United States
Kotkin: Crisis Won't Bring About Urban Renaissance
Joel Kotkin derides urban boosters who have looked to external forces -- such as the mortgage meltdown -- to fuel an "urban renaissance", rather than looking at altering their own economic environments to be more attractive to investors.
Rays of Hope
Solar energy initiatives are taking off all across the country, despite some reservations over the impacts of large-scale installations.
Ailing Chrysler Drops Hybrid SUV Just As It Goes On Lots
No sooner had Chrysler released its new hybrid SUV- a Dodge Durango 40% more efficient than its gas-only counterpart- than it has been forced to close the factory where both versions are produced in order to save on costs.
Driving Habits Revert as Gas Prices Drop
Gas prices are falling, and drivers are going right back to their gas-guzzling ways.
Lights Out for Renewable Energy?
David Morris of the Institute for Local Self-Reliance wonders if the economic crisis will see alternative energy fall off the political agenda, or if the next president will recognize the economic benefits of renewable energy investments.
Re-Inventing the Mall
Shopping malls are rarely architectural gems. Architects, especially big-name architects, typically try to stay away from designing them. But now architects are rethinking how malls should be, and looking to examples of the distant past for guidance.
'Design as Activism': The Rise of the Citizen Architect
This special issue of Metropolis Magazine highlights "citizen architects" working on small-scale projects to improve local communities.
Car Dealerships Closing Shop
Car dealerships -- long-sought by cities as big tax revenue generators -- are struggling in the economic downturn. Nearly 600 have closed this year, and another 100 are expected to shut down by the end of the year.
The Work of Neighborhood Stabilization
Foreclosures are blighting neighborhoods across the country. There's no question that something needs to be done. But to react effectively, the field of community development needs to carefully consider which areas should be targeted and how much can be saved, argues Charles Buki.
Segregated in the City
As more and more people move to the cities, the prevalence of economic and racial segregation becomes more and more apparent.
Pointing the Finger at Planners
In allowing places to be designed for cars before people, city planners are primarily to blame for creating an "autocentric" America, according to this article.
Why It's Different This Time
Historically, green initiatives come about as responses to energy crises, but are abandoned when oil prices drop and the economy busts. This time around, though, that's less likely to happen.
Obama, the 'Tin-Cup Urbanist'
If history is any indicator, Senator Obama's presidential plans to pump more federal money into fixing cities' problems are futile and wasteful, according to Steven Malanga.
One Developer's Outlook
Dawanna Williams of Dabar Development Partners discusses the narrower options for mid-sized developers in the current financial climate.
Trains Are Not Planes
Amtrak and other rail systems are using air travel as their model of service, which Alex Marshall argues is a big mistake given the advantages of rail that they fail to exploit.
Getting Food and Farming on the Next President's Mind
The next president should take farming seriously and personally, according to Neal Pierce, who writes that rethinking the scale of food production is smart for regions, the environment and the economy.
Fix America's Infrastructure, Fix the Economy
The next president must commit to fixing our infrastructure, says Dave Demerjian of Wired. Such an investment will create jobs, strengthen our economy and make America more competitive.
Three Oil Producing Nations Impacted By Oil Price Plunge
Plunging oil prices are hitting three oil-producing countries the hardest: Venezuela, Iran, and Russia. This article looks at each of them and evaluates how they will fare if oil prices do not rise, including their relationships to the U.S.
Reusing Empty Big Boxes
Sometimes big box retailers get too big for the boxes they're in. So they move. What's left behind are huge empty buildings -- and opportunities for re-use.
'Can Hard Times Be Good for Architecture?'
Critic Christopher Hawthorne argues that a difficult market could lead architecture away from a fascination with large, iconic buildings to a focus on the 'connective tissue' of cities.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
Heyer Gruel & Associates PA
JM Goldson LLC
Custer County Colorado
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
Transportation Research & Education Center (TREC) at Portland State University
Jefferson Parish Government
Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Claremont
