N is for Neighborhood
The concept of “neighborhood” has an important place in planning. A look back at the Garden City idea of the late 19th century, and at the role of neighborhoods in more recent times.
Planning ABC’s
These 26 short articles provide — in alphabetical order — a terrific introduction to planning in America. They were prepared for the Planning Commissioners Journal by planning historian Laurence C. Gerckens, FAICP. Gerckens is national historian for the American Institute of Certified Planners; founder of The Society for American City and Regional Planning History; and emeritus professor at The Ohio State University.
Paul Hoffman, who illustrated all 86 covers of the Planning Commissioners Journal, prepared the 26 illustrations for the Planning ABC’s.
Sit back, relax, and browse through a range of fascinating planning topics.
O is for Open Space
From the planning and design of Central Park in New York City to George Kessler’s landmark 1893 plan for Kansas City, parks and open space have come to be an integral part of planning.
P is for Public Health & Safety
How public health & safety concerns have shaped city planning since the 19th century. A look by by historian Laurence C. Gerckens, FAICP.
Q is for Quiet
Noise remains a pervasive “quality of life” issue facing urban, suburban, and rural areas. While it no longer manifests itself in the clang of wagon wheels on cobblestone streets, it now comes in the form of highway and air traffic, and proliferating number of other sources.
R is for Regional Planning
Planning historian Laurence C. Gerckens, FAICP, takes a look at the history of regional planning in America — from Governor James Oglethorpe’s 1733 plan for Savannah, Georgia to the issues of Circular A-95 in 1969.
S is for Sustainable Development
The benefits of sustainability have re-echoed during our nation’s history. Oftentimes, however, sustainability has been overshadowed by countervailing forces, including large-scale manufacturing and mass production of goods, and a heavy dependence on non-renewable resources.
T is for Takings
Planning historian Laurence C. Gerckens, FAICP, provides a short overview of key American “takings” law cases.
U is for Urban Sprawl
Sprawl is not just a modern phenomenon. In a sense, American sprawl began with the horse drawn omnibus of the 1830s, which permitted the more well-to-do to escape to more country-like surroundings. But the nature of American sprawl changed radically with coming of the inexpensive automobile in the 1920s.
V is for Vision
Vision is imagination capable of inspiring planners and builders to respect the works of today, while moving forward with greater visions of the community of tomorrow. Planning historian Laurence Gerckens offers three examples.
W is for Water
Planning historian Laurence Gerckens provides an overview of how water has shaped the development of American cities.
X is for X-Rated Land Uses
Early American land use controls often focused on what might be considered the “X-rated” land uses of their day: fat trying plants, tar boiling facilities, dead animal disposal lots, industrial production facilities. and so on. The use of zoning to deal with them had broad consequences to this day.
Y is for Youth
In the planned neighborhood developments of the 1920s, elementary schools were centrally located within easy walking distance of their student population. But that changed with the explosive unplanned suburban sprawl of the 1950s and the decades that followed.
Z is for Zoning
Planning historian Laurence Gerckens provides an overview of the origins of zoning in America.
