We're looking forward to another stimulating year of news, commentary, and professional development. But before the calendar turns to 2014, we wanted to take a look back at our most popular blog posts, exclusive articles, and news items from 2013.
As Planetizen enters its 15th year, we're looking forward to bringing you another stimulating year of news, commentary, and professional development. But before the calendar turns to 2014, we wanted to take a look back at our most popular blog posts, exclusive articles, and news items from 2013.
It's an exciting time for those of us in the planning, design, and development community and we hope we've been able to help inspire your work, introduce you to new ideas, teach you a new skill or tickle your funny bone over the past twelve months. Thanks, as always, to our esteemed contributors, partners, and readers for another great year!
In case you missed them, here are Planetizen's most popular pieces of 2013:
Blog Posts
- Density Done Well, and Not Just Downtown
- The Most Important Urban Design Decision Vancouver Ever Made
- Good Urban Parks and Our Wellbeing
- Yes You Can (Get Groceries Without A Car)
- There's a Planning App for That
- Who Should Pay for Transportation Infrastructure? What is Fair?
- Mythbusting: Exposing Half-Truths That Support Automobile Dependency
- Density Reduces Driving (Even At Pretty High Densities)
- Critiquing the "Urban Mobility Report"
- Writing a Statement of Purpose for Graduate Education
Exclusive Articles
- Top 10 Websites - 2013
- The 100 "Best" Books on City-Making Ever Written?
- Top 10 Books - 2014
- Why Do Certain Retail Stores Cluster Together?
- Top Trends 2012-2013
- A Plan To Shrink Detroit (Well)
- Who Teaches Planning?
- BRT: Cities Get on Board with Better, Reliable Transportation
- Taking the Guesswork out of Designing for Walkability
- Graduating Into the Workplace: Perspectives from Recent Planning Grads
- 30 Must-See Architecture Documentaries
- Using Geodesign to Model the Complex Intersection of Land Use and Climate Change
- The Next Reality TV Stars: 'The Planners'
- Replacing the Gas Tax: Two States Choose Different Strategies
- New Tool Facilitates Stunning City Comparisons
- Is This the World's Most Beautiful Urban Street?
- Why Your Solar Panels Are Likely Facing the Wrong Direction
- New Jersey Drops VMT Fee for EV Fee
- Gas Tax Debate: USA Today vs. Rep. Earl Blumenauer
- Gas Tax or VMT Fee? Experts Debate How to Fund Transportation

Alabama: Trump Terminates Settlements for Black Communities Harmed By Raw Sewage
Trump deemed the landmark civil rights agreement “illegal DEI and environmental justice policy.”

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

How Atlanta Built 7,000 Housing Units in 3 Years
The city’s comprehensive, neighborhood-focused housing strategy focuses on identifying properties and land that can be repurposed for housing and encouraging development in underserved neighborhoods.

Report: Zoning Reforms Should Complement Nashville’s Ambitious Transit Plan
Without reform, restrictive zoning codes will limit the impact of the city’s planned transit expansion and could exclude some of the residents who depend on transit the most.

Judge Orders Release of Frozen IRA, IIJA Funding
The decision is a victory for environmental groups who charged that freezing funds for critical infrastructure and disaster response programs caused “real and irreparable harm” to communities.

‘Clybourne Park’ Sets Stage for Housing Equity Discussions
Clybourne Park, a play exploring race, real estate, and community tensions, can set the stage for discussion on the lasting impacts of housing discrimination, gentrification, and the fight for affordability.
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.
Caltrans
Smith Gee Studio
Institute for Housing and Urban Development Studies (IHS)
City of Grandview
Harvard GSD Executive Education
Toledo-Lucas County Plan Commissions
Salt Lake City
NYU Wagner Graduate School of Public Service
