I was reading the New York Times Magazine special architecture issue a few weeks ago when something jumped out at me. On the intro page to the issue of the “Mega-Megalopolis” one of the by-line says “How does an architect plan for a city with no history? Or a city that just keeps growing?” Interesting questions particularly given the fact that to charge architects with the task of planning our cities is affording too much power to a profession that simply doesn’t have it.
Cities
Presidential Candidate Calls on Mayors to Embrace Urban Growth
Building a strong country is reliant on strong urban regions, according to Senator Barack Obama, who recently spoke with a conference of U.S. mayors about the importance of urban growth. Federal funding, however, will be limited, he said.
The New York Times
Municipal WiFi: Boon or Boondoggle?
Santa Monica, CA is succeeding where other larger cities have failed, creating a public WiFi system that actually makes money.
Marketplace
New Yorkers Can Now Find the Best Bike Routes Online
A new web site that generates directions for cyclists could supplant the New York City Bike Map.
Streetsblog
Making Suburbs Act Like Cities
In order to respond to the changing climate and economy, many say suburbs need to start acting more like cities.
The New York Times
'Instant Cities' Are Instant, But Not Cities
In this article from The New York Times Magazine looks at "instant cities" like Dubai and Shenzhen that have developed in hyperspeed in recent years, and discusses why they aren't yet "real" cities.
The New York Times Magazine
Police Take Control of D.C. Neighborhood
Washington, D.C. police decide to stop everyone entering a neighborhood that has seen 22 killings so far this year, including a recent triple homicide.
The Washington Post
Is The FTA Killing Game-Day Transit?
Game-day transit options are popular amenities in big cities, but new FTA regulations could force them to the curb. Cincinnati's Metro feels the heat from the Feds.
Business Courier of Cincinnati
Best U.S. City to Raise a Family: Honolulu?
Let the controversy begin -- Best Life Magazine named Honolulu #1 on its list of "The 100 Best Places to Raise a Family", while Flint, Michigan scrapes the bottom. Where does your city rank?
Best Life Magazine
The City, the College and the Hospital
This article from Governing looks at the role of higher education and medical facilities in keeping urban areas alive.
Governing
Mission Possible?
Despite naysayers, Masdar City is moving forward. The goal: to be the world's first modern-day carbon-free city.
National Public Radio
Does LEED Have a Big City Bias?
The vast majority of LEED-certified green buildings in the U.S. are located in major cities, leading some to wonder whether there might be an inherent bias in LEED's standards.
CoStar Group
Solving Civic Problems in a Post-Fact Society
How does a rapidly changing news media affect big city planning? Badly, according to this post from Next American City.
The Next American City
American Mayors and Bottom-Up Environmental Planning
The environmental leadership of mayors in the U.S. offers much hope for the future of the country, according to this article from Metropolis.
Metropolis Magazine
State Farm on the Humiliation of Biking to Work
A new 30-second television commercial from State Farm insurance suggests that commuting to work by bike is humiliating. But is the ad sending a more subversive message?
Streetsblog
Cities Are Forgotten In Presidential Race
Urban issues and metropolitan policy are noticeably absent from the platforms of the three main presidential candidates.
The Philadelphia Inquirer
The Densest Cities in America
The blog post features a list of the top five densest cities in America, and looks at the conditions that have made them that way.
Environmental Graffiti
How Will Changing Cities React?
Cities are undergoing major changes in terms of demographics and development patterns. How cities will react to these changes remains up in the air.
The Guardian
Universities Reconnect with Cities
Universities across the country are reviving their connections to their host cities, participating in urban renewal projects and investing in their cities' futures.
The Columbian
Cities Don't Need Special Treatment
This opinion piece from The Boston Globe calls for an end to the special treatment and unfair taxes levied on city residents.
The Boston Globe
Planetizen picks
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TECH-320: Advanced SketchUp Webinar
Advanced SketchUp Webinar
Wednesday, December 2, 11am PST/2pm EST
$49.95 (includes 30-day access to video recording)
Learn More:
TECH-320: Advanced SketchUp - Modeling Buildings
- Fort Collins is Feelin' Fine
- The $28 Trillion Question
- Visualizing Unemployment During the Recession
- Windsor + Detroit = BFF?
- Canada Increasing Investment in Carbon Capture
- DC Metro's Death Toll Rises
- Function Over Geometry
- 'Getting Religion' in Water Conservation
- The Ghost of Architecture Past
- Exercising Eminent Domain for Private Developers
"Hoboken Daylighting" In Lieu Of Bump-Outs -- Ian Sacs
Learning from TTI -- Michael Lewyn
Automobility and Freedom: Conflicts and Resolutions -- Todd Litman
Somewhere Between Blight and Gentrification... -- Diana DeRubertis
The Future of American High Speed Rail: Regional and Slow -- Robert Goodspeed
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