New York

How Long Will NYC's East River Ferry Need a Tug?

Hopes are high that the East River Ferry connecting Queens, Brooklyn, and Manhattan can become a viable commuting mode, while also boosting development around its landings. Although ridership is growing, some doubt if it can become self-sustaining.

September 13, 2012 - The New York Times

Killing a Pedestrian Warrants Nary a Slap on the Wrist in NYC

Michael Powell looks at the penalties facing drivers that strike pedestrians and cyclists in New York City, and finds depressingly few repercussions.

September 12, 2012 - The New York Times

Is New York Doing Enough to Prepare for Rising Seas and Severe Storms?

Critics contend that New York's so-called resilience strategy doesn't go far enough in protecting the city's 520-mile-long coast and low-lying areas from the threats of rising seas and ever-more-severe storm flooding, reports Mireya Navarro.

September 11, 2012 - The New York Times

Who Defines New York's Nabes? For Starters Look to These Amateur Mapmakers

In New York, neighborhood boundaries are big business. Just ask any real estate agent who's tried to pass off a Gowanus apartment as being in Park Slope. Since the city does not officially define boundaries, amateurs are filling the void.

September 10, 2012 - The New York Times

Buffalo Dusts Itself Off

After years wasted trying to implement large-scale redevelopment of its formerly industrial waterfront, Buffalo is cleaning up its shores from the ground up, reports Daniel Robison.

September 9, 2012 - NPR

Can New York Protect its Dive Bars?

Over the past couple of decades, Manhattan's ruthless redevelopment has transformed neighborhoods up and down the island. In the East Village, local leaders are trying to defend the area's popular dive bars from rising rents and changing clientele.

September 6, 2012 - The Wall Street Journal

Irreplaceable but Riddled with Problems, Can NYC's Public Housing be Saved?

Matt Chaban profiles John Rhea, NYC Housing Authority Chairman, and his efforts to improve the city's last bastion of affordable apartments.

September 6, 2012 - The New York Observer

In Defense of the High Line

The New York Times published four letters in response to an earlier op-ed from the self-described, “bitterly nostalgic” blogger, Jeremiah Moss, who blasted the popularity of the High Line, including one letter from the High Line founders.

September 5, 2012 - The New York Times - Letters

Agency, Developer Wrestle Over Atlantic Yards Affordability

A look at negotiations between developer Forest City Ratner and New York City's Housing and Development Corporation around the Atlantic Yards project shows that there will be less housing units set-aside for low-income families than promised.

September 3, 2012 - The Brooklyn Bureau

NYC Cleans Up Subways by...Removing Trash Cans?

It seems to work for the spotless Tokyo subway system, but in grimy New York? A pilot program that removed trash cans in select NYC subway stations resulted in decreased trash hauls (duh) and cleaner stations (huh). Now it's being expanded.

September 1, 2012 - The New York Times

Sewer Shortage Pits Developers Against Residents on Long Island

Plans to develop eastern Long Island as a thriving tech hub with "bustling downtowns and new apartments for young families" are facing a messy obstacle, the absence of "a basic element of a modern civilization: sewers."

August 29, 2012 - The Wall Street Journal

Refugees Find Sanctuary in Urban Gardening

Melanie Eversley writes on the healing power of urban gardens and farms for refugees new to the U.S. who are looking for a taste of home.

August 28, 2012 - USA Today

New York Fails to Document Parks Inequality

A law passed unanimously by New York's City Council just four years ago requiring the Department of Parks and Recreation to document "how much money was flowing into different parks across the city" is being neglected, reveals Jacob Hodes.

August 28, 2012 - The New York Times

Are Urban Bohemian Enclaves Becoming Extinct?

Will Doig discusses the increasing speed at which urban bohemias are colonized, popularized, and gentrified. Does the rapid transformation of urban subculture into mainstream culture, mark the end of urban bohemia?

August 28, 2012 - Salon

Spruce Up Your Scaffolding With Softwalks

Jordan Kushins spotlights an innovative kit of parts that can be attached to sidewalk scaffolding to create pop-up public spaces.

August 27, 2012 - Fast Company Co.Design

The Downside of the High Line

Yes, there are critics of the High Line, and this is a particularly strident one. Accusing the park not only of gentrification of Manhattan's West Chelsea, Jeremiah Moss attributes the High Line's popularity to transforming NYC into Disney World.

August 27, 2012 - The New York Times - Opinion

Finding Mayor Bloomberg's Fingerprints on a Transformed New York

As the end of the Bloomberg Era in New York draws to a close, The Architect's Newspaper goes agency by agency exploring how the Mayor has steered the forces of NYC real estate to meet goals for a cleaner, greener, and more equitable city.

August 26, 2012 - The Architect's Newspaper

Extreme Wealth and Poverty Grow in Brooklyn

A quick look at some of Brooklyn's demographic data illustrates a dramatic divide between the Borough's most wealthy and most poor - economic segregation at its extreme in America.

August 25, 2012 - New York Daily News

Majority of New Yorkers Oppose City's Proposed Soda Ban

A new New York Times poll finds that a majority of New York City residents oppose Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg’s proposed ban on sugary drinks, adding fuel to the debate.

August 24, 2012 - The New York Times

Could Court Ruling Cause Extreme Service Cuts to NYC Transit?

This week, a New York Supreme Court Justice declared unconstitutional a tax covering a 12-county area including the city of New York and its surrounding suburbs, creating a $1.26 billion hole in this year's MTA budget.

August 24, 2012 - Bloomberg BusinessWeek

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.