Government / Politics
Physically Modeling and Understanding Floods in the U.S.
Despite efforts to stop them, floods hammered the U.S. in the early 20th century. A now abandoned model of the Mississippi river, its tributaries and surrounding lands was built to better understand how to combat those floods.
Bike Plan Foresees Vastly Different Los Angeles
The recent adoption of a citywide bicycle plan in Los Angeles could bring about broad changes to the city's physical environment.
Municipal Bond Defaults Unlikely
Many voices have raised concerns over municipalities defaulting on bonds during these tough economic times. But as this op-ed argues, those concerns are misguided.
Cities See Mixed Returns on Spring Training Investments
While some cities in Florida have shelled out big money to build baseball stadia for professional teams' spring training, many of those teams are moving their spring programs to other cities, raising concerns about the wisdom of those investments.
Redevelopment on its Deathbed
As lawmakers in California wrangle over the state's budget, redevelopment agencies appear to be days away from being killed.
The Costs of Sprawl Defined
The financial consequences of sprawl are steep, and also broad, affecting budgets in places we might not even think of, writes architect Steve Mouzon.
Why Cities Should Be Mad About Federal Defense Spending
Cities should be mad about the federal government's cutting of discretionary spending and not reducing defense spending, according to this column from Neal Peirce.
Florida Port Dredging Project Hinges on Federal Funding
Florida isn't getting high speed rail, but it will soon have a deeper port that's able to accept more shipments.
Borrowing Against Future Revenues to Expand Salt Lake City Rail
Salt Lake City is aggressively expanding its light rail network thanks to a voter approved tax increase. This post wonders whether the city could follow mimic a proposed plan in Los Angeles to speed up the use of those taxes.
A Video Explanation of Congestion Pricing
This video from Streetfilms explains the concept of congestion pricing and looks at how it can affect cities and their mobility.
Cities Could See Boost as Former Fed Emanuel Takes Office
As one of the highest ranking federal officials to take on the role of city mayor, newly elected Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel could provide a boon to his city and others.
Hypothetical Developments and Urban Interventions
In an effort to encourage thinking about the future of the city, a new group of urban planners/artists has created a series of posters depicting imagined urban developments in New Orleans and posted them around town.
Proposed Stadium Needs More Than Football
Plans to build a football stadium in downtown Los Angeles hinge on more than football. A major element in making the idea work financially for the city is to make it an attractive site for conventions and conferences.
Top 10 Websites - 2011
Our annual list of the 10 best planning, design, and development websites represents some of the top online resources for news, information and research on the built environment.
Detroit Fixer's Future Uncertain
TIME Magazine called Toni Griffin a "star urban planner" as she was hired in March of 2010 to head up the downsizing of Detroit. But as The Architect's Newspaper reports, one year later Griffin is mysteriously AWOL.
US Cities and Disaster Preparedness
In the wake of the disasters which devastated parts of Japan, Russell Nichols of Governing investigates the state of disaster preparedness in US cities and states.
GOP and Dems Alike Love Infrastructure
Infrastructure may be the issue that brings the parties together. The Infrastructurist says that both sides are in support of a public-private partnership to fund large infrastructure projects.
Bi-Partisan Attack on LA HOT Lanes
The Democrat, Maxine Waters, objects to the 10 & 110 Freeway high occupancy toll (HOT) lanes on the basis of equity while Rep. Gary G. Miller, the ranking CA Republican on the House Transportation Committee, sees it as "double taxation".
Michigan Bill Gives Gov. Power to Seize Control of Cities
Both houses of the Michigan Legislature have passed bills expanding the governor's right to declare a "financial emergency" and appoint managers to run cities, towns and school districts with little local oversight.
Fearing the End, Redevelopment Agencies Go on Bond Spree
Facing possible dissolution, redevelopment agencies in California have gone on a bond-spree in the early months of 2011.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
Heyer Gruel & Associates PA
JM Goldson LLC
Custer County Colorado
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
Transportation Research & Education Center (TREC) at Portland State University
Jefferson Parish Government
Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Claremont
