Planners Across America

Cattle Drive

Stampede of New Residents Challenges Fort Worth

An interview with Fort Worth Planning and Development Director Randle Harwood on the planning practices and ideas driving the future of one of the nation's fastest growing cities.

May 27, 2019 - Josh Stephens

Seattle

Seattle Planning Director Pursues Equity Amid a Pro-Growth Agenda

An interview with Seattle Planning Director Sam Assefa for the latest installment of the "Planners Across America" series.

June 4, 2018 - Josh Stephens

Central Park

Lago Approaches New York City as a 'City of Neighborhoods'

The latest installment of the "Planners Across America" series features New York City Planning Director and Planning Commission Chair Marisa Lago.

May 29, 2018 - Josh Stephens

Houston, Texas

Houston Planning Director Dispels Myths About the Effects of Harvey

An interview with Houston Planning Director Patrick Walsh, conducted after Hurricane Harvey ravaged the city and reduced its planning and infrastructure to a talking point for pundits. It's time to let the locals do the talking.

November 8, 2017 - Josh Stephens

Oregon

Planning Director Susan Anderson Separates Fact from Fiction in Portland(ia)

Planetizen's "Planners Across America" series continues in the city that put many contemporary best planning practices on the map: Portland, Oregon.

September 26, 2017 - Josh Stephens

Jefferson Memorial

Pursuing Inclusion, Equity in the Nation's Capital

The history of Washington, D.C., both recent and distant, has generated one of the most fascinating planning case studies in the country. The man leading the D.C. Office of Planning explains his approach the unique responsibilities of the job.

July 10, 2017 - Josh Stephens

Suburban Arizona

America's Largest Suburb Flirts With Urbanization

John Wesley leads the charge to introduce urbanism into mega-suburb of Mesa, Arizona.

May 18, 2017 - Josh Stephens

Baltimore

New Planning Initiatives Strive for Equity in Baltimore

The Planners Across America series visits Maryland for an interview with Baltimore Planning Director Tom Stosur.

March 23, 2017 - Josh Stephens

new Mexico

Planners Across America: Making Albuquerque the Land of Enchantment, Not Confusion

The city of Albuquerque is focused on bringing consistency and coherence to an unwieldy collection of planning and land use regulations. An interview with Albuquerque Planning Director Suzanne Lubar explores the city's approach to the challenge.

March 6, 2017 - Josh Stephens

Myriad Botanical Garden - Oklahoma City

Planners Across America: McDermid Manages New Oklahoma Land Rush

Planning Department Director Aubrey McDermid discusses planning's role in the Oklahoma City's ongoing reinvestment and revitalization.

February 27, 2017 - Josh Stephens

Columbus

Columbus Bucks Trends, Grows Steadily

The latest installment of the "Planners Across America" series visits Columbus, Ohio, for a conversation with Planning Administrator Kevin Wheeler.

March 3, 2016 - Josh Stephens

Atlanta

Atlanta Has Plans to Lead the New South

The latest installment of the Planners Across America series interviews Charletta Wilson-Jacks, director of the Atlanta Office of Planning, who focused on new strategies to engage community members in the city's planning efforts.

December 3, 2015 - Josh Stephens

Philadelphia

Planners Across America: Philadelphia on the Rebound

Garry Jastrzab, executive director of the Philadelphia Planning Commission, explains how a new comprehensive plan and a focus on the public realm guide the city as it searches for a balance between the old with the new.

October 12, 2015 - Josh Stephens

San Francisco Street

Crises and Innovation Converge on San Francisco Planning Director John Rahaim's Watch

The latest installment of the Planners Across America series interviews John Rahaim, planning director for the City and County of San Francisco, about the heightened passions and perpetual controversies of planning in the City by the Bay.

September 21, 2015 - Josh Stephens

Beale Street Memphis

Planners Across America: Josh Whitehead Helps Memphis Live Within Limits

Josh Whitehead, planning director of the Memphis and Shelby County Office of Planning & Development (OPD), discusses competing with suburbs, implementing a new zoning code, and redeveloping, for a second time, historic streetcar corridors.

July 31, 2015 - Josh Stephens

Raleigh

Planners Across America: Raleigh Makes Room to Grow Under the Leadership of Ken Bowers

In this interview for the "Planners Across America" series, Ken Bowers, AICP, discusses how the city of Raleigh will rely on the city's new comprehensive plan and development code to accommodate 100,000 new residents by 2030.

July 6, 2015 - Josh Stephens

Denver Skyline

Planners Across America: Brad Buchanan Shepherds Denver's Explosive Growth

In this interview for the "Planners Across America" series, Denver Planning Director Brad Buchanan details Denver's efforts to reactivate the urban core with strong planning, transit investments, and new residential and commercial developments.

June 22, 2015 - Josh Stephens

Tulsa Arkansas River

Planners Across America: Dawn Warrick On Implementing Tulsa's Comprehensive Plan

In this interview for the "Planners Across America" series, Tulsa Planning Director Dawn Warrick describes the implementation process for the PlaniTulsa Comprehensive Plan.

May 27, 2015 - Josh Stephens

Indianapolis Street

Interview with Indianapolis' Young Gun: Planning Director Adam Thies

The first in the "Planners Across America" series features Indianapolis' Adam Thies, who shares insights into doing more with less, the limits of long range planning at the municipal level, and why planners should be real estate experts.

April 30, 2015 - Josh Stephens

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.