Michigan

Great Lakes Leaders Call for Drinking Water Protections

In light of August's drinking water catastrophe in Toledo, Ohio, Great Lakes mayors gathered this week to call for policy action to protect water resources round the Great Lakes.

September 25, 2014 - Chicago Tribune

Anchorage Alaska

Where to Go in the Event of Climate Change

Anchorage, Seattle, and Detroit will be pretty cozy compared to just about everywhere else in the United States if climate change models hold true.

September 23, 2014 - New York Times

Glenwood Green Acres, Philadelphia

13 Small Ideas with Big Potential for Cities

Making no little plans is all well and good, but sometimes it is the smallest ideas that can have the biggest impacts for cities and neighborhoods.

September 21, 2014 - Flying Kite

110-mph Talgo Trains Headed to Michigan [Corrected]

If the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) approves the order, two Wisconsin-manufactured Talgo train sets will reduce travel times from Detroit to Chicago by as much as two hours while significantly increasing on-time performance.

September 17, 2014 - The Detroit News

Detroit Bankruptcy Breakthrough: Regional Water Authority Moves Forward

One of the most politically treacherous proposals of Detroit's bankruptcy plan has finally gained approval—a regional water authority.

September 10, 2014 - The Detroit News

The Danger of Federal Money for Local Projects

Scott Beyer provides four reasons why federal money is the wrong policy mechanism for delivering the best possible transportation outcomes in the United States.

August 29, 2014 - Next City

Floods Create Trash Collection Stink in Oakland County

Recent heavy rains in Oakland County, north of Detroit, have required the local waste authority to make temporary arrangements for sewage-soaked trash. Residents are not happy.

August 24, 2014 - Detroit Free Press

Hacking Traffic Lights with a Laptop

A study by computer scientists from the University of Michigan shows how easy it is to hack and control traffic lights.

August 22, 2014 - Vox

Buffalo Light Rail

Editorial: Streetcar Funding Better Spent Elsewhere

The Economist introduces the concept of the streetcar in America—its history and its recent revival—before laying the arguments in support of, and against, the role of streetcars in urban revival.

August 16, 2014 - The Economist

Fences

Editorial Supports Blocking Access from Detroit to its Suburbs

Grosse Point Park, which borders Detroit, has blocked streets that connect its commercial district from the east side of Detroit. An editorial from the Detroit News says that the focus should be on making Detroit a better neighbor.

August 15, 2014 - The Detroit News

International Effort Needed to Prevent Recurrence of Lake Erie Algal Bloom

On Monday, August 4, half a million people in the Toledo, Ohio metro region could once again drink from their water taps after a weekend without safe drinking water due to a toxin resulting from an algal bloom in the city's water supply, Lake Erie.

August 7, 2014 - The Wall Street Journal

Comparing Boondoggles: Light Rail Line in Detroit, Streetcar in Washington D.C.

Jim Epstein suggests that Detroit's new light rail line is America's largest boondoggle; Matthew Yglesias argues that that ignominy belongs to Washington D.C.'s planned streetcar.

July 29, 2014 - Reason

New Detroit Red Wings Arena: Plenty of Public Subsidies; Few Public Benefits

One writer takes issue with the city of Detroit's decision to subsidize a $450 million arena plan for the Detroit Red Wings. The Ilitch family, owners of the Detroit Tigers and the Detroit Red Wings, are worth $3.6 billion.

July 24, 2014 - Deadspin

North view

Detroit Reaping Economic Development Benefits from Urban Farming

Urban farming has taken root as Detroit transforms. Now, farmers and entrepreneurs must continue to find new ways to profit from the city's new farming business model.

July 7, 2014 - The Detroit News

Planning 'Beyond Blight' in Flint, Michigan

Luke Telendar updates the planning efforts of Flint, Michigan, which earlier this year released its first new master plan since 1960, "Imagine Flint," and has more recently released a blight

July 3, 2014 - Center for Community Progress

A Bad Year for State Transportation Funding

Compared to 2013, few states are increasing transportation spending through tax increases. Only New Hampshire and Rhode Island saw limited gas tax increases, though both were accompanied by road or bridge toll eliminations. Missouri could be next.

June 27, 2014 - Governing

Detroit's Unpermitted Goat Experiment Ends—Is a Second Chance Possible?

A hedge fund manager recently took it upon himself to bring 20 goats into Detroit as an experiment of urban agriculture. The city quickly shipped the herd off, but fans of goats wonder why these animals shouldn't have a place in the city.

June 22, 2014 - NPR The Salt

A Closer Look at Detroit's Blighted Properties

The New York Times has produced a pair of visualization tools to present the findings of the recent report by Detroit's Blight Removal Task Force.

May 29, 2014 - New York Times

Tough Times Falling on Detroit's Casinos

First floated as a redevelopment strategy in 2007, Detroit's gamble on casinos has yielded a mature market. Now come reports that even a big name investor hasn't been able to turn around the Greektown Casino.

May 28, 2014 - The Detroit News

Report Recommends $850 Million to Eradicate Detroit's Blight

The Detroit Blight Removal Task Force released its highly anticipated "Every neighborhood has a future...And it doesn't include blight" report today.

May 27, 2014 - MLive

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.