Social / Demographics
Small Town History on a Cell Phone
A two-minute call on a cell phone is now a window into local history in Orange, New Jersey, where a new project has created an audio tour/history lesson out of more than 30 recordings of local residents.
Top 10 Cities for Today's Youth
The Wall St. Journal assembled a panel to determine which cities will be the next 'youth-magnets,' using factors like economic diversity and lifestyle to make their selections. Number one? A tie between Washington, D.C. and Seattle.
Fastest Growing Areas in U.S. Also the Whitest
As we learned in The Big Sort, America is sorting itself into enclaves of people with similar beliefs. In Whitopia, Rich Benjamin shows that the fastest growing areas are also the most white.
Creating Neighborhood Capital from Strip Malls
Strip malls are in virtually every American city, but they're rarely an important part of those cities. Ava Bromberg says they can be. Her idea is to turn strip malls into community-owned hubs that generate capital within their neighborhood and keep it there.
How to Speak Senior Citizen
Elaine Cogan gives these tips for talking about planning issues with senior citizens and getting the most out of them throughout the planning process.
Social Networking for Skyscrapers
Mary Newsom recently argued that social networking tools like Facebook and Twitter don't create a "third place". But what if the network is hyperlocal, like within a skyscraper? STACKD is a new site that does just that.
Rural Suicides Far Exceed Urban Suicides
Suicide rates are on the rise in rural areas, according to a new study. Compared to urban areas, rural men are committing suicide 54% more often.
Urban Sports Creating New Life in Civic Spaces
Urban sports like bike polo and urban golf are taking off in Germany, and are beginning to bring life back to formerly uninhabited concrete spaces.
Is a Digital Neighbor as Good as the Real Thing?
Can Facebook, Twitter, and MySpace replace the neighborhood bar, cafe, or hangout? Mary Newsom says no.
Westward, No?
Westward migration in the U.S. seems to be slowing, as jobs dry up overcrowding begins pushing people away.
The People Under the Strip
A community of hundreds of people live beneath the glitz of the Las Vegas Strip in flood control tunnels.
An Inside Look at the Decline of America's Rural Communities
Rural areas have been losing population for decades, creating what some are calling a "rural brain drain". According to this article, the hollowing out of these rural areas will have negative impacts beyond the borders of those small towns.
In Pittsburgh, The Spotlight's On
As it prepares to host world leaders for the G-20 summit, Pittsburgh is hoping to show to the world that it's no longer a dying city.
Westchester, NY Struggles with Desegregation, Federal Government
Westchester's County Legislature left its Monday meeting with no decision made on how it would move forward with a settlement requiring it to build affordable housing with the goal of desegregation. Or go to trial.
Increasing Bike Ridership Means Pulling in Women
In the U.S., men bike far more than women. Some researchers suggest that understanding and meeting the demands of women is the best way to increase overall ridership.
Creating Communities To Grow Old In
Meeting the needs of aging residents has been a challenge for many cities. Some suburban communities are pioneering the conversion to an elder-friendly layout.
Phoenix Light Rail Succeeds Beyond Expectations
Would one of America's most sprawling, auto-dependent cities take to the country's newest light rail system? Even its proponents were surprised by its success and its transformative effect on downtown businesses, particularly during a recession.
The Cup of Coffee Cycling Incentive
Birdbath Bakery in New York has found popularity, and a niche, by offering a 25% discount to cyclists. As New York's bicycling infrastructure grows, businesses that cater to them may thrive.
Broken Windows Theory Busted?
The Broken Windows theory suggests that a high concentration of small, petty crimes leads to a higher incidence of bigger, nastier crimes. Some European cities run counter to that premise, according to this piece from Next American City.
A Ride on Dubai's New Metro Rail System
The new Dubai Metro rail system recently began operations in the desert city. Christopher Corbett, an American planner who's been living and working in Dubai, takes us on a visual tour.
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
