Land Use

Longest Serving Mayor Offers Planning Advice

Wisdom, civic pride, and unparalled experience have helped Joe Riley turn Charleston, SC, into one of America's finest cities.

September 11, 2005 - The Planning Report

Three Planning Concepts For Rebuilding New Orleans

Patrick Doherty disagrees with New York Times columnist David Brooks' suggestions for rebuilding New Orleans. He argues that a redevelopment plan for New Orleans should adopt three urban planning concepts and lead the way for other U.S. metro areas.

September 9, 2005 - Common Sense

Can New Orleans Heal Its Old Problems By Rebuilding?

Can New Orleans rebuild its gritty charm without recreating 'hyperconcentrations of poverty'? Many fear the New Orleans will become a sanitized version of its past.

September 9, 2005 - The Wall Street Journal

Can A Rebuilt New Orleans Retain Its Character?

With federal aid available, pet redevelopment projects are now possible. Some worry that a rebuilt New Orleans will lose its distinct character.

September 9, 2005 - Pittsburgh Post-Gazette (via Wall Street Journal)

'Dirty Harry' Approach To Rebuilding

Most of California and the country would be unpopulated if we didn't rebuild on risky terrain. Instead, most communities use the 'Dirty Harry College of Urban Planning' motto, 'Do I feel lucky?'

September 7, 2005 - The Los Angeles Times

New Orleans Topography

NASA offers simulated views of the effects of storm surge flooding on Lake Pontchartrain and the New Orleans area.

September 5, 2005 - NASA

Katrina: An 'Unnatural Disaster'

Hurricane Katrinia was an 'unnatural disaster' if ever there was one, says Theodore Steinberg, an environmental historian.

September 4, 2005 - Wall St. Journal

Learning From Grand Forks' 'Flood Of The Century'

The Planning Commissioner's Journal offers free access to an article about the devastating flood that hit theGrand Forks metro area in 1997 and local recovery efforts.

September 4, 2005 - Planning Commissioners Journal

New Orleans Disaster Has Political Planning Roots

Human interference with the flow of the Mississippi for a century is one of the root causes of the devastation in New Orleans.

September 2, 2005 - The Chicago Tribune

An Interview With New Orleans' Former Planning Director

The former director of city planning discusses what will be needed to rebuild the city.

September 2, 2005 - National Public Radio

New Orleans' Tragic Relationship With Water

Water has sustained New Orleans and perpetually threatened it. City officials estimated that 80% of the town is under standing water.

August 31, 2005 - The Los Angeles Times

New Orleans' Historic Struggle Against Rising Waters

An excerpt from John McPhee's book, "The Control of Nature", shows why New Orleans has always been vulnerable to flooding.

August 31, 2005 - Salon

Trees, Ocean Vistas And Jail Time

A neighbors' feud in Malibu over eucalyptus trees that block an ocean view could result in jail time.

August 29, 2005 - The Los Angeles Times

A Suburb Too Far?

How far can a suburb be from a metropolitan area? How far are people willing to drive?

August 29, 2005 - The Washington Post

Problems With 'Prestige' Infill Development

Prestige developments may make for good plans, but they are "hell" for surrounding neighborhoods.

August 29, 2005 - The Los Angeles Times

America

More Americans can’t afford decent housing.

August 29, 2005 - Michigan Land Use Institute

Weak Building Codes And Hurricane Katrina

New Orlean's weak building codes, lax code enforcement and old, wood-framed buildings could make Hurricane Katrina more devastaing.

August 29, 2005 - The Miami Herald

Suburban Mall To Become Mixed-use Development

The struggling Mission Center Mall has been sold to a New York based developer with plans to overhaul it into a dense mixed-use development.

August 28, 2005 - The Kansas City Star

So Much Is Expanding - But Not Land

There really is a land supply problem where people want to live.

August 27, 2005 - Freezerbox

Underground Land Values

Very often, underground land values appear to be a missing factor in land economics and planning.

August 27, 2005 - Land Use Policy

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.