Exclusives

View of Brooklyn Bridge at night from Brooklyn alley with multi-story buildings and parked cars.

FEATURE

Can Brooklyn Change the Conversation on Comprehensive Planning in New York?

The Comprehensive Plan for Brooklyn is the largest comprehensive planning effort by land area in the U.S. since L.A. updated its plan in the 2000s, and the latest attempt to advance comprehensive planning in a city that has grown cynical about it.

November 14 - Mark H. McNulty

Trinity Railway Express train painted with Texas flag at station in Dallas, Texas.

FEATURE

Revitalizing Texas: Sustainable Rail Solutions

An argument for why investing in trains is the key to sustainable growth and economic success in the Lone Star State.

November 8 - Mustafa Haque

Old cemetery with weathered wooden cross grave markers in Goldfield, Nevada with mountain in background and blue sky.

FEATURE

Contested Property: Haunted Houses and the Anxiety of Ownership in America

Sometimes home becomes a place of fear for the least supernatural reasons.

October 31 - Diana Ionescu

Photo of Goat Blocks development, Portland, Oregon with five-story brick building and wide concrete staircase.

FEATURE

Goat Blocks: A Blueprint for Urban Placemaking and Walkability

How one development harnesses placemaking tactics to build community at the street level.

October 26 - Jason Roberts

People, cars, bikes and buses traveling through a busy intersection on 5th Avenue and 23rd Street in New York City with shining sunlight background.

BLOG POST

When it Comes to Vehicle Travel, Less is More

Motor vehicle travel provides many benefits, but also imposes large costs on users and communities. With better planning people can drive less, rely more on non-auto modes, enjoy more access, and be better off overall as a result.

October 25 - Todd Litman


Close-up of microphone on speaker's dais with blurred crowd sitting in bright high school gym in background.

BLOG POST

The Problem With Tone Policing

One common criticism of pro-housing advocacy is that supporters of new housing are (in the words of one commentator) “arrogant.” But there is no reason to believe that this is any less true of their opponents.

October 24 - Michael Lewyn

Black and white digital illustration of Newark, New Jersey town square with old clock.

BLOG POST

Jersey City and Newark: A Tale of Renaissance and Stagnation

The rise and fall (and rise again) of two great American cities teach us lessons about racism, economic opportunity, and more.

October 19 - Marcelo Remond


Bird's eye view of city skyscrapers at twilight with blurred lights on streets.

BLOG POST

Building Bridges to the Future: Preparing the Next Generation of Planners

Discover the importance of preparing the next generation of urban planners to build a sustainable and thriving future.

October 17 - Devin Partida

View of pedestrian plaza in Swiss village with Alps in background.

FEATURE

Opinion: The Arrogance of Social Media Urbanists

Criticism of ‘bad’ urban design and development policies leveled at ‘planners’ often obscures the complex nature of urban politics and land use regulations.

October 17 - Christopher Holtkamp

Green wall with floor or apartment numbers missing number 13, goes from 12 to 12 1/3 to 14 instead.

FEATURE

The Mystique of the 13th Floor: Superstitions, Sustainability, and the Future of Electrical Building Design

How engineers adapt a common superstition to maximize the utility of a stigmatized space.

October 13 - Johnathan Meade

Family posing on stoop of white ADU.

FEATURE

Creating Affordable Housing is a Priority for ADU Owners

How accessory dwelling units can benefit homeowners and renters alike.

October 12 - Jessica Brown

The Interstate 10 freeway cuts through residential neighborhoods in the city of Alhambra. Downtown Los Angeles is visible in the background,

BLOG POST

‘Luxury Beliefs’ and Urban Planning

Conservative pundits are using the term “luxury beliefs” as a means of criticizing progressives. But can the concept be applied to urban planning? And can it be applied in a nonpartisan way?

October 11 - Michael Lewyn

Aerial gondola car in the air overlooking the city of Medellin, Colombia.

BLOG POST

Harnessing Data for Community Development

Using data and insights encourages the development of a community, offering an evidence-based strategy to directly address the needs within.

September 20 - Devin Partida

Graphic of busy city intersection with crosswalk, cars, people, and bike share station.

FEATURE

Book Excerpt: Inclusive Transportation: A Manifesto for Repairing Divided Communities

What is your transportation story?

September 18 - Veronica Davis

Close-up of people wearing white gloves and Covid-19 masks exchanging unlabeled can of food at food bank

FEATURE

Social Capital Builds Resilience—and Planners Can Build Social Capital

Connections with neighbors and local institutions can play an important role in how a community responds to disaster.

September 11 - Christopher Holtkamp

AI-generated aerial view of freeway interchange with digital lines overlaid to indicate AI traffic management

FEATURE

Leveraging Holistic Platforms For Urban Mobility Solutions

How a ‘control tower’ approach can improve mobility and reduce congestion and emissions.

September 10 - Timothy Menard

View of Dallas city skyline with moderately busy freeway in foreground at twilight.

BLOG POST

How to Reduce Excess Vehicle Travel

Some experts claim that remote work is the most effective way to reduce vehicle travel, but my research indicates that improving and encouraging walking, bicycling, and public transit can provide larger impacts and benefits.

September 8 - Todd Litman

Man painting "HOUSING IS A HUMAN RIGHT" mural in black paint on bright yellow fence

BLOG POST

Public Opinion on Housing: A Deeper Dive

Surveys on housing show that Americans give pro-housing or anti-housing answers depending on how questions are asked. More consistently, they show that Black Americans and young people are more pro-housing than older whites.

September 5 - Michael Lewyn

A view from among the high0rises in Downtown Seattle.

BLOG POST

Capturing the Post-Pandemic City: The Power of 'Visual Prosecution'

Have you ever tried immersive photography to show how urban landscapes, with their ever-evolving stories, are changing post-pandemic? A three-time author of books about understanding the innate identities of urban places updates his perspective.

September 5 - Charles R. Wolfe

Busy traffic on a road

BLOG POST

Leveraging the Choice Not to Travel

The pandemic accelerated the growth of remote services and telecommuting. Now is the time for urban planners to leverage these new opportunities to reduce vehicle miles traveled.

August 28 - Steven Polzin

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.

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.

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