United States
Google To Fund Plug-in Hybrid Car Development
Internet search giant Google will give $10 million to support the development of plug-in hybrid cars.
Indoor Activities Cut Time Kids Spend Outdoors
A number of studies have detailed the decreasing amount of time children spend outdoors -- a revelation that is prompting policy makers to look for ways to pull kids away from indoor activities such as video games and the Internet.
Shaping America's Cities: Part 1 - A Debate Over Sprawl
Author Robert Bruegmann and activist Gloria Ohland debate over urban sprawl.
U.S. Cities Follow Californian Opposition To Wal-Mart
Many cities are following the lead of various municipalities up and down California that are using any and all possible powers to prevent Wal-Marts from moving in. But despite the growing opposition, business is booming.
EPA Bullseye: Smart Growth Targets Big Builders
The US EPA is directing educational and research efforts that explain (among other things) the financial benefits of smart growth directly to the nation's largest homebuilders and developers.
Following in The Footsteps Of Chinatown
From Thai Towns to Little Ethiopias, cultural and ethnically-themed neighborhoods are increasingly sought by cities to lure economic activity and residents.
Historic Preservation Is Environmentally Friendly, Too
Saving and reusing older buildings converses resources on top of preserving a communities historic character.
Census Figures Show More People Commuting Alone
Despite rising gas prices, more people are commuting to work alone, the amount of carpoolers has dropped, and no increase has been seen in the percentage of Americans who use public transit, according to recent figures from the U.S. Census Bureau.
Want A Strong Economy? Provide Good Child-Care
Research by several economists shows that areas with a lack of child-care suffer economically, since parents are more likely to drop out of the workforce or move to communities with more options.
Pavement In The Park
U.S city parks have given over large swaths of green to automobile storage, but not every park is held hostage by the automobile. Cities are finding ways to increase access while relieving pressure to provide parking in parks.
Putting Business Incentives On A Leash
State and local governments are starting to demand money back from companies that receive tax breaks and grants to locate in their community, and then skip town.
Study Shows Walkable Nieghborhoods Important To Health Of Elderly
Walkability has been shown to greatly improve the health and wellbeing of senior citizens. In response to recent studies on this issue, planners are looking to create walkable neighborhoods that encourage healthy habits for residents of all ages.
Western Governments Team Up Against Greenhouse Gases
With a regional goal of curbing greenhouse gas emissions, the Western governments of British Columbia, California, Washington, Oregon, Arizona, New Mexico and Utah have joined forces to push environmental policies the federal government has avoided.
EPA And Cities Focus On Cleaning Up Water-Faring Vessels
Efforts are underway to 'green' ferries and other commercial ships -- which represent a major but largely ignored source of air pollution.
Growing Old In The Suburbs
A new report from the Brookings Institution shows that suburbs are aging faster than cities -- and may signal a desire by seniors to stay put in their suburban communities.
For Economic Development, Casinos Don't Pay
While more states are approving commercial casinos in hopes of creating jobs and increasing tax revenues, economists are increasing skeptical of the benefits of legalized gambling.
TODs Prove To Be A Boon For Urban Regions
In this special report, the WSJ examines the growing popularity of rail-based TODs, examining their effect on land values as well as the challenges they may face in obtaining approval.
The Housing Bubble and the Baby Boomers
The troubling ratio of mortgage debt to housing value is going to pose a problem for millions of baby boomers, who are set to retire with almost no equity, according to Dean Baker of the Center for Economic and Policy Research in Washington, D.C.
Building TODs Without The Transit
With pedestrian-friendly urban design increasingly popular, many suburban communities are building urban village-type developments usually designed around transit stations -- except they don't have transit.
More U.S. Cities Make Kyoto Protocol Pledge
More than 500 American cities have signed on to voluntarily comply with the Kyoto Protocol, an international set of standards to reduce greenhouse gas emissions that the U.S. has repeatedly refused to sign.
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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.
Gallatin County Department of Planning & Community Development
Heyer Gruel & Associates PA
JM Goldson LLC
Mpact (founded as Rail~Volution)
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
Jefferson Parish Government
Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Claremont