Land Use

New Report: Use Cap & Trade Revenue To Invest In Smart Growth

Cap and trade is the topic du jour in climate change circles. A new report from CCAP makes the economic case for using those revenues to promote smart growth that reduces transportation emissions though VMT reductions.

June 24, 2009 - Center for Clean Air Policy Press Release

REVIEW: Welcome to the Urban Revolution

In his new book Welcome to the Urban Revolution: How Cities are Changing the World, Jeb Brugmann proposes a new way of thinking about citybuilding. Planetizen Correspondent Michael Dudley has this review.

June 24, 2009 - Michael Dudley

Kunstler Says "Too Late" For High-Speed Rail

Returning from CNU, James Howard Kunstler reacts to a NY Times article about California's high-speed rail plans, and reflects on New Urbanism's shift away from traditional-neighborhood developments and into preparing for the 'long emergency'.

June 23, 2009 - Kunstler.com

Dubai's Strange Development Pattern Spreading

The economic downturn has halted many projects in Dubai, but the show's not over in the elaborate emirate. In fact, its patterns of development may even be spreading to other cities around the world.

June 23, 2009 - Los Angeles Times

Against the Bulldozer

Struggling cities are increasingly looking at the idea of bulldozing vacant properties and "shrinking". But two columnists argue it might not be such a good idea.

June 23, 2009 - Citiwire

Back-To-Nature Plans Stall Innovation

According to this op-ed, allowing cities to de-densify undermines the importance of the city's role in society at large--namely, as a breeding ground for technological and cultural innovation.

June 23, 2009 - Los Angeles Times

Parking Vs. Healthy Food

Some cities are change zoning laws to free smaller supermarkets from having to supply parking spaces in order to provide enough nutritious food to low-income residents.

June 22, 2009 - STREETSBLOG.ORG

Finding Public Space Wherever They Can in Cairo

Dense Cairo has few sanctioned public spaces. So residents make do wherever they can.

June 21, 2009 - The New York Times

New York's Coney Island Makeover Moves Forward

New York City's planning commission recently approved a plan to revitalize Coney Island.

June 20, 2009 - Crain's New York Business

Smart Growth Suburbia?

The Lighthouse at Long Island is a proposed 5.5 million sq. ft. of mixed-use development covering 150 acres of Nassau County. The developers see it as a new form of smart growth suburbia.

June 19, 2009 - The New York Times

Agricultural Land, Permanently

25 farmers in Fairfield County, Ohio are attempting to prevent future development by preserving their farmland in permanent agricultural use.

June 19, 2009 - The Columbus Dispatch

The Return of Streetcar Architecture

Portland, Oregon sees the revival of building styles not seen since the last time streetcars rolled through the city.

June 18, 2009 - The Oregonian

Sidewalks Key Factor Influencing Physical Activity

A new study provides further evidence that incorporating sidewalks into existing neighborhoods is a practical and inexpensive way of encouraging people to exercise.

June 18, 2009 - SDSU NewsCenter

Masterplanning the Architecture of the Near Future

As the population rises, underused and empty spaces are going to fill in. How well the transition works depends on shifts in demographics and infrastructure, as well as architecture. A studio of UCLA architecture students were asked to plot that transition. But before they could be architects, they had to be planners.

June 18, 2009 - Nate Berg

"Grow Smart Bay Area" Report Released

With great fanfare, the Bay Area's Greenbelt Alliance has released a new report, "Grow Smart Bay Area", the premise being that future population and job growth can be accommodated by infill and by doing so, will add to the region's sustainability.

June 17, 2009 - San Jose Mercury News

Height Ordinance: A Broader Issue

South Walton is considering pass a height ordinance to limit the buildings to 50 feet.

June 17, 2009 - Northwest Florida Daily News

Urban gardens provide food to Philadelphia residents

Mini-farms across the city boost neighborhood appearances, help low-income residents in tough economic times

June 17, 2009 - Philadelphia Daily News

How Rail Spurred A Makeover In Tysons Corner

Tysons Corner is hoping to go from a 9-to-5 work farm to a 24-hour city.

June 16, 2009 - Time

Rising Costs of Farmland Affecting Suburban Growth

As farmland prices skyrocketed, so did the cost of growing a suburb.

June 15, 2009 - New Geography

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.