Land Use

The Transformation of our Cities

'I'm pretty convinced we're in the midst of a transformation which is probably as profound as what happened immediately after the Second World War,' says planner Ken Greenberg in an interview in Metropolis.

January 25, 2010 - Metropolis Magazine

A New Future for Haiti?

Raymond Joseph, Haitian ambassador to the U.S., sees the opportunity to build a smaller, better city from the ruins.

January 25, 2010 - The Seattle Times

Cities in Constant Flux

While cities may seem permanent, a group called Architecture 2030 claims that a majority of the buildings in cities today will be rebuilt by the year 2035.

January 25, 2010 - Grist

U.S. Military Base Plans Threatened by New Mayor of Japanese Town

The recent election of a new mayor in a small town on the Japanese island of Okinawa has severely threatened plans to build a new U.S. military base in the town.

January 25, 2010 - The New York Times

Moving the Tipping Point for Creative Places

Human-scaled, creative development isn't getting built because most of the money in real estate comes from institutional investors that prefer predictable, large scale projects like subdivisions and strip malls, says Neil Takemoto of CoolTown Beta Communities.

January 25, 2010 - Neil Takemoto

Chicago's Privatized Parking Meters: Fiasco, or Success Story?

The City of Chicago, in a much criticized move, recently privatized its parking enforcement. Stephen Goldsmith says the program should be celebrated instead of booed.

January 24, 2010 - Governing Magazine

The Slow Evolution From Surface Parking to Garages

Lisa Gray paints a picture of downtown Houston's inexorable evolution from a city full of ground level parking lots to a denser metropolis where multi-level garages are commonplace.

January 24, 2010 - The Houston Chronicle

Uncertain Fate for The Igloo

Pittburgh's Mellon Arena, known to locals as "The Igloo," is facing an unsure fate. Preservationists want to save the structure, but others imagine demolishing it and replacing with a new neighborhood.

January 24, 2010 - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

The History of Street Food

A radio interview in Chicago talks about the merits of street food and the historical reasons for restrictions on vendors.

January 23, 2010 - WGN Radio 720

Conservation Easements on the Rise

This piece from Miller-McCune looks at the conservation easement and explains how the legal device is being used to protect land and prevent sprawl.

January 22, 2010 - Miller-McCune

America's Depression, Infrastructure and Stubborn Way of Life

This essay from Places looks at today's economic depression, the nation's crumbling infrastructure, and various efforts to rethink they way America looks at fixing its cities.

January 22, 2010 - Places

A Return to the Countryside in Battered Haiti

Haitians are moving back out into the countryside after the Capital city of Port-au-Prince suffered devastation from a series of earthquakes this month. Some argue the move back to the country may be a good thing for Haiti.

January 22, 2010 - The New York Times

Obama Is At War With Suburbia, Says Kotkin

Joel Kotkin says that the recent Republican win in Massachusetts shows that suburban voters are in revolt against the Obama administration's urban-centric policies.

January 21, 2010 - The American

New Urbanism in Abu Dhabi

While Dubai's fantastical Burj Khalifa is mostly empty and development has ground to a halt, Abu Dhabi continues to develop - and smartly, says Philip Langdon.

January 21, 2010 - New Urban News

Local Leaders Seek Louder Voice in Planning of Bridge to Portland

After years of planning, a proposed new bridge between Portland, Oregon and Vancouver, Washington is facing collapsing political support. Local leaders oppose some aspects of the plan.

January 21, 2010 - The Oregonian

The Worst Commutes in America

The Daily Beast has released a list of the 75 worst commutes in America. Top of the list: L.A.'s Hollywood Freeway.

January 20, 2010 - The Daily Beast

Cities With High Percentage of Car-less

Transportation planner Jarrett Walker looks at the top 50 cities of over 100k people and the percentage of people who don't own a car. Do the cities that made the list shed some light on how planners can discourage car use?

January 20, 2010 - Human Transit

Fighting Mumbai's Demand for Car Ownership

The demand for personal transportation is quickly growing in Mumbai. This post from The City Fix looks at what the city will need to do to prevent the negative impacts of what could be a growing storm of car ownership.

January 20, 2010 - The City Fix

Despite Praise, Portland Has Room for Improvement

Portland, Oregon, is held high on a pedestal for innovative urban planning and development. But the city has its drawbacks and needs to face them, writes Aaron M. Renn.

January 20, 2010 - The Oregonian

Reacting to LaHood and 'Livability'

The National Journal Online talks to three transportation experts about the recent statements by DOT Secretary LaHood that the agency would begin using livability-based funding guidelines for major transit projects. Will it work?

January 19, 2010 - National Journal Online

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.