Massachusetts

Controversial Offshore Wind Farm off Massachusetts Approved

U.S. Interior Secretary Ken Salazar today approved the first offshore wind farm in the United States, a project that faced vocal opposition from local tribes and others.

April 28, 2010 - The Boston Globe

Living the Car-Free Life In Order to Plan It

New Urbanist Jeff Speck has moved his family to Lowell, Massachusetts without a car in order to experience the perspective of a carless household.

April 20, 2010 - The Boston Globe

New Twist on Eminent Domain

Boston uses the threat of eminent domain to force a developer to build on a site that's become an eyesore.

April 14, 2010 - Wall Street Journal

Smart Growth Worries School Board

The school board of Chicopee, Massachusetts is concerned that a proposed smart growth district would overwhelm the school system.

April 14, 2010 - The Republican

Boston Proper Cheaper Than Burbs

A new report from ULI maps out the 'housing plus transportation' costs in all Boston neighborhoods. Turns out living in the heart of the city is cheaper than the outer neighborhoods.

April 13, 2010 - Streetsblog

Transit Fan Takes the Helm

Last week, Richard A. Davey Jr. was appointed the new general manager of the MBTA, the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority. The Boston Globe's transportation reporter rides the T with him and talks transit.

March 29, 2010 - The Boston Globe

Boston Neighborhood Transforms Church into Housing

How grassroots organizers beat out commercial bidders, and overcame zoning hurdles to redevelop Catholic church into affordable housing.

March 9, 2010 - WBUR - Boston public radio

OP-ED: Make "High-Speed" Rail Speedier

Train writer Christian Wolmar argues that the best application for high speed rail funds would be to upgrade the Washington D.C. to Boston, 150 mph Acela line to true, high speed rail status and used as a showcase for American rail technology.

March 9, 2010 - The New York Times - Opinion

Representing and Understanding the City Graphically

Columnist Jeanne Haffner goes hands-on to learn how graphic representation is used in the day-to-day work of planning.

February 19, 2010 - Next American City

Turning an Ethnic Enclave Into An Asset

Lowell, Mass. has one of the largest populations of Cambodian immigrants in the country. City officials want to create a "Little Cambodia" neighborhood to capitalize on that strength without exploiting it.

February 17, 2010 - The Boston Globe

Revitalizing a City With Technology

The town of Holyoke, Massachusetts has hired Cisco to create a technology-led urban revitalization plan.

February 14, 2010 - Fast Company

Underground Theater - No, Literally Underground

The winner of the SHIFTboston Ideas Competition is a proposal to turn the unused Tremont Street Subway tunnel under Boston Common into a network of underground cultural venues.

February 11, 2010 - Metropolis Magazine

Good Bones

That's what a consultant told Robert L. Hubbard, city director of planning and community development of Gardner, Massachussetts, about the city's infrastructure. Gardner intends to build on those bones with an urban renewal plan.

January 18, 2010 - Worcester Telegram & Gazette

The Preserved Underground Past of Boston's Subway

A video from The Boston Globe takes a look into the world below the city's subway system.

January 7, 2010 - The Boston Globe

Embattled Cape Cod Wind Farm Hits Spiritual Speedbump

After lobbying from two Native American tribes, the Nantucket Sound has been made eligible for listing in the National Register of Historic Places, creating a possible further delay of a proposed wind farm off the coast of Cape Cod.

January 6, 2010 - The New York Times

Convention Centers Can Be "Deadly, Single-Purpose Monoliths"

Robert Campbell argues that Boston's planned expansion of the convention center should be mixed-use and urban in nature.

December 23, 2009 - The Boston Globe

Northeast Shut Out From High Speed Rail Money

The Northeast corridor has effectively been shut out from receiving any federal high speed rail stimulus dollars due to tight environmental review policies.

December 22, 2009 - The Boston Globe

New Harvard Campus Postponed Indefinitely

After halting construction on a science center in Allston months ago, Harvard has announced that the project will be postponed for the foreseeable future.

December 12, 2009 - BostonHerald.com

DIY Energy Even Better

Massachusetts has made home energy generation more attractive by allowing individuals to sell excess energy back to utility companies.

December 2, 2009 - Good

Filling In The Holes From The Big Dig

Boston's Big Dig was supposed to result in a series of glorious, connected public spaces. Two years after the project's completion, the state is finally making the connections a reality.

November 24, 2009 - The Boston Globe

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.