Hazel Borys

Ways to Fail at Form-Based Codes 03: Misapply the Transect

On 50th anniversary of the Jetsons, Hazel Borys celebrates city planning that isn't pie in the sky, but instead lets us cast a shadow.

May 3, 2013 - PlaceShakers

Ways to Fail at Form-Based Codes 02: Make it Mandatory Citywide

Ambition is good, but don't bite off more than you can chew. Hazel Borys applies this valuable lesson to form-based codes.

April 23, 2013 - PlaceShakers

Healthy, or Unhealthy, by Design

We've engineered physical activity out of our daily lives but it need not be a chronic condition. Hazel Borys points to recent suburban retrofits for ways to get moving again.

March 26, 2013 - PlaceShakers

Connections, Community, and the Science of Loneliness

Can urban form help address the loneliness that so often accompanies aging? In a new blog post, Hazel Borys examines some remedies for severed connections.

February 12, 2013 - PlaceShakers

Wilmington NC Lives Outdoors

When a city's tightly-gridded, walkable streets are developed with connected, convivial, complete neighborhoods, the temptation to walk, bike, and run overcome the lethargy of our modern lifestyle. See an inspiring photo essay from Wilmington, NC.

December 16, 2012 - PlaceShakers

Running shoes

Sparking Creativity in Walkable Places

Happiness and health are generated or depleted by the way our neighbourhoods, towns, cities, and rural landscapes are developed. Creative placemaking adds to walkable urbanism by sealing the deal on physical, mental, and social well-being.

November 17, 2012 - PlaceShakers

Where's Your Happy Place?

Now can you qualify, quantify, and index it? Hazel Borys would like you to do so, and gives this data review to help you get started.

November 13, 2012 - PlaceShakers

Picture It: Coding for Character

Get lost in the details when explaining zoning reform? Hazel Borys puts forth a pictorial review that helps.

October 13, 2012 - PlaceShakers

For Cycling Advocates, One Question Reigns: Got Networks?

As the level of sophistication in cycling infrastructure increases, the value of networks becomes even more apparent.

October 1, 2012 - PlaceShakers

How Does Placemaking Pay?

Hazel Borys compiles an extraordinary list of studies quantifying the role of livable, walkable places in building equity, city coffers, health, and social capital.

September 14, 2012 - PlaceShakers

What Ottawa Has to Teach Us about Great Urbanism

Hazel Borys concludes her popular photo series on lessons from Canadian urbanism with a look at Ottawa, whose charming historic character is illegal to reproduce today in its more auto-centric outskirts.

August 22, 2012 - PlaceShakers

What Canadian Towns Have to Teach us About Great Urbanism

When we think urbanism, we often think cities. But small towns embody many of the elements of walkability that are illegal in most places. This pictorial review offers some palatable insights.

August 19, 2012 - PlaceShakers

What Montreal Has to Teach us About Great Urbanism

Old urbanism holds countless lessons on satisfying livability. Montréal shares some of its insights in this photo blog by Hazel Borys.

August 8, 2012 - PlaceShakers

Finding Returns in Lean Times

Connecting existing assets and social networks with very little additional monetary investment can generate returns in lean times, writes Hazel Borys.

June 15, 2012 - PlaceShakers

What Drives People?

Hazel Borys argues that "the payback of livable places really can’t be calculated in dollars, or pounds of fat or carbon, or even hours. The payback of place is passion."

June 5, 2012 - PlaceShakers

Rules for Planning Successful Retail Developments

Hazel Borys discusses how several key form-based guidelines for retail can encourage success in the most risky of all development types.

December 24, 2011 - PlaceShakers

Reintroducing Industry to the City

Industrial uses have long been banished to the edges -- but recently savvy cities are seeing the value of making them walkable again.

September 20, 2011 - PlaceShakers

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.