Social / Demographics
How a Small Town Absorbs 80,000 Concertgoers
Every summer, tiny Manchester, Tennessee, becomes a metropolis of rockers and concertgoers as the Bonnaroo music festival comes to a nearby farm. This piece from Governing looks at how the town adapts to the surge.
Varying Levels of Distress and Service in Detroit
In a newly announced effort, different parts of Detroit will receive different levels of public services based on projections of whether or not they're expected to grow in the future.
The Urbanism of Protest
Recent protests throughout Spain and Europe over unemployment and governmental representation offer a unique look at how protests use and create public space and urbanity.
Urban Art Brightens Dull Sections of Toronto
A variety of unsanctioned urban art projects are scattered throughout Toronto, bringing life and energy to otherwise underused spaces.
Housing Occupancy Down Across U.S.
Unoccupied housing is on the rise in many parts of the country, according to an analysis of U.S. Postal Service data.
To Counter Congestion and Crowding, Moscow Expands
Officials in Moscow are pushing a plan to double the footprint of the city in order to ease congestion and overcrowding. Some worry sprawling development patters will follow.
American Youth Go Suburban
The youth of America will ditch its cities in favor of the suburbs, according to this op-ed from Joel Kotkin.
Obesity: Can Planners Stem The Epidemic?
The Active Living approach, promoting activity by changing physical space, is not enough to combat the obesity epidemic, Laura Tolkoff writes. Though the urban planner's role in reducing obesity is unclear, Tolkoff presents some possibilities.
Vancouver Plans Big Build to End Homelessness
The city of Vancouver is planning to offer more than $42 million in land and capital grants aimed at developing affordable housing. Its part of a 10-year plan to end homelessness in the city.
Explaining Property and Taxes Through Comic Books
A comic book is helping municipal employees in Brazil to understand how to catalog land for the collection of property taxes.
How the Other Half Lives in Hong Kong
For a city of over 16,000 people per square mile, less than 7% of Hong Kong's land is designated for residential use. Subdivided apartments - aka "coffin units" - totaling 150 square feet aren't uncommon, reports The Wall Street Journal.
Where the Youth Goes, Companies Follow
Companies are moving back to the city in response to a new generation of workers who prefer the urban environment over suburban office parks.
Placemaking Is Key To Job Creation, Says Politician
In a post at Project for Public Spaces, a politician from Spokane, WA is quoted as saying the way municipal governments could spur job growth is by building public spaces where people want to live, work, shop and invest.
Ranking the Most Walkable Cities in the US
Each year Walk Score ranks the top cities for walking, according to its own walk score methodology. In 2011, NYC placed #1. See the rest of the top 10!
Downtown Minneapolis Unprepared for Influx of Children
The amount of children under five has jumped in downtown Minneapolis, which is posing problems for the city and its school system.
Giant Marilyn Monroe Statue 'Not an Upgrade'
A new 26-foot statue of Marilyn Monroe -- recreating a famous film scene in which wind blows up the star's skirt -- has been unveiled in Chicago. Tourists seem to like it, but others argue it's too kitschy.
Demographic Change Creates New Types of Regional Metropolises
Though population growth rates have slowed in cities and suburbs, their increasing interconnectedness has created sets of diverse metropolitan areas, according to the Brookings Institution's Alan Berube.
D.C.'s Milestone Black Majority Lost
The first major American city to have a black majority, Washington D.C.'s demographics have shifted again.
A More Entertaining Transit Hub
In an effort to improve the visitor experience and boost business, operators of a busy transit hub in Boston are bringing in performers and various activities to entertain people waiting and convince others to linger longer.
Film Looks at History of Demolished St. Louis Housing Project
A new documentary film delves into the complicated history, life and demolition of the Pruitt-Igoe housing project in St. Louis.
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.
EMC Planning Group, Inc.
Planetizen
Planetizen
Mpact (formerly Rail~Volution)
Great Falls Development Authority, Inc.
HUDs Office of Policy Development and Research
NYU Wagner Graduate School of Public Service
