New York

Leasing to Spur Growth in Small and Medium-Sized Wind Turbines

Can wind power gain the popularity of rooftop solar? A Brooklyn start-up is betting it can with the leasing of turbines, particularly to farmers and rural residents.

December 22, 2015 - The New York Times - Energy & Environment

Gowanus Canal, Dirty Water

Soaking-Up New York's Filthy Water With a Sponge Park

A 2,100 square foot park on the banks of New York City's Gowanus Canal is part of a plan to catch pollutants from storm off from draining into the already polluted waterway.

December 22, 2015 - New York Times

The Citizens Budget Commission Reports on NYC's Housing Affordability

As Mayor de Blasio pulls out all the stops to make the case for zoning proposals critical to his affordable housing plans, the Citizens Budget Commission assessed the economics of housing construction in the city.

December 19, 2015 - New York Citizens Budget Commission

Take the 'Green Line': Design Firm Pitches 40-Block Park on Broadway in New York

Perkins Eastman has created a splashy proposal for a linear, at-grade park running along a long stretch of one of New York's most famous avenues.

December 18, 2015 - Dezeen

A Transportation Network Company's Surprising Early Adopters: Seniors

There's more than one way to meet demand for transportation options.

December 18, 2015 - New York Magazine

Pedestrians

When 'Vision Zero' Conflicts With Local Politics

Community leaders sometimes present the biggest obstacles when and where the rubber hits the road on Vision Zero traffic safety improvements. New York City Mayor de Blasio is pushing for more power for the DOT.

December 17, 2015 - StreetsBlog NYC

Report: 'Pop-Up' Businesses Ring Up $50 Billion in Yearly Revenue

Temporary storefronts—for everything from high fashion to big-box retailers to "foodie"-favored restaurants—are all the rage. A new study quantifies the economic clout of pop-up businesses.

December 14, 2015 - New York Business Journal

Vancouver Street Scene

The Perils of Walking While Under the Influence of Your Phone

Everyone seems to do it, in fact you may be doing it right now, but beware the injuries that await from distracted walking.

December 13, 2015 - New York Times - Well

$1.5 Billion in Economic Development Funds Awarded in Upstate New York

The Upstate Revitalization Initiative is also known as the "Upstate Hunger Games." $1.5 billion in available funding is certainly an attention grabber.

December 12, 2015 - Politico New York

Public-Private Partnership Anticipated for Amtrak Gateway Program

Similar to high-speed rail projects throughout the nation, Amtrak will be looking to the private sector to help pay a portion of the expected $20 billion tab to build two new tunnels under the Hudson River and expand New York's Penn Station.

December 6, 2015 - Reuters

Staten Island Ferry "Spirit of America"

Study to Address Staten Island Transportation Deserts

Residents of Staten Island suffer from very long commutes, and many rely on cars. The New York City Council has proposed a study to determine how additional transit could be implemented in the borough.

December 5, 2015 - SI Live

Damage Control for New York's Big Zoning Proposals

One of the nation's most ambitious efforts to upzone neighborhoods in the hope of spurring more market rate and affordable housing supply is up for debate in New York City. A lot of people don't like the plan.

December 5, 2015 - Politico New York

Federal Transportation Reauthorization Agreement Close at Hand

The Wall Street Journal reports that a deal is very near—maybe Monday—for a 6-year transportation reauthorization bill with funding for not three years, as both the House and Senate bills include, but five.

December 1, 2015 - The Wall Street Journal - Politics

Stahl House Los Angeles

Krugman Argues the Supply Side to Combat Urban Inequality

Paul Krugman, one of the most influential voices of liberal policy in the United States, has identified a culprit in the U.S. affordability crisis: over-regulation.

November 30, 2015 - The New York Times

Embarcadero

Urban Revitalization Through Highway Teardowns

Alana Semuels, staff writer for The Atlantic, examines highway teardowns beginning with the San Francisco Embarcadero in 1989 to see how they have worked in terms of revitalizing poorer areas or restoring the urban fabric that they destroyed.

November 29, 2015 - The Atlantic

Businesses in Brooklyn Opening at Twice the Rate of Previous Decade

A Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce report offers compelling evidence of the borough's ongoing transformation.

November 26, 2015 - Crain's New York Business

Why It's So Hard to Tell When a New York Train Will Arrive

The Atlantic has deep and detailed coverage of the expensive, obsolete, and decaying technology used by the New York subway system.

November 15, 2015 - The Atlantic

New Corporation Formed to Replace Amtrak's Hudson River Rail Tunnels

The Gateway Development Corporation will be formed by Amtrak, the U.S. Department of Transportation, New York, and New Jersey to replace the deteriorating 105-year-old Hudson River rail tunnels, a vital project that could cost $20 billion.

November 13, 2015 - The New York Times

Car Production Line

Designated Zones to Protect New York Manufacturing

Without designated industrial zones, New York manufacturing companies risk losing their facilities to the residential development market. The de Blasio administration has promised some zoning protections for industrial enclaves.

November 13, 2015 - Crain's Business New York

How a Simple Shuttle Enables Campus Diversity

Access to campus is a primary obstacle for low-income, minority students to overcome in attending college. The College of Staten Island has found a simple solution that applies in less urban communities as well.

November 8, 2015 - Politico New York

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.