Land Use

A Tale Of Two Theaters

The theaters are in the same city, owned by the same company, a mile apart. One is by the highway on a 14-acre lot, the other is two stories in the middle of town with underground, metered parking, and eateries on the ground level. One is closing.

October 14, 2008 - The Examiner

Golf Course Development Stuck in Sand Trap

The uber-wealthy are still buying homes on luxury golf course developments, but the rest of the market is hurting as courses close and projects stall around the world.

October 13, 2008 - The Wall St. Journal

Alps Endangered as Swiss Sprawl Spreads

Over the last 70 years, sprawl has rapidly taken over much of Switzerland, not just in suburban areas around cities, but also in the country's famous Alps.

October 13, 2008 - SwissInfo

Transportation Infrastructure Now

Mariia Zimmerman of Transportation for America makes the case for a significant investment in transportation infrastructure, from bike paths to inter-city trains.

October 13, 2008 - NOW

Gulf Coast Ponders Future Amid Erosion and Destruction

As land continues to disappear along the Gulf Coast and hurricane damages increase, many are beginning to reconsider whether to rebuild or retreat.

October 12, 2008 - USA Today

Is Farmland Preservation Worthwhile?

Preserving farmland has always been a major issue in the U.S. But as Bill Fulton discusses, the local economic results don't quite justify the efforts.

October 12, 2008 - Governing

Dubai on a Path to 'Ecological Disaster'

With too much focus on "architectural bling" and a hyperactive development pattern, Dubai is in danger of becoming a modern planning disaster, according to architect Thom Mayne.

October 11, 2008 - Building Design

What Copenhagen's Parks Can Learn From New York

Park planners from Denmark recently toured some of New York's parks and found much to be jealous of.

October 10, 2008 - The New York Times

Controversial Land Use Law in Utah

A battle is brewing in Utah over a Senate bill that banned voters from overturning land use decisions, and the power plant that is the first significant land use to be impacted by the law.

October 10, 2008 - The Salt Lake Tribune

Noise Pollution in San Francisco is A Health Risk, Study Shows

A new study shows that noise pollution on the streets of San Francisco is putting nearly one in six residents at risk for heart disease, high blood pressure and other stress-related illnesses.

October 10, 2008 - The San Francisco Chronicle

Vancouver's Garbage Woes May be Alleviated

A proposal to turn part of a 6,000-hectare copper mine into a landfill has just been given the green light for an environmental assessment. The garbage dump would bury 250,000 metric tons of garbage from 25 local communities annually.

October 9, 2008 - The Globe and Mail

Three Perspectives on CA's 'Smart Growth' Bill

The New York Times, San Francisco Chronicle, and Sacramento Bee editorialize on the signing of SB 375, California's new landmark law that is intended to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by reducing vehicle miles traveled through better land use.

October 9, 2008 - The New York Times

The Cost of Density

As Toronto's heritage buildings fall to disrepair, new condominiums are slated to go up in their stead, prompting outcry from preservationists.

October 9, 2008 - Toronto Star

Bloomberg's Third Term A Boon For Citymaking

A third term for New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg has been sold as a method to save Wall Street, but it's really more important to the city's urban planning, according to this piece from The Architect's Newspaper.

October 9, 2008 - The Architect's Newspaper

Breaking Down the Big Box

October 9, 2008 - Josh Stephens

Prescribing a Healthy Future For Charlotte

Charlotte faces a number of challenges in the 21st century, from rising immigration to declining industry to sprawl. This Citistates Report suggests one strategy to harbor a healthy future: go green.

October 8, 2008 - The Charlotte Observer

Showcasing Suburbia

An exhibit at the Carnegie Museum of Art offers an unbiased, "awestruck" exploration of America's suburbs.

October 8, 2008 - Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Continued Demolition Threatens New Orleans Character

In post-Katrina New Orleans, a fine line exists between razing potentially deadly structures, and harnessing a zeal for wholesale redevelopment.

October 7, 2008 - New Orleans City Business

Residents Call For Expansion of Seattle Growth Boundary

Residents in the Seattle region are calling on officials to expand the area's urban growth boundary to allow denser development in what is currently outside the border.

October 7, 2008 - The Seattle Times

Church's Parking Plans Stir Atlantans

Plans to demolish three houses to make room for more parking have pitted residents against an Atlanta church, arguing that city's planning blueprint prohibits demolitions for new surface parking. The church has filed suit.

October 6, 2008 - The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

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.