New York

Bucking National Trend, Homelessness Rises in N.Y. and L.A.

Despite a "remarkable" drop in homelessness across the U.S., sobering new data from HUD reveals that New York City's struggle with record high homelessness is getting worse, not better. Homelessness is up substantially in Los Angeles as well.

November 25, 2013 - The New York Times

Mapping New York's Toxic Legacy

In bright blues, greens, and reds, an interactive map developed by property information website Property Shark documents New York City's cornucopia of polluted properties. Check the map to see if you might be living next door to a leaking oil tank.

November 23, 2013 - Fast Company Co.Exist

5 Principles for Creating Safer Streets

Through diligence and innovation, New York has been able to make the city's streets the safest of any big city in America. This month, it published a guide to help livable streets supporters anywhere replicate its success.

November 22, 2013 - STREETSBLOG.ORG

The Promise and Peril of Eco-Crowdfunding

Officials in Oregon, New York, and California have embraced crowdfunding as a way to push forward with environmental projects in a time of constrained budgets. Though the emerging tool is attractive to many, others see danger.

November 21, 2013 - Governing

Could a "Broken Windows" Approach Work for Traffic Crashes?

The "Broken Windows" theory of policing - targeting minor crimes to reduce major ones - has been credited with helping to bring down violent crime rates in several cities. Could such an approach reduce traffic violence?

November 20, 2013 - STREETSBLOG.ORG

Covert Coating Destroys NYC Street Art Mecca

In advance of its demolition to make way for a luxury condominium development, the abandoned brick warehouse turned world-renowned street art canvas known as 5Pointz was given a new coat of white paint overnight, shrouding its celebrated graffiti.

November 19, 2013 - The New York Times

Visionary Concepts Make "Rebuild by Design" Shortlist

10 bold ideas for building the New York area's resiliency have been selected to move to the final round of a design competition run by HUD. The best designs could tap into billions of dollars in Hurricane Sandy relief funds.

November 17, 2013 - ArchDaily

Loophole Offers Opportunity to Act on Calls for Improving NYC Pedestrian Safety

It won't take the approval of the state legislature to reduce speed limits on many of New York City's residential streets, just a City Council bill that takes advantage of a loophole in existing state law.

November 14, 2013 - WNYC: Transportation Nation

Planning Takes Center Stage in Broadway-Bound Musical

Liisa Ecola reviews “If/Then”, a new musical that follows the personal and professional paths chosen by professional planners. There's a good chance this will be the first Broadway musical to feature a heroine who has a PhD in city planning.

November 13, 2013 - DC.Streetsblog

Bloomberg Loses Battle for Ambitious Midtown Upzoning

It was supposed to be the crowning land use achievement in a mayoral reign that saw 40 percent of New York City rezoned. But statements indicate the City Council is set to shelve Mayor Bloomberg's controversial Midtown East upzoning.

November 13, 2013 - New York Daily News

Why New York's Inequality Is a Good Thing

Though he may not find a lot of agreement among the 750,000 residents who voted for Bill de Blasio, Ed Glaeser argues that New York City's extreme inequality is a sign of its economic diversity and success, and is nothing to be ashamed about.

November 12, 2013 - New York Daily News

Urban Politics: Voters Choose Three New Big City Mayors

Emily Badger of The Atlantic Cities and Bruce Katz of the Brookings Institution sit down with The NewsHour's Gwen Ifill for a discussion on the elections of New York Mayor Bill de Blasio, Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan and Boston Mayor Marty Walsh.

November 10, 2013 - PBS NewsHour

Is One World Trade America's Tallest Building? Depends Who You Ask

Spire or antenna; what sits atop One World Trade Center in Lower Manhattan? The answer isn't just semantics, it will determine if the building is indeed taller than Chicago's Willis Tower. A decision by the official arbiter could come next week.

November 9, 2013 - NPR

Seeking Sustainability Beyond LEED

What does it take to build sustainably? That a question that the USGBC's LEED program hoped to define. A group of developers in New York is trying to go beyond LEED to create "truly sustainable buildings".

November 9, 2013 - The New York Times

Microdevelopers Build a Promising Future Using Buffalo's Past

Buffalo is benefiting from a wave of "microdevelopment" driven by entrepreneurs and young urbanists with a belief in preservation as social activism. By rehabbing vacant properties one at a time they're hoping to turn around a city.

November 8, 2013 - The New York Times

Why New Yorkers Should Prepare for a de Blasio Building Boom

If you liked the pace of development during the Bloomberg administration, you're going to love Bill de Blasio. Development-related revenues will be necessary to fund the new mayor's priorities and inherited challenges explains Josh Barro.

November 7, 2013 - Business Insider

NYC: 7 Things at Risk, Post-Bloomberg

As Mayor Bloomberg gets set to leave office in New York, here are 7 things that may dramatically change under a new administration.

November 6, 2013 - Future Cities

Tappan Zee Scores Largest Ever TIFIA Loan, But How Will It Be Repaid?

New York State received good news on Oct. 31: A $1.6 billion loan has been approved toward the $4 billion replacement of the Tappan Zee Bridge. The remainder will be borrowed from the private sector. A commission will offer ways to repay the loans.

November 5, 2013 - The Buffalo News

Life in the Slow Lane: NYC Considers Lowering Speed Limits Citywide

As New York's City Council considers lowering the speed limit in the city's residential neighborhoods to 20 miles per hour, advocates can look to the Claremont neighborhood in the South Bronx where such a move has been well received.

November 5, 2013 - Crain's New York Business

In Defense of Architectural Nostalgia

Robert A.M. Stern doesn't get much respect from the architectural avant-garde. In a time in which sleek glass and curves are all the rage, Stern goes against the grain with his use of stone and nods to history. Does that make him a lesser architect?

November 5, 2013 - New York Magazine

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.