Michigan

Vintage STreetcar

Detroit's New Q-Line Streetcar Opens to the Public in May*

The long-awaited Q-Line opened to the public earlier today.

May 5, 2017 - Detroit Free Press

Detroit, Michigan

Friday Eye Candy: The Antidote to Detroit 'Ruin Porn'

The new book "Detroit: The Dream Is Now" tells a story of revitalization and ambition, in the same city where far too many "ruin porn" photographers have tread.

May 5, 2017 - Detroit Free Press

Urban Garden

An Ambitious Revitalization Partnership in Detroit

Bringing together the city, developers, and philanthropic support, Fitz Forward aims to redevelop 300 parcels. Backers hope it will serve as a model for other neighborhoods.

May 2, 2017 - Next City

Detroit Vacant

Bad Bets on Detroit Housing Speculation

When investors from Belgium and elsewhere snapped up Detroit houses for a song, some of them didn't consider the full picture. The lesson: do your research, and maybe don't invest thousands of miles form home.

April 27, 2017 - Detroit Free Press

Detroit Pistons

Another Suburban Anchor Development Doomed by Fate in the Detroit Region

The Detroit Pistons recently played their last game in the Palace of Auburn Hills.

April 19, 2017 - Detroit Free Press

Michigan State Capital

Trump's Budget Still a Draft, But Officials Credit it for Demise of BRT Project in Michigan

Local officials have ended any hope of completing a bus rapid transit project in the Lansing, Michigan area, for fear of of the budget cuts for transportation investment projects promised by the Trump Administration.

April 18, 2017 - Lansing State Journal

Pontiac, Michigan

Volkswagen Emissions Cheating Scandal Produces Land Use Lawsuit in Michigan

The city of Pontiac has filed a lawsuit over the illegal storage of hundreds of Volkswagen vehicles. The vehicles have mothballed at the Pontiac Silverdome as a result of the buy-back program necessitated by the 2016 emissions cheating scandal.

March 24, 2017 - Oakland Press

Red Light Camera

Ann Arbor's Futuristic Traffic Software

The networked sensors and signals in Ann Arbor give the city a coordinated way to respond to traffic.

March 13, 2017 - Wired

Detroit

On Detroit's Proposed Tallest Skyscraper

Slated for the site of the late Hudson's department store, Dan Gilbert's mixed-use mecca and its glassy 734-foot tower would symbolize Detroit's rebirth, in downtown at least.

March 11, 2017 - Detroit Free Press

Redevelopment

A New, Park-Filled Vision for Detroit's Waterfront

A new framework plan for Detroit's East Riverfront District will focus more on creating public spaces than a previous version of the plan. The proposed vision for the waterfront would expand Milliken State Park and create two new parks.

March 7, 2017 - Detroit Free Press

Pedestrian and Bike Access Included at Planned U.S.-Canada Border Crossing

A request for proposals for the planned Gordie Howe International Bridge, connecting Detroit to Windsor, includes a mandate to include pedestrian and bike infrastructure across the span.

March 6, 2017 - Detroit Free Press

Pedestrians

Monday Inspiration: The Best School Crossing Guard in the Business

Meet Penni Robertson, also known as America's Favorite Crossing Guard.

March 6, 2017 - Detroit Free Press

Detroit - Renaissance Center

Detroit Still a Long Way from Recovery

It's fun to write miracle comeback stories, but the epic of Detroit's resurgence has been exaggerated, according to an article in The Conversation.

March 3, 2017 - The Conversation

Hard Rock Coliseum

Unique 'Audio Portraits' Pay Homage to Urban Noise

One man's noise pollution is another man's symphony.

February 27, 2017 - CityLab

Baltimore Demolition

When the Dust Settles: Removing Blight, But Spreading Toxins

Data regarding ongoing demolitions of blighted properties in cities across the U.S. has turned up some unexpected consequences: the spread of lead toxins into the surrounding community.

February 25, 2017 - The Nation

oil spill

The End of Federal Environmental Protection in the United States?

The end of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency may not come from the hands of President Trump or Scott Pruitt, the nominee to head the agency, but from a bill introduced Feb. 3 titled, "To terminate the Environmental Protection Agency."

February 13, 2017 - Fox Business

Flint

1,700 Flint Residents Sue U.S. EPA for $722 Million in Damages

Flint residents are suing the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for damages caused by exposure to lead in the city's drinking supply.

February 1, 2017 - The Detroit News

Detroit Bioretention Garden

Detroit Completes Citywide Property Tax Reappraisal

It's counterintuitive, but in Detroit, the hope is that by lowering property taxes, the city might actually collect more in property taxes.

January 25, 2017 - Detroit Free Press

Alcohol

Friday Fun: Bikes and Beer Take to the Water

Hold my beer while I pedal this boat around Lake St. Clair.

January 20, 2017 - Detroit Free Press

Green Line, Los Angeles

Review of November 2016 Transportation Ballot Measures

About 50 transportation measures appeared on local ballots on November 8, 2016. To date, Planetizen reviewed outcomes in nine regions in six states. Here we compare the measures in terms of revenue, taxes, projects, and reasons for failure.

January 12, 2017 - Planetizen

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.