Planetizen - Urban Planning, Design and Development Network

Alternative Vehicles Evolve, Infrastructure Still Lags

Tim Halbur — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 11:00:00 -0800

A group of industry and policy leaders discuss the current state of the technology and infrastructure that will drive change for the auto industry.

On Remaking Shrinking Cities

Nate Berg — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 09:00:00 -0800

This week's Smart City features discussions with Harvard economist Ed Glaeser about shrinking cities, and with urban design critic Randy Gragg about interactive art and urban design projects.

The Fall of Victorville

Tim Halbur — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 07:00:00 -0800

Victorville, CA is a textbook case of the housing bubble gone wrong. Moving forward, Warren Karlenzig argues that places like Victorville show the need to consider a new paradigm of density and efficiency moving forward.

Brain Gain in Eastern Germany

Nate Berg — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 05:00:00 -0800

After twenty years of reunification, the eastern part of Germany is finally beginning to lure educated workers back.

Walkscore to Get Bus Points

Nate Berg — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 13:00:00 -0800

Transit stops are now included on Walkscore, the map-mashup website that scores neighborhoods based on their accessibility and walkability.

Finding A Sustainabe Path for Jakarta

Nate Berg — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 11:00:00 -0800

Jakarta, Indonesia is the world's sixth most populated metropolitan area, and it's on track to move up in ranks within the next decade. Some planners are trying to figure out how to guide this developing megacity onto a sustainable path.

Isn't This How We Got Into This Mess in the First Place?

Tim Halbur — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 09:00:00 -0800

In the name of economic stimulus, the government has invested deeply in the very business (real estate) that was driving the economy down. Does that make sense? Streetsblog's Ryan Avent reports.

Simulating Mount Rushmore

Tim Halbur — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 07:00:00 -0800

Experts from heritage group Historic Scotland have developed a technique using lasers to create precise digital representations of enormous sites. Mount Rushmore is the next location to be captured.

Talking 'Bout a RailVolution

Tim Halbur — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 05:00:00 -0800

The Urbanophile reports from RailVolution in Boston, including a video interview with John Robert Smith, CEO of Reconnecting America.

The Solution for Homelessness? Homes.

Tim Halbur — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 14:00:00 -0800

Neal Peirce says that there is finally light at the end of the tunnel in the debate over homelessness, and a consensus that stopgaps don't work. The real answer is to, duh, give them homes.

The History of the Parking Lot

Tim Halbur — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 13:00:00 -0800

An exhibit currently at the National Building Museum in Washington, D.C. explains how the architecture and design of parking lots evolved, and why. Meanwhile, the Parking Show of Shows conference takes place nearby with a different take.

The Most Polluted Metro Areas in America

Nate Berg — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 12:00:00 -0800

Atlanta tops a list of the most polluted cities in the country, according to an analysis of EPA data by Forbes.

'No Credits, Just Prerequisites'

Nate Berg — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 11:00:00 -0800

The Living Building Challenge is a new environmental rating system that focuses on required environmental design elements, diverging dramatically from the credit-based approach of the built environment's dominant rating system, LEED.

Center for Developmentally Disabled Doesn't Fit Zoning - Any Zoning

Tim Halbur — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 10:00:00 -0800

The Winterville, GA Planning Commission rejected the idea of creating a special "assisted residential district" for a center for developmentally disabled people, saying that the proposal was too vague.

Driverless Cars are the Solution, Says Randal O'Toole

Tim Halbur — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 09:00:00 -0800

Promoting his upcoming book on transportation planning, Randal O'Toole says his central argument is that rail is a dead end and driverless car technologies are the answer to our congestion problems.

Solar-lit Footbridge Opens in Brisbane

Tim Halbur — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 08:00:00 -0800

Last month saw the debut of one of the world's longest footbridges, which also happens to be 100% solar-powered. 36,500 people are projected to walk across the bridge each week.

When The Auto Columnist Gives Up His Car

Irvin Dawid — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 07:00:00 -0800

What's this? The Wall Street Journal's 'car guy' - the reporter who writes about cars and roads, is .....without a car? As difficult as it may be to believe, Joseph White is now a carless urbanite in DC. Here is his first column in his new lifestyle.

New $6500 Tax Credit for Homebuyers

Tim Halbur — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 06:00:00 -0800

The U.S. Senate has approved an extension of the tax credit for 1st time homebuyers, which is set to expire in November. The House could vote on Thursday.

Smaller May Be Better in Developer Biz

Tim Halbur — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 05:00:00 -0800

While a number of mega retail developers crashed and burned during the recession, some smaller developers have thrived.

Tribal Battle Results in No Development for 40 Years

Tim Halbur — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 14:00:00 -0800

In 1968, the Bureau of Indian Affairs put a freeze on development in an area of Arizona that the Navajo and Hopi both claimed until the tribes could settle. It wasn't until 2006 that an agreement was reached.