Exclusives

FEATURE

Is No Growth Also Smart Growth?

Chris Williamson offers four arguments that planners can use to argue that "No Growth" policies are valid positions to take.

February 26 - Chris Williamson, PhD, AICP

FEATURE

Why New Urbanism Fails

Behind their quaint, cozy facades, New Urbanist towns still fail to combat the pattern of sprawling, auto-centric suburban development.

February 18 - Chris DeWolf

FEATURE

Modernism: A Step Towards Enlightenment?

The events of September 11th have served as a vehicle to attack skyscrapers, urbanism and development in general. Yet, does 9/11 really change anything about planning?

February 11 - Christian Schock, AICP

FEATURE

Top 10 Urban Planning Issues From 2001

The editors of PLANetizen select the top 10 planning issues from 2001 according to readers.

January 30 - Chris Steins and Abhijeet Chavan

FEATURE

Don't Destroy Neighborhoods To Educate Them

Well intentioned but off-target planning regulations are neglecting to create the community-centered schools the public is demanding.

January 16 - Constance E. Beaumont


FEATURE

The End Of The Modern World

The Twentieth Century ushered in a historic era of optimism for the rational "modern" future. History may record that September 11 ended the modernist dream for cities. But already new visions are emerging for a wiser, more hopeful future.

January 9 - Michael W. Mehaffy and Nikos A. Salingaros

FEATURE

Planning, Pet Rocks and Psychobabble

Richard Carson argues there's nothing new or innovative about "New Urbanism" or "Smart Growth." They're just new names for old strategies.

January 2 - Richard H. Carson


FEATURE

The Future Of Planning Support Technologies

Planning Support Tools have the potential to revolutionize the way we do planning. Yet many planners have been slow to adopt them. Why aren't these cutting-edge planning tools in the mainstream planner's toolbox?

December 26 - Eliot Allen, AICP

FEATURE

The Impact Of Smart Growth On Housing

The implementation of growth management laws may have severe impacts on housing availability. William Fulton examines the impact of smart growth policies in Ventura County, California, which has been hailed as a leader in urban planning.

December 18 - William Fulton

FEATURE

Let Cities Be Cities

Scattered development does not offer more security. Decentralizing the population and businesses of our great cities would be a long and expensive proposition, and one likely to fail.

November 26 - Sam Casella, FAICP

FEATURE

Don't Use The 'Z' Word

What's so bad about Zoning? Planner and attorney Edward McMahon separates the myths from the facts. At its best, zoning can help strike the elusive balance between quality of life and economic vitality.

November 14 - Edward McMahon

FEATURE

The Future Of Cities: The Absurdity of Modernism

November 5 - Nikos Salingaros: Interview with Leon Krier

FEATURE

So You Want To Be A Planning Director?

Being a planning director means you have to be a political animal. Richard Carson offers a no-holds barred look at what it takes to be a planning director -- and whether you want to.

October 29 - Richard H. Carson

FEATURE

Low Densities Are No Answer To The Threat Of Terrorism

The sprawling 1950's postwar urban pattern, once believed to provide a measure of security in the atomic age, has made us extremely vulnerable in an age of international terrorism.

October 23 - Michael Dudley

FEATURE

Fortifying America: Planning for Fear

October 2 - Edward J. Blakely

FEATURE

New Urbanist Proposals For Rebuilding The World Trade Center

Members of an Internet-based discussion group promoting New Urbanism offer several new urbanist proposals for redeveloping the site of the World Trade Center.

September 24 - Laurence Aurbach Jr. (Editor)

FEATURE

The End Of Tall Buildings

We are convinced that the age of skyscrapers is at an end. It must now be considered an experimental building typology that has failed. We predict that no new megatowers will be built, and existing ones are destined to be dismantled.

September 17 - James Howard Kunstler and Nikos A. Salingaros

FEATURE

The Death Of An Icon

The World Trade Center towers were an icon of the most powerful city in the world. Was it a mistake to build these grand towers? No. Architecture captures the strength and power of the American idea.

September 13 - John H. Hooker, AIA

FEATURE

Homeownership Causes Sprawl

As long as homeownership is a fundamental part of the American dream, we won't have livable cities. America's housing policy is dysfunctional -- homeownership is increasing, but community is disappearing.

September 1 - Daniel Lazare

FEATURE

Does Centralized Planning Work?

August 6 - Richard H. Carson

Top Books

An annual review of books related to planning.

Top Websites

The best of the Internet—since 2002.

Top Apps

Planning apps for a brave new world.

Top Schools

The definitive ranking of graduate planning programs.

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.

Write for Planetizen