Urban Planning
Thirst, Altruism, and the Potential for Planning: A Message for New Planners
Community is built through altruism, but planners are taught to think of self interest as the biggest motivator of human behavior. How do we use planning skills to encourage public goods and community interest?
Meme Urbanism 101
They heard you like transit, so they put transit in your memes. (If you don't know what that means, read on.)
A Call to Broaden the Definition of 'Real Planning'
Deland Chan, a lecturer in the Urban Studies program at Stanford University and co-founder of the Stanford Human Cities Initiative, makes the case for a bigger tent for planners and planning.
Survey: What Are Your Favorite Planning Apps?
We're updating the annual Top Apps for Planning list, and we want your input.
Urban Planning Insights From Your Inner Child (or Your Actual Child)
Los Angeles County park planner and parent Clement Lau writes about how 'playing' and parenting has given him insight into the urban environment that he applies in his profession.
New Tools for Making Walkable Places
Eleven ways to make a city more walkable.
Curbs Have the Power to Transform Cities
Curb design and management play a huge role in other aspects of city life. Put simply, what happens on the curbside directly impacts what happens on the street, both in terms of social and business connectivity.
What Community-Based Zoning Enforcement Looks Like in South Central Los Angeles
Passion for urban planning, love of South Central LA communities, and historical background of the neighborhoods combine in this personal account by Jonathan P. Bell of community-based zoning enforcement.
An Infographic to Explain the History of Urban Planning
What do you think about the linked visual presentation of the history of urban planning?
Planning Utopia: Revisiting Thomas More's Classic
In this second installment of a three-part review of Thomas More's Utopia in its 500th anniversary year, L.A. area planner Jodie Sackett looks at More's ideas for planning a Utopian city. Do More's ideas have current relevance?
Pressure on Trump Administration to Release Climate Report
Scientist are concerned that a congressionally mandated climate assessment, originally authorized under President George H.W. Bush, may not be released by the Trump Administration because it contradicts their rejection of climate science.
As a Driverless Future Dawns, Should We Still Build Parking?
No one is really sure how many parking spots the United States contains, but estimates stretch up to 2 billion.
Removing California's Costa-Hawkins Act and the Future of Rent Control
In an attempt to combat prohibitively high housing costs in California, some look to repeal the 1995 state law that limits the power of local rent control ordinances. However, removing those restrictions would likely exaggerate current problems.
Measure S Is Just Bad Policy
Measure S gives city leaders a moderately satisfying smack across the face. As satisfying as that may be, Measure S is remarkably bad planning and development policy at the expense of the vast majority of Angelinos.
Pasadena Urged to Purge Poison Pills from ADU Reform Ordinance
Pasadena is adopting accessory dwelling unit (ADU) reform in response to state legislation designed to spur affordable housing options by easing restrictions on ADUs. But is it really entrenchment dressed as reform?
Pasadena's Accessory Dwelling Unit Ordinance Called Out as a 'Poison Pill'
Pasadena's accessory dwelling unit is designed more to prevent than accommodate accessory dwelling units. Planner and Pasadena resident Jonathan P. Bell implores the city's Planning Commission to reform it.
How Far Can You Take Complete Streets?
8th Avenue was one of New York’s first "complete streets." Coined in 2003, the term refers to including cars, pedestrians, bikers, and public transit into city thoroughfares instead of prioritizing cars. Today, the trend is growing to other cities.
How 9/11 Inspired Public Service as an Urban Planner
The account of how the terror and tragedy of 9/11 led an urban planner from working for a private consulting firm to working in the public sector.
Urban Sanity: Understanding Urban Mental Health Impacts and How to Create Saner, Happier Cities
Some experts claim that city living causes mental illness and unhappiness, but a new study indicates that urban environments provide many mental health benefits. Better planning can help make sane and happy cities.
Developing Countries Require More Urban Planning Capacity to Meet Growing Needs
How can the Global South implement the New Urban Agenda with colonial-era curricula and little investment in training? Zambia offers a new model.
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
