New York
Investigation Exposes New Jersey Transit's Botched Sandy Prep
In the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy, NYC's rail system was up and running again fairly quickly, with only 19 of its rail cars damaged by the storm. By comparison, hundreds of New Jersey Transit's rail cars were damaged and months of delays ensued.
In New York's Sky-High Residential Market, It's All About the Views
Robin Finn looks at New York's "Stratospherians", vertical lifestyle fans with deep pockets that are driving the city's residential tower construction, and prices, to new heights.
Fracking Bans Upheld by New York Court
Fracking opponents scored two major court victories In New York State on May 2 when an Appellate Division court panel ruled unanimously that two towns can use zoning to ban fracking. Paradoxically, it could also be good for energy companies.
Breaking the Glass Apple: Arguing for Architectural Complexity in New York
With recent developments in Astor Place, Hudson Yards, and Midtown East, Fred A. Bernstein sees a danger in New York City becoming just another a homogenous city of glass facades like Shanghai or Dubai.
MoMA Rethinks Folk Art Demolition
After weeks of blowback to a controversial plan by MoMA to demolish its acclaimed neighbor, the museum announced that its newly hired design consultants will be allowed to consider integrating the former Folk Art Museum into its expansion plans.
Camera Cultivation: Urban Security in the Austerity Age
In the aftermath of the Boston Marathon bombings, Eric Jaffe explores how cash-strapped cities will handle terrorism. "The short answer is public surveillance cameras. The long answer is smarter public surveillance cameras."
Plan for Queens Park Flushed in Favor of Soccer Stadium
In the waning days of the Bloomberg era, environmental and social responsibility have given way to economic development and developer subsidy. Such is the case, at least, in Flushing Meadows-Corona Park, where a new soccer stadium is planned.
Residents Near Brooklyn Enviro Cleanup Fear 'Cure Is Worse Than the Disease'
Residents living near Brooklyn's toxic Gowanus Canal are fighting the E.P.A.'s $500 million environmental cleanup effort over disagreement with the methods proposed by the agency. Will their opposition thwart the long-sought remediation.
Gatsby's Enduring Popularity With Developers
Since its publication, F. Scott Fitzgerald’s 'The Great Gatsby' has epitomized affluence and excess, especially for New York, where the book is set. Leonardo DiCaprio aside, Elizabeth Harris looks at the enduring attraction of Gatsby for developers.
Urban Camouflage: Using Buildings to Disguise Infrastructure
The infrastructure necessary to keep a city's systems running can frankly get kind of ugly. See what some cities have done to help disguise unsightly infrastructure.
For Planners, Investment in Social Media Pays Dividends
With the right approach, social media can expedite the exchange of information between stakeholders, facilitate participatory planning, and build better places. Two case studies offer insight for using social media to connect with communities.
Reverse Migration Threatens New Jersey Suburbs
After a half century of growth driven by families fleeing New York City, New Jersey's northern suburbs face an uncertain future as young families, young professionals and retirees find a resurgent Big Apple more to their liking.
Innovative Model Expands the Sharing Economy to Underserved Areas
Expanding car and bike share services beyond America's big cities and affluent demographics requires adaptability and old economy technologies. Buffalo CarShare is providing a model for success that even the big boys could learn from.
Bike Share Rolls Out in NYC and Haters Multiply
Polls show widespread public support for New York City's new bike share program. But as stations begin to appear on city streets, pitched battles are being waged over the control of public spaces.
Is a Costco Superstore a 'Tourist Attraction'?
New York prohibits County Industrial Development Agencies from granting tax breaks to retail projects, but will waive this rule if the project is a "tourist attraction." The Onondaga County IDA thus declared a proposed Costco a tourist attraction.
Is There a Future for Low-Rise High-Density Housing?
An exhibit that's just opened at NYC's Center for Architecture examines the brief history of a housing type that incorporated elements of suburban housing at higher densities. Can low-rise high-density houding provide a model for affordable infill?
A PAC You Might Actually Want to Donate To
StreetsPAC, a new political action committee launched this week, seeks to mobilize New York City residents, and back candidates, who support bike and pedestrian infrastructure.
New York City: More Affordable Than You'd Think, for Some
For professional-class workers with annual household incomes in the top income quintile, New York is a comparatively affordable place. A recent study attributes lower costs to competition between businesses that cater to upper-income people.
Are Nefarious Forces Behind the Transformation of Downtown Brooklyn?
Doug Henwood explains how "elite bodies", rather than pure "market forces", guide the growth of New York City. He begins his story with the Regional Plan Association's influential 1929 plan and focuses on the transformation of Downtown Brooklyn.
Will Vitality Be Trampled in the Rush to 'Modernize' Midtown Manhattan?
In a scathing op-ed for The New York Times, architect Robert Stern challenges the city's drive to densify East Midtown without paying the requisite attention to preservation, infrastructure, and the elements that give vitality to great cities.
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.
Ada County Highway District
Clanton & Associates, Inc.
Jessamine County Fiscal Court
Institute for Housing and Urban Development Studies (IHS)
City of Grandview
Harvard GSD Executive Education
Toledo-Lucas County Plan Commissions
Salt Lake City
NYU Wagner Graduate School of Public Service
