Did you know that yesterday was International Walk to School Day? While many communities may have let this important public awareness opportunity pass by, New York City public school students were out in full force. Perhaps one would expect nothing less in a city where 80% of students already walk to school (transit trips require walking, too!).
New York City
The Animated History of Midtown Manhattan
This animation from The New York Times examines the history of Midtown Manhattan -- from pristine island environment to bustling metropolis.
The New York Times
Hurry Up and Wait
NYC's Mayor Bloomberg oversaw the rezoning of thousands of blocks, yet many of the development projects he envisioned as the key to the city's future success are now stalled or in jeopardy.
The New York Times
Residential Construction Declines Sharply in New York City
2009 is expected to turn out as a bad year for residential constructoin in New York City. After five consecutive years with more than 30,000 units constructed, at total of 6,300 are expected this year.
The New York Times
Splicing Planning Students into Community Boards
Planning students from New York-area universities are being integrated into the city's community boards through an innovative new fellowship program.
The Architect's Newspaper
Redeveloping Brooklyn's Waterfront Wasteland?
Developers and NYC's Mayor Bloomberg have hit a speed bump in revitalizing the Gowanus Canal. It may be designated as a Superfund site.
The New York Times
Connecting New York City's Immigrants With Parks
This piece from Urban Omnibus looks at a collaborative effort in New York City to get immigrant populations better engaged in the city's public parks.
Urban Omnibus
42nd Street Light Rail?
Vision 42 has proposed closing NYC's 42nd Street to car traffic and adding light rail along its length. The Mayor isn't interested, but lots of others are.
The New York Times
Some New Yorkers Can't See the Forest for the Trees
MillionTreesNYC says they're on track to reach their goal by 2017. Trees provide shade and allay problems of air pollution. They've planted hundreds of thousands of trees already... and received some complaints.
Los Angeles Times
Bloomberg's Housing Plan Gains, Loses
Despite the NYC Mayor's progress in preserving or creating affordable housing, overall the city has seen net losses.
The New York Times
Keeping Manufacturing in NYC
This interview with Adam Friedman of the New York Industrial Retention Network, illuminates reasons for retaining manufacturing in NYC, such as sustainability and job creation.
Urban Omnibus
NYC Subway Riders Need Help!
Cuts in MTA staff in subway stations leave transit riders lost, feeling unsafe. Vendors and repair staff are reluctantly picking up the slack.
The New York Times
International Walk to School Day/ Livable Streets Education Invade Washington Square
Thu, 10/08/2009 - 04:45
Municipal Vaporware: Why NYC's Data Mine is A Data Dump
Tue, 10/06/2009 - 10:55
This morning, Mayor Mike Bloomberg unveiled New York City's long-awaited Big Apps contest. Big Apps seeks to promote the Internet industry in the Big Apple (it's sponsored by the New York City Economic Development Corporation) and make local government more transparent.
I've been following the evolution of open data initiatives at the municipal level for about a year now, and was really hoping that New York was going to set the bar for future efforts across the country. It doesn't. In fact it's hard to understand why some notable local tech superstars like investors Fred Wilson and John Borthwick would sign on to such a lame effort.
Seeing the Unbuilt City
A new iPhone App/public art experience allows the user to take a stroll through New York City and 'see' visionary buildings that never got built, ranging from Buckminster Fuller's dome to Antoni Gaudi's cathedral.
BLDBLOG
NYPD Putting the Brakes on Illegal Bike Rentals
High demand from tourists near Central Park has attracted unlicensed bike rental vendors in NYC. Competition is getting tougher as police crack down on the booming business.
The New York Times
PlaNYC Charging Ahead
Though its flagship congestion pricing proposal was nixed by the state legislature, New York City's PlaNYC environmental plan is moving forward. Neal Peirce takes a look at its progress.
Citiwire
Making Roofs Cooler in New York City
Under a new service program called NYC Cool Roofs, volunteers are painting New York's rooftops white to try to lower urban temperatures and save energy.
The Architect's Newspaper
Getting Creative About Finding Places for Parks
New York City is developing a handful of new parks on industrial lands and otherwise underused spaces. Urban Omnibus talks with Adrian Benepe, the city's commissioner of parks and recreation about the new projects.
Urban Omnibus
Public Art Thrives in Hard Times in Manhattan
A public art park has sprung up on a corner in Manhattan on loan from a local developer waiting to build on the land.
The New York Times
Tracking Trash with M.I.T.
M.I.T.'s Senseable City Laboratory launched a project to track the journey of garbage and recyclables, using small electronic sensors, in Seattle and New York City, in part to highlight the high cost of waste to the environment and cities.
The New York Times
