaHood clearly states that fuel efficiency must be complemented with livable communities and transit to reduce transportation-related carbon emissions.

July 27, 2009 - Fast Lane (DOT blog)

How Did We Get Here?

In an interview, Rep. Jim Oberstar gives a retrospective of American infrastructure funding and talks about the need to consider transportation in light of the "post-interstate era."

July 26, 2009 - PBS: Blueprint America

The Resilient and the Rest

This piece from Forbes looks at which cities will recover fastest from the recession -- and which ones won't.

July 26, 2009 - Forbes

Building Codes: Most Important Aspect of Climate Bill

Architect Edward Mazria looks at the climate bill heading to the Senate for approval and argues that its most important part is the section on building energy codes, which he calls "more powerful than 100 nuclear plants".

July 25, 2009 - Grist

Transportation Bill Could Face Months-Long Delay

The federal transportation bill seems unlikely to pass any time soon, according to legislators. They have yet to reach any consensus about the mechanisms for funding the bill.

July 25, 2009 - The Wall Street Journal

Listed Properties Mapped by Google

Google Maps now feature visual displays of homes and properties that are listed for sale.

July 25, 2009 - San Francisco Chronicle

Stimulus Funds New Transit Projects, Doesn't Sustain Old Ones

The Obama administration has been touting its dedication of $48.1 billion in stimulus money to roads and transit projects. But it's all going towards new projects, not day-to-day operational needs.

July 25, 2009 - The Nation

Poticha Appointed to HUD Position

Shelley Poticha, President and CEO of Reconnecting America and past executive director of the Congress for New Urbanism, has been appointed Senior Advisor for Sustainable Housing and Communities at the Department of Housing and Urban Development.

July 24, 2009 - Reconnecting America

Sabotaging the Smart Grid

James Surowiecki argues that state governments are sabotaging the economic recovery, and simultaneously sinking the creation of a smart energy grid.

July 24, 2009 - The New Yorker

Tracking Metropolitan Unemployment

A recent report from The Brookings Institution examines unemployment trends in the urban and suburban areas of the top 100 metropolitan areas in the U.S., mainly by looking at the demand for "safety net" services.

July 24, 2009 - The Brookings Institution

A Look at Housing Prices in the Recession

These two posts from Richard Florida look at how housing is faring during the economic recession. He looks at home prices in 300 metro areas, and how things have changed between the peak in 2006 to today.

July 24, 2009 - Creative Class Exchange

Energy Secretary Steven Chu Entertains Daily Show's Jon Stewart

While the Comedy Show's Jon Stewart can't get too excited about “Cap & Trade,” Secretary of Energy Steven Chu does his best to explain the importance of the Waxman-Markey climate legislation to him.

July 23, 2009 - The Daily Show

Higher Gas Prices Equals Lower Mortality?

Author Chris Steiner looks at the public health and public safety ramifications of higher gas prices.

July 23, 2009 - Forbes Magazine

The Shared Developmental Trajectory of Megachurches and Corporate America

This piece from Triple Canopy tracks the development of megachurches in America and the similar trajectory of corporate headquarters from dense city areas to vast exurban campuses.

July 23, 2009 - Triple Canopy

HUD Community Development Fund Down 34% In Proposed Fed. Budget

While HUD's budget has decreased by 4%, the Federal Railroad Administration is up 35%. This is just one of the revelations to be found in this interactive graphic of the Obama Administration's proposed federal budget for 2010.

July 23, 2009 - wallstats.com

Rethinking the Street Space: Why Street Design Matters

Streets aren't just for driving, and cities are starting to realize it. Amber Hawkes and Georgia Sheridan explain why street design matters and where we are today in terms of designing the "street space."

July 23, 2009 - Amber Hawkes

Redesigning the Fire Hydrant

The gush of an uncapped fire hydrant in the summer is a welcome relief for urban dwellers, but the water loss is staggering. Landscape architect Adrienne Cortez decided to find a solution to keeping people cool and similarly activating public space.

July 22, 2009 - Urban Omnibus

LEED-ND: Yay or Nay?

After five years of preparation and testing, members of the US Green Building Council (USGBC) and the Congress for the New Urbanism will begin balloting in late July on whether to authorize a full-fledged LEED-Neighborhood Development program.

July 22, 2009 - New Urban News

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.