United States

The Urban Big Box Battle

A proposed minimum wage ordinance in the City of Chicago to require higher wages for urban big box employees is defeated.

September 15, 2006 - The Slatin Report

Developers Form Institutes To Keep New Urbanist Ideals Alive

Seaside's New Institutes Program helps communities establish nonprofit organizations different from homeowners' associations.

September 15, 2006 - New Urban News

City Indicators For Success

CEOs for Cities editorial writer interviews economist Joe Cortwright on what makes cities successful. Hint: Don't copy other cities.

September 15, 2006 - Richmond Times-Dispatch

Trees Make Streets Safer, Not Deadlier

A transportation researcher at Texas A&M has set about to prune the view against fixed hazardous objects -- a.k.a. street trees.

September 14, 2006 - New Urban News

Does Highway Expansion Solve Urban Traffic Congestion?

A new paper evaluates claims that highway capacity expansion is a cost effective and desirable solution to urban traffic congestion problems.

September 14, 2006 - Victoria Transport Policy Institute

Colleges Vying To Become Leaders In Sustainability

The race to paint the ivory tower "green" is underway, with colleges and universities hoping to attract students to new eco-conscious campuses.

September 14, 2006 - Grist

Beats From The Streets

The ingredients for a lively music scene aren’t just talent and recording studios, but an urban venue of great streets and neighborhoods where artists can interact and draw inspiration.

September 14, 2006 - Terrain.org

Documenting The American Landscape

The Center for Land Use Interpretation's Land Use Database is a repository of information about unusual and exemplary sites throughout the United States.

September 13, 2006 - MetropolisMag.com

New Study Connects Longevity To Geography

According to a recent study in the online journal PLoS Medicine, longevity varies by ethnicity and location.

September 13, 2006 - Richmond Times-Dispatch

Universities Integrate Design Education, Environmental Practices

A look at six programs in the U.S. that are putting environmental principles to practice in education.

September 12, 2006 - Metropolis Magazine

Big Three U.S. Auto Makers Commit To Fuel Efficiency

Falling gas prices are not deterring Detroit from it's new mission of fuel efficiency. All three domestic auto manufacturers are committed to achieving 30 mpg for mid-sized vehicles, driven largely by consumer demand.

September 12, 2006 - The Wall Street Journal

Are Real Estate Reviews A Good Thing?

Two new web sites, ZipRealty, Inc. and Reply Inc., allow customers to post reviews of homes. Some are meant to be humorous, but some are mean-spirited and misleading. Is this the future of on-line real estate?

September 12, 2006 - The Wall Street Journal

When Growing Energy Demand And Land Conservation Collide

Fierce battles may arise between regional energy interests providing power to Northern Virginia’s sprawling suburbs and local land conservationists.

September 12, 2006 - The Washington Post

New York Times Special Report On Ground Zero Rebuilding

A 24-page special report looks at the "combination of big money, prime real estate, bottomless grief, artistic ego and dreams of legacy" that has left Ground Zero as "a 16-acre, 70-foot-deep hole in the heart of Lower Manhattan."

September 11, 2006 - The New York Times

Will Deep Water Drilling Prevent The End Of Oil?

The new oil and gas field discovered in the Gulf of Mexico is of epic proportion -- not only in amount of oil (increasing US reserves by 50%), but the technology used to tap it. A new wave of deep water drilling is to be expected.

September 11, 2006 - The New York Times

Planner Profile: Brian Wallace

September 11, 2006 - Brian Wallace

Distinguishing The Work Of A Good Architect

A slideshow on Slate.com examines the work of famous architects using staircase design as a case study.

September 10, 2006 - Slate Magazine

Five Years Of Segway

It has been called "The Invention That Runs On Hype". But the Segway may well play a role in the future of transportation and our cities.

September 9, 2006 - BusinessWeek

William Garnett's Poetic Vision With Aerial Photography

William A. Garnett, a pioneer of aerial photographs that revealed unusual land patterns died at the age of 86.

September 9, 2006 - The Los Angeles Times

Friday Funny: A Dig At The 9/11 Memorial Project's Progress

Five years after 9/11, satirical publication The Onion reports on the World Trade Center rebuilding effort in New York City.

September 8, 2006 - The Onion

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.

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.