On the eve of his departure from New York, the outgoing manager of public art for the Times Square Alliance discusses community engagement, urban placemaking and contemporary art practice at the iconic site.

Joshua Nelson explains how freight rail works in New York, reflecting on rail’s environmental and economic advantages as well as its role in getting potatoes to your local market.

A first look at a new initiative, developed by the Noguchi Museum and Socrates Sculpture Park, that invites artist-led teams to propose visions for the future of Long Island City.

Introducing Making Room: a research, design and advocacy project to shape New York’s housing stock to address the changing needs of how we live now.

A writer muses on poetry, neighborliness and waking up to the city around us while strolling through Brooklyn’s Fort Greene Park.

Gary Hustwit, director of design documentaries Helvetica and Objectified, talks about his latest film, a global exploration of the individuals, projects and forces that shape our cities.

IfUD’s Anne Guiney tells us what to expect from an upcoming weeklong festival celebrating New York’s public realm and showing how design can make it better.

Since 1919, a former military depot in Sunset Park has seen three million troops, the US Post Office, refugees, biotechnology, Elvis Presley and, later this month, the League’s Beaux Arts Ball.

Transportation and livable streets advocate Mark Gorton explains why the car is a flawed technology for cities and shares his vision for a mostly auto-free New York.

David Briggs and Anthony Deen share the winning designs from the first of a series of competitions that address the challenges of developing contaminated urban areas.