United States
Shaping America's Cities: Part 3 - A Debate Over Mass Transit
Author Robert Bruegmann and activist Gloria Ohland continue their week-long debate on planning issues. Today's topic is mass transit and the automobile.
Second Home Owners Engaging In Activism
Vacation home owners are getting involved in local issues in their second communities.
Big City Farming On the 20th Floor
'Vertical farming' -- the idea of growing crops and livestock in high-rise buildings -- could be a solution to the high environmental costs of transporting food from distant farms to dense urban areas.
Streetcars Seeding Economic Development Across U.S.
While some decry streetcars as expensive and inefficient, evidence is building in cities across the U.S. that the systems can serve as powerful boons to economic development.
Which Cities Will Be Abandoned by 2100?
A special Forbes series on the Future of Cities includes estimations about the types of communities and major cities may face extinction by 2100.
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.
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.
City of Rosemead
Rutgers University, Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy
One Hundred Miles
University of Michigan School for Environment and Sustainability (SEAS)
Hunter College, City University of New York (CUNY)
The Architects Foundation
City of Cambridge
Montrose County
The Pocatello Development Authority
