Sites we like....
Neal Peirce/Citistates:
Who, in the last twenty years, has done more than
Neil Peirce to publicize the problems and possible solutions in
our towns? Recent columns appear here, along with the 'Citistate
Reports' he and his associates have compiled for cities coast to coast. The National Academy of
Public Administration keeps an archive of Peirce's columns at
http://napawash.org/resources/peirce_previous.html
Planetizen:
The source for all the latest news in planning, environmentalism and urban affairs
Cyburbia:
A big fat directory of everything on the web concerning planning, and a lot of lively commentary
The New Rules Project (of the Institute for Local Self-Reliance):
The best resource on the web for communitarian
thinking, applied to most urban issues. Excellent, thorough research
you wont find anywhere else (they're especially good at bashing
big boxes)
INTBAU—The International Network for Traditional Building, Architecture and Urbanism:
You can see a whole planet reflected here, on the
website of this organization devoted to preserving and
strengthening local character and sound building. There's a very good
section of essays and book reviews. INTBAU has recently
established a chapter in the U.S.
Project for Public Spaces:
'Turning public places into vital community spaces'
for 30 years. When they started, most people had no idea what
they were talking about. But no organization has done more to bring
life back to America's urban fabric.
Brookings Metropolitan Policy Program:
Very mainstream, currently mostly concerned with
economic development: Bruce Katz, who runs it, publishes much of his
writing here, and there are always good reports and news items on all
topics
Smart Growth Online:
News and resources on anti-sprawl and environmental issues.
Metropolitan Area Research Corporation:
A decade ago, a Minnesota state legislator
named Myron Orfield touched off a little revolution in how we
understand cities. His research showed how our class-based and
sprawling mode of city-building is wreaking incalculable damage on
cities politically, economically and socially, and his mapping
techniques made the lesson come alive in a way words could never
accomplish. This little site offers an introduction to his work.
Space Syntax:
Very clever clogs in London. This firm uses unique
mapping technology to chart the flow of people, and then redesigns the
city around them.
Planum: The European Journal of Planning:
If you want it, here's a taste of European
academic planning in all its Baroque, postmodernly-verbose moronic
horror.
Lincoln Institute:
A very low-key, very useful independent research
institute with a lot of information on its site concerning land use,
taxation, and a lot more.
Congress for the New Urbanism:
All the news, topics and accomplishments of New Urbanism
SmartCode Central:
Learn about the 'Transect', and Duany-Plater-Zyberk's ambitious 'form-based' model zoning code.
The New Urban Guild:
Representing a number of practioners of
traditional archiecture and design. Many of them are heavily
involved with the rebuilding of New Orleans and the Gulf Coast.
SmartGrowthPlanning:
The California transportation consulting firm Fehr
& Peers has put up a site packed with information: techniques and
strategies for transit planning, transit-oriented development, and
reforming neighborhood streets.
Veritas et Venustas:
An education in itself. Refined commentary, and photo tours of interesting places.
City Comforts Blog:
David Sucher writes on just about everything concerning cities, and everything he writes is worth reading.
Cities on a Hill:
Manhattan Institute runs this new blog of Fred
Siegel's (he was Giuliani's brain trust in the creative years in New
York).
Ped Shed:
Thoughtful essays on many subjects, on a
sophisticated blog devoted (mostly) to the fine details of
creating good walkable neighborhoods.
Urban Squares:
A very pleasant diversion: interactive tours of
squares around the world, with discussion of what makes a good urban
space.
The Mantle of Science:
'Scientism is the profoundly unscientific attempt
to transfer uncritically the methodology of the physical sciences to
the study of human action'. This classic Murray Rothbard essay doesn't mention planning once, but once you read it many
things about the degradation of our cities in the 20th twentieth
century will suddenly look a little clearer.
An Affair with Urban Policy:
An entertaining blog with a little of
everything in it, from policy analysis to a trip to Albania.
Joel Kotkin's blog:
Even when he's right he manages to make it
wrong. Kotkin has been pushed forward as the establishment voice of urban
wisdom, and he's found a perfect home—the Washington Post.
Metropolis:
Glossy even on the small screen; covers the glossier sort of architecture and design.
Smart City Radio:
Would you believe an intelligent, syndicated radio show on urban affairs? You can listen in online.
A Vision of Europe:
If you thought Europe was out of the loop,
hopelessly lost in a miasma of playboy architecture and rotten planning
models, you wouldn't be far wrong. But here's a very welcome sign that
things might be starting to change.
The Interactive Nolli Map:
The University of Oregon's architecture department
gives us this fascinating site, an exegesis of a famous 1748
map of Rome that uses it to illuminate every aspect of the city.
Local sites:
PlanNYC:
From New York University, the essential planning
portal for keeping up with all the bewildering projects, proposals and
planning issues in the big town.
City Limits:
The voice of New York's community development network for 30 years. Solid reporting on local affairs.
Curbed:
Sharp, yuppie-flavored real-estate site that now
covers NYC, LA and SF; lots of inside info on neighborhoods and projects.
BeyondDC:
In fact, everything about DC and its region:
planning and urbanism issues, and even neighborhood tours.
Louisiana Speaks:
An overview of the huge, community-based regional planning and redevelopment effort around New Orleans
Built St. Louis:
Hail to Rob Powers, the maniac who has devoted so
much time and loving care to compiling this unique photographic record
of what St. Louis looks like today (and some trenchant
explanations of how it got that way). Every city should have someone
like him.
Urban Review St. Louis:
A tenacious watchdog on everything that gets built (or demolished) in and around the city.
The Ecology of Absence:
Yet more good stuff from St. Louis. An almost
poetic vision of decay and abandonment—and eye-opening
essays on some speculators who help keep the inner city in the
dumps.
Sustainable City:
All the details on San Francisco's groundbreaking and comprehensive Sustainability Plan.
Green City Blue Lake:
Created by EcoCity Cleveland, and
dedicated to defining a comprehensive vision for the future designed
around environmentalism.
Neomainstreet:
One architect's visions for bringing good building and design to Cleveland.
DetroitYes:
It used to be called 'The Fabulous Ruins of
Detroit', and a complete photo tour of those ruins is still a
major attraction. But Detroit is changing, and this fine site has
become a clearinghouse for thinking about the future, not the dead
past.
Pittsburgh History and Landmarks Foundation:
Everything you want to know about Pittsburgh
here, on the site of this exceptional organization, a national leader in
historic preservation and neighborhood redevelopment for over
forty years.
West Coast TNDs:
Eye candy for design and architecture fans: photos,
plans and descriptions of dozens of traditional neighborhood
developments on the West Coast.
The Planning Report:
A good way to keep up with L.A.
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