District of Columbia

LEED for Neighborhoods Debuts

The LEED for Neighborhood Development (LEED-ND) guidelines have existed for some time now, but are getting a new focus with an exhibit in Chicago and the launch of the first comprehensive city plan to include LEED-ND guidelines.

March 14, 2011 - New Urban Network

Homegrown Carpooling Makes A Difference in D.C.

In Washington, D.C., 28 miles of HOV lines make it very tempting to add a couple of passengers in your back seat. A booming, informal system has formed around just that, which locals call "slugging."

March 7, 2011 - Miller-McCune

A Taller D.C. Would Mean More Transportation Demand

As some voices in Washington D.C. call for increasing the city's building height limit, The Transport Politic looks at what that might mean for transportation demands in the city.

March 4, 2011 - the transport politic

The Connection Between DC Height Regulations and Public Transit

Angie Schmitt explains why the debate over removing Washington DC's famous height regulations depends on the city's transportation plans.

March 1, 2011 - Streets Blog Network

The Contradictions of Regulating Temporary Spaces

As popularity of "temporary urbanism" initiatives rises, there are increasingly efforts to regulate these sites. Jonna McKone of TheCityFix analyzes the trend.

February 27, 2011 - TheCityFix

Demographic Flip-Flop in Washington D.C. and Suburbs

Washington D.C. has for many years had a high population of African Americans. But now, they're moving out to the suburbs and white people are moving in.

February 19, 2011 - NPR

New TOD Residents Become Anti-Transit NIMBYs

King Farm, a 440-acre development in the D.C. suburbs, was designed to be the perfect transit-oriented development, with a light rail to be built later. Now, residents have decided they don't want the transit to ever be built.

February 6, 2011 - NRDC Blog

An Urban Stadium for Washington D.C.

The DC United soccer team has identified a few small urban sites in the Washington D.C. area to build a possible new stadium. The density and urbanity of these sites virtually guarantees a "very urban stadium", according to this post.

January 27, 2011 - Greater Greater Washington

DC Streetcars to Be a Shot in the Arm

It was nearly 50 years ago, when streetcars were seen on the roadways of downtown Washington, DC. Dan Tangherlini, the former transportation director for the District discusses why streetcars matter in the United States capital.

January 16, 2011 - The City Fix

Our Capitol's Lack: A Great Public Square

Critic Philip Kennicott attends a lecture by architect Robert Gatje on great public squares and bemoans the fact that Washington, D.C. has a serious lack of them.

January 12, 2011 - The Washington Post

The Allure Of Light Rail Transit

Centering on Denver as the epi-center of light rail development in the U.S., NPR reports on a new wave of light rail and streetcar projects sweeping the nation as cities hope to attract the latest talent and urban development to become "world-class".

December 29, 2010 - NPR: Morning Edition

D.C. Juggles Overhead Wires and Historic Views

Washington D.C. is planning to build a citywide streetcar network, but the overhead wires required for those plans would affect the city's historic views.

December 23, 2010 - NPR

Smart Growth's Future in Northern Virginia

In an interview with Arlington County Board Vice-Chairman Christopher Zimmerman, Jonna McKone asks the local official about current and future transit-oriented development (TOD) and managed growth in the Washington, D.C. region.

December 18, 2010 - TheCityFix

The Impact of D.C.'s Outgoing Transportation Head

As Washington D.C. transportation Gabe Klein prepares to leave his post, columnist Robert Thomson looks at the impact of his short legacy.

December 12, 2010 - The Washington Post

Waterfront Redevelopment Hinges on Theater Expansion

A new expansion to a theater in Washington D.C. is seen as the centerpiece of a massive neighborhood revitalization effort.

December 10, 2010 - The Wall Street Journal

Local Digital Media Outlets Galvanize Neighborhoods

Washington's panoply of hyperlocal news media is filling the holes left by tradition outlets as web 2.0 expands. Since many of the local newspapers have folded, bloggers and other digital media have grown to cover matters at the local level.

December 4, 2010 - Next American City

D.C. Takes Long-Range Transit Planning Online

Washington D.C.'s Metro is expecting a major increase in ridership over the next 30 years. To try to meet that demand, they're recruiting ideas from the public with a new outreach effort.

December 1, 2010 - The City Fix

The First Urban Walmart

Walmart, famous for not budging on their store designs, may be ready to build an urban alternative with a handful of stores proposed for the D.C. area. Greater Greater Washington gets the scoop on the plans.

November 24, 2010 - New Urban News Network

Washington DC Considers Modifying Height Limit On New Buildings

The 1910 law, responsible for preserving views of the capitol from most roof decks, is being challenged by a small group of architects and developers who believe a modest change would inject vitality, sustainability and revenue into the urban fabric.

November 6, 2010 - The Herald Tribune

D.C. Streetcars In the Works

The District Department of Transportation recently released detailed plans for the new system, which has been in the making for more than 14 years.

October 28, 2010 - The Washington Post

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.