Social / Demographics

Hospitals Scaling Up Along With Houston's Population

Houston's status as one of the fastest growing metropolitan areas in the country has not gone unnoticed by the healthcare industry.

June 24, 2015 - Houston Chronicle

Pittsburgh's Plan to Promote Diversity and In-Migration

Seemingly on the rebound after a 55-year decline in population, Pittsburgh is ready to move into a new era as an attractive destination for immigrants and a diverse population of residents.

June 24, 2015 - Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Houston Traffic

Houston Rethinks Mass Transit

For decades, Houston has experienced car-oriented development, giving little attention to other forms of transportation. In recent years, however, rapid population growth and increase in traffic congestion has the city revisiting alternate options

June 23, 2015 - Doggerel

A Case Study in Planning for Inclusion and Affordability

New federal programs are enabling planning processes that deliver positive outcomes for a broader scope of the population. Seattle provides an example of how federal money is supporting the success of inclusive planning processes.

June 22, 2015 - Next City

Dot Map LA

Diverse on Paper, Segregated in Reality

Many places are statistically diverse, but their inhabits can be worlds apart. A local perspective (and finer data) is needed to fully appreciate how different races and classes inhabit a neighborhood.

June 22, 2015 - Rice Kinder Institute for Urban Research

Support for Walmart Grows Nationally

Opposition to Walmart is now holding at just 50 percent, when people are asked how they would feel if a Walmart was proposed "in your community." Support for Walmart is up 16 percentage points since 2006.

June 19, 2015 - The Saint Index

Paterson: A Postindustrial Portrait

Once a major industrial hub, Paterson, NJ has experienced urban decline since the end of World War II. But the city is rich with history and opportunities for revival. The article chronicles how the city can avail these opportunities through design.

June 18, 2015 - Doggerel

San Antonio Outpaces Austin in Millennial Growth

The question remains whether San Antonio can back up the population of young people moving to the city with desirable multi-family housing.

June 17, 2015 - San Antonio Business Journal

Urban Institute Report: Peak Homeownership Reached Nine Years Ago

Homeownership peaked at 67.3% in 2006. The Urban Institute forecasts its decline to the year 2030. Emily Badger of The Washington Post Wonkblog writes on the report released this month that evaluates homeownership rates among different demographics.

June 17, 2015 - The Washington Post - Wonkblog

Latest Hotbed of High Speed Rail Opposition: San Fernando Valley

Opposition, followed by legal action to the California High-Speed Rail project began in Northern California, spread to the Central Valley, and now has hit southern California, particularly in the San Fernando Valley of Los Angeles County.

June 17, 2015 - Los Angeles Times

Mo' Money, Mo' Problems: Community Edition

Do we ever reach a point as a community wherein our problems are behind us? Sorry, but no. If anything, it gets more complicated.

June 15, 2015 - PlaceShakers

Michigan House Road Funding Plan B Would Rob Peter to Pay Paul

Now that voters have decisively rejected a sales tax measure that would have also hiked the gas tax, House representatives have proposed eliminating the state's Earned Income Tax Credit that benefits the working poor to help pay for roads.

June 15, 2015 - Record-Eagle

Harvard Report: Fracking Yields Equity Gains for American Workforce

A new Harvard Business School report lays the economic and equity case for fracking—through direct and indirect job creation, America's middle class is reaping substantial wage gains and reduced energy costs. Renewables are also discussed.

June 12, 2015 - NPR Morning Edition

Mental Map

Using Neuroscience to Build Neighborhoods

The brain has a complex, ancient relationship with place. Mental maps are the manifestation of our brains' perception of place and wayfinding. These maps can have profound impacts on how residents appreciate, and improve, their neighborhoods.

June 11, 2015 - Pacific Standard

New York City Construction

U.S. Opposition to New Development

New data from the 2015 Saint Index shows what projects provoke the most opposition in the United States when proposed "In your community."

June 10, 2015 - The 2015 Saint Index

McKinney: Public, Private Divide Often Follows Race

Urbanism media noted the growing privatization of recreation facilities, such as pools, as one of the lessons to be taken from a controversial encounter between police and black teenagers in McKinney, Texas over the weekend.

June 9, 2015 - The Atlantic

Uhaul Trucks

The New Housing Crisis: Declining Homeownership, Increasing Rental Costs

Research from the Urban Institute identifies market and demographic trends that could mean a future housing market that will stand in stark contrast to the "subprime mania of the early 2000s."

June 9, 2015 - The Wall Street Journal

Bus Stop Winter

People Still Want Buses, But Buses Aren't Delivering

Urban light rail has enjoyed a renaissance since the Great Recession, but during the same period cities have quietly reduced bus service. Daniel Hertz argues that while rail is commendable, buses remain a vital transit component.

June 8, 2015 - City Observatory City Commentary

Should Young Artists Move to Detroit?

Two University of North Carolina School of the Arts students spend a month investigating the artistic climate of Detroit and whether it's a place where young theater artists should move.

June 8, 2015 - Investigate Detroit

Inner Harbor, Baltimore

Shaking the 'Inner City' Stigma

The recent riots in Baltimore have revived the old stereotype of poor, crime-infested inner cities. Orlando Patterson argues in the New York Times that the truth about inner cities is much more nuanced and hopeful.

June 6, 2015 - New York Times

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.