United States

Some Cities 'Too Much Fun'

With job cuts and cost-saving measures the watchword of the day, cities like Orlando and Las Vegas are fighting their fun-loving image to attract serious-minded conventioneers.

June 18, 2009 - The Orlando Sentinel

How are Cities Experiencing the Recession?

A new Brookings Institution study shows that American cities are experiencing the recession at "radically varying levels."

June 17, 2009 - Huffington Post

Renewable Energy System is on the Way

President Obama plans to spend billions on building an interstate highway-style system for energy.

June 17, 2009 - Discover Magazine

The Sludge Threat

Coal ash retention ponds are so numerous and so toxic that they are now considered to be a potential threat to national security.

June 17, 2009 - Huffington Post

US-Arab Annual Cities Forum Next Week

Next week, the Greater Amman Municipality will host activities of the 2nd US-Arab Forum, which will last from June 22 to June 24.

June 17, 2009 - Jordan Times

Infill is Standard Operating Procedure

The U.S. Bureau of the Census is producing new data that shows how infill development is affecting urban areas. Wendell Cox says that the new data shows that infill has been happening since 1960 with or without mandates.

June 16, 2009 - New Geography

Katrina Victims May Face Eviction

Thousands of families who are still living in temporary trailers after Hurricane Katrina face uncertainty in their housing this summer.

June 16, 2009 - The Boston Globe

Say Goodbye to Rest Stops

The state-supported rest stop, an American institution since 1956, is dying off. The rise of roadside retail and declining government coffers are to blame, says GOOD Magazine.

June 16, 2009 - GOOD Magazine

More Americans Have Green Jobs

Wired Science reports that there are now 770,000 green jobs among 62,800 businesses in the U.S., which makes up 3.7 percent of the overall job market.

June 16, 2009 - Wired

With New Rail Expansions, TOD Is On The Rise

An overview in the New York Times of the success of transit-oriented development around new rail lines. TOD succeeds even in a poor housing market, experts say.

June 15, 2009 - The New York Times

Driving Less and Flying Less, Too

Figures from the U.S. Department of Transportation show that the number of nationwide air passengers has declined from the previous year.

June 14, 2009 - SF.STREETSBLOG.org

Transit Operating Aid in War Bill

House and Senate negotiators decided a $106 billion war bill, from which 10 percent would be granted to transit operating costs.

June 14, 2009 - la.streetsblog.org

Fewer Cars for Better Cities

Cities are warming up to the idea that planning for the future means more car sharing programs and fewer parking spaces.

June 13, 2009 - The New York Times

Economic Benefits of Urban Creek Cleaning

Restorationists and environmentalists are placing their focus on urban streams and creeks, which struggle with urban pollution. Working to clean them up is turning out to be a good way to create jobs and stimulate the local economy.

June 13, 2009 - High Country News

Virtual Planning

An interview with Eric Gordon, who was part of a team that recently won a MacArthur grant for using Second Life as a community planning tool.

June 12, 2009 - Metropolis Magazine

Turning Homes Into Self-Sustaining Energy Producers

Emilio Ramirez proposed a single family power plant in Metropolis’s 2009 Next Generation competition.

June 12, 2009 - Metropolis Magazine

Street Food of the World

In an exhibition called Global Street Food at the Vitra Design Museum, portable kitchens from all over the world are presented.

June 11, 2009 - Metropolis Magazine

Energy Plan Might Stifle Growth, Say Governors

During an energy conference sponsored by the Southern Growth Policies Board, a number of governors said that taxes on energy production might drive up the cost of gas, which will could an impact on the whole industry.

June 11, 2009 - The Miami Herald

The Founder of ZipCar Moves Into Ride Sharing

Robin Chase co-founded ZipCar in 2000. Now she's working on GoLoco, a ride sharing system based on the ZipCar platforms.

June 11, 2009 - Urban Omnibus

Designers Should Lead to Fight Emissions

WorldChanging argues that more leadership from architects, landscape architects and planners is needed in a review of progress on Ed Mazria's 2030 Challenge, which calls for all buildings to be carbon neutral by 2030.

June 11, 2009 - THE DIRT

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.