In the final selection from the Unfinished Grid Essay Competition, Annie Choi takes us on a neighborhood stroll that reveals the grid's subtle influence on our everyday experience of the city.

A fresh and cheerful journey through an under-explored but ubiquitous aspect of our urban environment: the window air conditioning unit.

Another selection from the Unfinished Grid Essay Competition considers what two centuries of interpretation of Manhattan's street grid can tell us about ourselves.

Nicole Salazar takes us on a photographic journey of Willets Point and sketches its history and the controversy over its redevelopment.

Announcing the winner of the Unfinished Grid Essay Competition: a personal essay that blends family history with individual mobility to explore Manhattan's built and natural environment.

The Pastor of Saint Patrick's Old Cathedral shares the history of the iconic Soho church and reflects on his work in ministry, social work and affordable housing in the context of a constantly changing city.

Shin-pei Tsay describes how a group of volunteer urban planners collaborated to help local stakeholders argue for road safety improvements to Queens Boulevard and to redefine how planners can engage directly with communities.

Two of the co-founders of an innovative “video map” of New York discuss personal expression, urban exploration and the civic possibilities of video.

David Vega-Barachowitz investigates the policies, stakeholders and theories that have historically shaped street design standards in the US, and calls on designers to rethink how we share and use our roads.