Social / Demographics

Protesters Seek Equity As Development Threatens Slum

With developers readying to move in on the centrally-located Mumbai slum of Dharavi, residents are organizing protests to try to ensure that displaced residents are adequately compensated.

September 1, 2007 - BBC

Harnessing Creativity To Redevelop The City

Der Spiegel interviews urban researcher Charles Landry about how cities can harness their creative classes and stay competitive in the global market.

September 1, 2007 - Der Spiegel

Got Sustainability?

When it comes to reducing carbon footprints and living sustainably, urban residents perform the best.

August 30, 2007 - MSN

Rebirth In Barcelona

With large investments made in refurbishing and emphasizing its waterfront in recent years, Barcelona has set off on a path towards rejuvenation -- bringing in many foreigners and a surge of young, creative professionals.

August 29, 2007 - Der Spiegel

Handling The Homeless In Golden Gate Park

Advocates for the homeless offer their advice on dealing with homeless people sleeping in San Francisco's Golden Gate Park. They say that, with some caveats, the homeless should be allowed to sleep in the park. Residents feel differently.

August 29, 2007 - The San Francisco Chronicle

New Orleans Neighborhoods Remain Abandoned

Two years later, many New Orleans neighborhoods remain abandoned and former residents report no intentions of returning.

August 28, 2007 - The Washington Post

Increasing Density Not So Easy In Queens

A major rezoning in Jamaica, Queens, to allow more jobs and housing, up to six stories, is cautiously supported by some community boards, and opposed outright by others.

August 27, 2007 - The New York Times

Shifting Demographics Give New Face To Great Plains

The population shift from rural to urban areas is making big changes in the Great Plains. While many rural small towns are disappearing, the shift is opening new doors for business and preservation.

August 27, 2007 - USA Today

Mistakenly Low Census Count Results In Loss Of Funding

A Canadian city suspicious about the low population count reported in the national census decided to do its own count. The city found 2,000 more people than the census -- a figure that would have equated to $600,000 more in federal grant money.

August 26, 2007 - CBC

An Urban Renaissance As Population Rises

After decades of population decline, New York City is growing again.

August 25, 2007 - International Herald Tribune

Portland Suburbs May Increase Density To Handle Growth

The Portland area's population is expected to gain more than a million people by 2030, and the suburbs ringing the city are looking to handle the growth by increasing density, building higher, and developing more vibrant suburban town centers.

August 24, 2007 - The Oregonian

Can Vancouver Remain The Most Livable City?

Vancouver has once again been named the most livable city in the world. But some fear that the qualities that pushed the city to top honors will be hard to maintain as the city grows.

August 24, 2007 - The Vancouver Sun

Poor Benefitting From 'Poverty Tours'

In the squatter settlements in South African slums, a burgeoning new industry is developing around so-called "poverty tours", where Western tourists are taken off the beaten tour path to see what life is like in impoverished squatter communities.

August 23, 2007 - Mail & Guardian

The Line Between Fighting Gentrification And Plain-Old NIMBY

When does an 'anti-gentrification group' cross the line to simply stopping progress in a community? That charge has been leveled against San Francisco's Mission Anti-Displacement Coalition after the city's environmental review process was expanded.

August 22, 2007 - The San Francisco Chronicle

Cities Take New Approach To Housing The Homeless

Many American cities are looking to new ways of handling their homeless populations, including programs that provide assistance in renting permanent housing rather than pouring money into temporary shelters.

August 21, 2007 - The Christian Science Monitor

Outsourcing City Hall

Four unincorporated communities in Atlanta have become new cities...and outsourced neary all government services to private corporations.

August 20, 2007 - The Los Angeles Times

Census Asks Immigration To Halt Raids During Count

Census officials are asking immigration officials to halt raids during the 2010 Census enumeration process in hopes of obtaining an accurate count of illegal immigrants in the country.

August 18, 2007 - Associated Press via The Seattle Times

Tent City On Its Way Out Of Edmonton

The homeless population of a government-sanctioned tent city has slowly dwindled to less than half its original size as officials in the Canadian city of Edmonton move forward with plans to close the impromptu squatter settlement.

August 17, 2007 - CBC

A Middle Class Emerges In Latin America

Improvements in public services and rising wages are fostering the creation of a prosperous middle class in many Latin American countries.

August 17, 2007 - The Economist

The Top Towns For Adventure

National Geographic Adventure has released a guide to the best adventure towns in the U.S. Their lists include the best small towns, cities, mountain towns, coastal towns, and others.

August 16, 2007 - National Geographic Adventure

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.