Massachusetts

Proposed Improvements To Boston's Pedestrian Shopping Center

Plans have been proposed to expand downtown Boston's pedestrian-only shopping district with the hopes of improving the area's economic viability. Despite high pedestrian traffic, the shopping center has not been as successful as others in the city.

March 1, 2007 - The Boston Globe

The Architecture of Light and Sound Comes to Logan Airport

An architect sculpts ever-changing atmospheres with light and recorded sound. Everything from jungle birds to ocean breezes to wind chimes enhance the experience of the built environment.

February 27, 2007 - NPR Weekend Edition

Massachusetts Historic Mill Cities Struggle For Job Growth

A new report highlights the struggles of historic mill cities in Massachusetts as they lose thousands of jobs and strain to attract high-tech industries.

February 27, 2007 - The Boston Globe

Massachusetts City Collects Smart Growth Incentives

Approving high density, smart growth developments has brought urbanity and monetary benefits to the town of Easton, Massachusetts.

February 23, 2007 - The Boston Globe

Who Wants To Be A Redevelopment Czar?

The lengthy list of candidates for the top job at the Boston Redevelopment Agency includes architect and Harvard professor Alex Krieger.

February 8, 2007 - Boston Herald

Architect Plays Nice In Boston's South End

A new building in Boston's historic rowhouse laden south end neighborhood looks ahead without disrespecting its traditional context.

February 4, 2007 - The Boston Globe

City Hall Is Best Left In The Center Of The City

Mayor Tom Menino's proposal to move Boston City Hall to the south waterfront ignores the importance of the building's location, and the recent developments in downtown.

January 23, 2007 - The Hartford Courant

Re-Improving Boston's Pedestrian Environment

This article from The Phoenix looks at Boston's reputation for being a walkable city, why that reputation is fading, and who is helping to bring it back.

January 22, 2007 - The Phoenix

27 Of The Worst Things About Boston

There are many things to like about Boston, but this article lists of 27 things to not like about it, including inconvenient bus routes, short subway operating hours, and a lack of street signs.

January 22, 2007 - The Phoenix

Is Harvard's Design School Sexist?

Controversy over the lack of female faculty at Harvard's Graduate School of Design has erupted after a adjunct professor of landscape architecture submitted her resignation in protest of the school's gender imbalance.

January 19, 2007 - Inside Higher Ed

Undaunted Developer Pursues Air Rights Over Boston's Turnpike

In a third and perhaps final attempt, developer John Rosenthal submitted plans to locate 668 housing units, 57,000 square feet of retail, 1,200 parking spaces, and a redeveloped transit station in Boston's Kenmore Square neighborhood.

January 11, 2007 - The Boston Globe

Commuter Rail Isn't A Smart Choice For Transportation Dollars

Commuter rail is an outdated model of transportation, and does little to reduce car use or promote transit-oriented development.

January 3, 2007 - The Boston Globe

Cities Change Rules To Encourage Higher Density

In Massachusetts, some cities are changing their zoning rules and restrictions, encouraging more developers to building higher density "cluster" developments in traditionally low-density areas.

January 2, 2007 - The Boston Globe

New England's Growth Rate Trails Nation's

The New England region's population growth rate continues to drop below that of the nation as a whole, measuring at a rate of just 0.2 percent between July 2005 and July 2006. This compares with a national growth rate of about 1 percent.

December 31, 2006 - Portland Press Herald

Coastal Development Strangling Ocean Life In New England

A study released by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration shows that nutrient pollution in New England and the Gulf of Maine has increased over the last 15 years, due to pesticide use, stormwater runoff, and sewage leaks.

December 30, 2006 - National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Boston To Require Green Building Standards

Boston is set to become the first city in the nation to impose a strict set of green building standards on all new development in the city. The requirements will take effect in January and affect buildings 50,000 square feet and larger.

December 21, 2006 - The Boston Globe

Friday Funny: Carolers Take On Gentrification

A group in Boston's Chinatown has written their own lyrics to some classic Christmas songs to protest the neighborhood's rapid gentrification.

December 15, 2006 - Boston Herald

A Career In Brownfields

A innovative training program in Boston is helping people get better jobs cleaning up the environment.

December 10, 2006 - The Boston Globe

Combating The Redevelopment Agency

A neighborhood group in Boston is trying to bring attention to the "poor planning" of the Boston Redevelopment Authority, in hopes to bring greater accountability to the agency.

December 5, 2006 - The Boston Globe

Big Dig Safety Review Finds Only 'Minor Flaws'

Gov. Mitt Romney releases an engineering review that finds Boston's Big Dig to be 'fundamentally safe' but recommends some repairs.

November 20, 2006 - 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.