Detroit

Seattle SUper Bowl Parade 12th Man Flag

Seattle as the 'Next Detroit'

As the automotive industry of Detroit once inherited the wealth and assets of Pittsburgh's steel industry, one writer argues Seattle has now inherited the wealth and assets of the Silicon Valley.

December 15, 2015 - Pacific Standard

Coming Soon to Detroit: An Urban Livestock Ordinance

Planners and citizens in Detroit are wrapping up a year's worth of research and community engagement before drafting an urban livestock ordinance.

December 3, 2015 - The Detroit News

Report: Detroit's Property Tax System in Need of Major Overhaul

Detroit's comeback has been well documented, as has its efforts to remove blight and demolish vacant properties. A new report sheds light on another of the city's deepest challenges: how to reform property taxes to achieve fiscal certainty.

November 11, 2015 - At Lincoln House

Detroit Vacant

Detroit Receives Funding for Another Demolition Push

A recent influx of money to Detroit for demolitions of abandoned properties brings the city's total to $107 million. That money has established Detroit as the country's proving ground for the idea that demolitions stabilize struggling neighborhoods.

November 10, 2015 - Detroit Free Press

Wild Detroit

The Motown Sound Came From Single-Family Homes

Would the Motor City have produced Motown without pianos in every living room?

October 22, 2015 - Urbanophile

New Releases: A Field Guide for Transforming Vacant Lots

Detroit Future City has released a guidebook for the process of redeveloping, renovating, and remediating neighborhoods full of vacant and blighted properties.

October 22, 2015 - The Detroit News

Ambitious Complete Streets Plan Proposed for Woodward Ave Between Detroit and Pontiac

The Woodward Avenue Action Association recently approved a plan for a complete streets makeover that would connect to the forthcoming M-1 streetcar and cross several city boundaries.

October 17, 2015 - Detroit Free Press

Vacant Lot in Detroit

Innovation in Detroit Turns to the Worm

Faced with an estimated 24 square miles of vacant land, Detroit is turning its empty lots into test beds of urban innovation.

October 13, 2015 - Detroit Free Press

Prospect Park Bike Lane

More Bicycle Infrastructure Equals More Riders

Analysis of Census data shows that, while still small in number, more Americans are taking to two-wheels as part of their daily commute.

October 11, 2015 - CityLab

The old and the new

Once in the Great City of Detroit

A new book by Washington Post associate editor David Maraniss examines the glory years of Detroit.

September 28, 2015 - Detroit Free Press

Detroit - Renaissance Center

White Population Shifting Decades-Long Trends in Cities

The Census has confirmed what many trend stories and liberals have been saying for a while now—white people are moving back to cities.

September 25, 2015 - The Washington Post - Wonkblog

Shepard Fairey

Street Artist Shepard Fairey Tackles Detroit

After billionaire landlord Dan Gilbert commissioned a mural, less-legal works in Fairey's style began showing up around the city. Detroit's case against the artist brings gentrification's ironies into focus.

September 22, 2015 - CityLab

Changes to Detroit's Foreclosure Auctions Disempower Homeowners and Tenants

A new law makes it impossible for property owners delinquent on their property taxes to bid in a foreclosure auction to keep their homes. Larger, commercial interests are benefitting from the change.

September 21, 2015 - CityLab

Surveying the Adaptive Reuse of Detroit

Although it's a favorite tool of urbanists all over the country—Detroit has taken to adaptive reuse with singular aplomb.

September 16, 2015 - Urban Land Magazine

Details of Detroit's New Parking System

Parts of Detroit recently upgraded to parking kiosks that enable technologically-enhanced parking enforcement. A few weeks after enforcement began, the Detroit Free Press offers tips for navigating the new system.

September 14, 2015 - Detroit Free Press

Detroit

Dan Gilbert's Detroit Buying Spree Continues

The Quicken Loans founder and real estate mogul now controls 78 downtown properties. His investment choices can set the tone for life in what used to be an abandoned city center.

September 13, 2015 - Detroit Free Press

MAP-21 Regulations—From 2012—Delay Detroit Streetcar Opening

Detroit's M-1 Rail, under construction since 2014, has bumped back its project delivery date. Blame for the delay is assigned to weather, streetcar delivery delays, and the roll out of a federal transportation law from 2012.

August 6, 2015 - Detroit Free Press

One Bridge on the Way, Another Still Possible on U.S.-Canada Border

With a request for qualifications for a new bridge, connecting Detroit with Windsor, Canada, and a proposal for another bridge on the table, it'a bridge building time on the U.S.-Canadian border.

July 29, 2015 - Detroit Free Press

Detroit Vacant Properties

A Better Solution to Reusing Abandoned Property: Evidence from Flint and Detroit

Margaret Dewar of the University of Michigan blogs about her new article in Journal of Planning Education and Research, which investigates reuse of abandoned property in Detroit and Flint. You can download the article free until August 31, 2015.

July 29, 2015 - JPER

Old houses with large porch and colorful siding

All-White Neighborhoods Are Nearly Extinct; All-Black Neighborhoods Persist

The good news is that middle-class suburbs are becoming increasingly integrated. However, a closer look at the migration patterns of whites and minorities reveals a more complex picture, rife with racism.

July 26, 2015 - The Washington Post - Wonkblog

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.