Massachusetts

Finding 'The Perfect American Street'

Recounting a recent trip to Great Barrington, Massachusetts, writer Philip Langdon shares the pleasure of the small town's main street.

June 27, 2007 - The Hartford Courant

The Challenge Of Rebuilding The Past

In Boston's Fort Point Channel district, redeveloping historic warehouses into luxury residences is easier said than done.

June 24, 2007 - The Boston Globe

Bostoners Most Likely To Walk To Work

Commuters in Boston are the most likely city dwellers to walk to work, but are second-to-last among commuters in 50 American cities to carpool, according to Census data.

June 20, 2007 - The Boston Globe

Easing Development Approval By Changing Zoning

Revised zoning laws in the town of Amesbury, Massachusetts, look to finally get some development on long-ignored land by making it easier for developers to gain approval from planners.

June 4, 2007 - The Boston Globe

Boston Tries Its Hand At Artist Housing

A new development in Hyde Park aims to revitalize its business district by attracting artists who are being priced out of Boston's formerly affordable neighborhoods.

May 31, 2007 - The Boston Globe

Boston Metro Plan Calls For Smart, Dense Growth

A new report from a metropolitan planning organization in Boston has outlined the severe land shortages that will face the growing area between now and 2030, and proposes a smart growth plan to preserve open space by growing densely.

May 22, 2007 - The Boston Globe

Online Wiki Unveiled For Boston Bike Safety

In an effort to help Boston bikers ride safely, an online "wiki" has been unveiled that uses mapping software to identify the safest and most dangerous routes in the city.

May 21, 2007 - The Boston Globe

Bill Would Allow Extra Units To Be Priced Affordably

The Boston suburb of Boxford is on the verge of approving a measure that would allow residents to rent extra housing space at state affordable housing prices. Boxford and other suburbs are looking to reduce their low stock of affordable housing.

May 20, 2007 - The Boston Globe

The 30-Year Development Of Public Space

A small pedestrian alleyway in Cambridge, Massachusetts, that developed slowly over more than 30 years reminds that architecture's placemaking abilities are not only seen in huge projects and iconic buildings.

May 15, 2007 - The Boston Globe

Governor Looks At Tax Solutions For Struggling Small Towns

Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick is pushing a plan to allow struggling communities to bring in more taxes from local businesses and to lower the amount of property taxes owners have to pay.

May 10, 2007 - The Boston Globe

Rising Costs Of Big Dig Has State Looking For Deeper Pockets

Despite many claiming it has been completed, Boston's Big Dig continues to put a strain on the state budget. The latest estimates have the costs rising $333 million more than previously expected.

May 10, 2007 - The Metro West Daily News

New Greenhouse Gas Rules For Massachusetts Developers

New rules have come into effect in Massachusetts that will require developers of large-scale projects to estimate and reduce their greenhouse gas production.

April 23, 2007 - The Boston Globe

Thoreau's Walden May Become A Soccer Field

This report from NPR looks at a Massachusetts school's efforts to build soccer fields in part of the forest Henry David Thoreau wrote about in his book Walden.

April 17, 2007 - NPR

Is The Worst Over For The Massachusetts Housing Market?

Market research shows that though buyers still have an advantage, the Massachusetts housing market will shows signs of stability over the next six to twelve months.

April 16, 2007 - The Boston Globe

Bouncing Back After The Big Dig

After years in the dust of the Big Dig, Boston's North End is looking to bring in the tourists that have avoided the former construction zone for so long.

April 15, 2007 - The Boston Globe

Officials Look To Increase Ridership By Posting More Bus Maps

Transit officials in Boston are hoping that a new program to install detailed bus maps at subway stations will increase ridership on the city's bus system by helping more people understand it.

April 11, 2007 - The Boston Globe

Beantown's Housing Crunch

How the housing crisis -- from unaffordable housing and the subprime scandal -- is affecting Boston.

April 10, 2007 - The Boston Globe

Boston's Brewery Housing

In Boston's Jamaica Plain neighborhood, modern condos are replacing Boston's oldest brewery buildings.

March 24, 2007 - The Boston Globe

Harvard-Adjacent Neighborhood Holds On To Its Character

Even with the constant threat of Harvard's ongoing expansion and new attention from developers, the Riverside neighborhood of Cambridge, Massachusetts, still manages to preserve its quirky atmosphere and charm, though affordability has declined.

March 18, 2007 - MIT Tech

X-Rated Businesses Move Into Town With No Zoning

The prospect of X-rated businesses opening up near homes has residents of the Southern Massachusetts town of Berkley up in arms. With no zoning laws, the location of any new businesses depends on approval by a local governing board.

March 9, 2007 - 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.