Quality of Life
Study: Bad Arterials Poison Good Residential Streets
It's something we feel intuitively: poorly-designed arterial roads make for less comfortable neighborhoods. That remains the case even if the adjoining residential streets are quiet and safe.
Only Three Cities Pass the 'Trilemma' Test
Good jobs, affordable housing, and quality of life rarely come in a total package. In fact, according to new analysis from the Oregon Office of Economic Analysis, only three cities in the United States combine all three.
Los Angeles Metro Releases First Quality of Life Report
Metro's first Quality of Life report measures the impact of the agency's transit investments since 2008.
A Critique of the Built Environment: How We Built Unhappiness
One writer's view of the modern city goes negative. If our environment affects our happiness, surely we're all suffering from depression.
Trulia Ranks the Best and Worst Neighborhoods for Renters to Park
The availability of parking can make or break opinions of neighborhoods, and renters are especially likely to be impacted by parking difficulties.
China Announces New Planning Policies to Improve Urban Life
National leaders in China have recognized urban challenges like pollution and public safety as threats to residents of the country's cities, and have released a policy statement to begin a new era of urban policies.
Where People Choose to Live—Simple and Also Not-So-Simple
A new study confirms much of what we already suspect about the choices people make about where to live, but with a far-reaching, scientific approach.
Why Is Minneapolis Growing Faster Than Chicago?
The data shows Minneapolis recovered from the recession more quickly than Chicago. And its growth rates continue to surpass those of its larger neighbor. Why did this happen, and which policies deserve credit?
Detroit Considers Community Benefit Agreements for Megaprojects
As developers plan city-saving projects like a billion-dollar bridge to Canada, Detroit residents demand that tangible benefits go to their communities. City council may pass an ordinance to that effect.
Trees are Good for People—and Vice Versa
Sarah Laskow reports on recent research on the surprisingly two-way connection between the happiness of urban trees and the happiness of urban humans.
Bringing the Rural Housing Crisis to Light
Advocates for housing and quality of life in rural communities face an uphill battle in gaining attention, much less funding, to fight the problem.
A New System for Combating 'Quality-of-Life Crimes'
A proposed ordinance currently making its way through City Hall in Los Angeles would provide a new form of enforcement for crimes such as barking dogs, loud parties, and littering—which often go unenforced under the current penal system.
Survey: Suburban Life is the Good Life
The first Atlantic Media/Siemens "State of the City Poll" finds that, overall, suburban living is the happiest living.
Literature Review: On the Importance of Affordable Housing for Families and Communities
A new report by Enterprise Community Partners provides a literature review of research about the effects of stable and affordable housing.
The Inputs Change, But Our Desire to Rank Places Never Wanes
Add a list of the "Top 100 Best Places to Live" to the seemingly endless series of rankings seeking to quantify what's best and worst about our cities and states. Though the inputs have changed over the last 80 years, our desire to rank hasn't.
Melbourne Retains World's Highest Quality of Life
The Economist's Intelligence Unit has once again ranked Melbourne as the top city in its annual Global Liveability Ranking. Damascus has dropped to the bottom of the list due to Syria's ongoing civil war.
Is Driving Still an American 'Rite of Passage'?
Economist Joe Cortright doesn't seem to think so. According to his findings, Americans are driving less, with Millennials leading the way, and this unprecedented trend is here to stay.
Five Different Californias
A new report takes a unique look at quality-of-life issues in the Golden State, measuring social well-being using health, education and income factors. The study concludes that the state is divided into 5 areas with different ecologies.
Quality of Life Down in Golden State
A new poll of California residents finds that perceived quality of life in the state has dropped.
The Internet vs. the City
Will digital communications make cities obsolete, or can online connections actually complement the face-to-face interactions and the cities that support them?
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.
City of Albany
UCLA Lewis Center for Regional Policy Studies
Mpact (formerly Rail~Volution)
Chaddick Institute at DePaul University
City of Piedmont, CA
Great Falls Development Authority, Inc.
HUDs Office of Policy Development and Research
