Government / Politics
Seattle's Backyard Cottages Encouraged
Don't call them granny flats or inlaw units! These are separate units that can only be built on lots of 4,000 sq. ft. minimum. Only 50 have been built or permitted since the trial began in 2006. The goal is to bring affordabllity to SFH neighborhoods
New Crop on BC Farms: RVs
With fruit prices way down, some farmers in British Columbia are taking their fields out of production and renting them out as RV parks. The government in Kelowna, BC, is not happy.
Radical Ideas for Creating More Streamlined Government
State governments in the U.S. are radically rethinking how they work. With tight budgets and little sign of improvement anytime soon, big ideas are bubbling. But few have been put in motion.
Measuring the Legacy and Risks of South Africa's World Cup
As South Africa prepares to host the soccer World Cup, questions remain about whether the estimated $6 billion investment will be worth it. Some say those questions won't be answered for years.
Looking Forward to the Future in Columbus
Like Daniel Burnham's famous Chicago plan, a bold plan for Columbus, Ohio has been proposed by the Columbus Downtown Development Corp. The plan, developed by consultant MSI Design, hearkens back to turn-of-the-century city plans that went unrealized.
Troubled Times for Philadelphia's Underfunded Parks
With one of Philadelphia's best-supported public parks in danger of losing the private funding that keeps it maintained, Philadelphia Inquirer architecture critic Inga Saffron looks at the sad state of the city's parks.
Denver's Form-Based Code Closer to Approval
Five years in the works, Denver's new zoning code has been introduced. The form-based code now faces a period of public input before its expected approval.
Charlotte's Light Rail Extension Faces Decade of Delay
Plans to expand Charlotte's CATS light rail system to a nearby university could be delayed by a decade or more.
London Mayor Seeks to Downsize Congestion Charge Area
London Mayor Boris Johnson is proposing a plan to scrap the extension of the city's congestion charge in the west, instituted by his predecessor. Some say the city's air pollution and congestion improvements will be lost.
Funding for Washington DC H Street Streetcar Line Pulled at 11th Hour
The Washington DC City Council voted Wednesday to approve a FY2011 budget which strips nearly all the funding to complete the H Street-Benning Road streetcar line. The line is partially complete, and several streetcars have already been purchased.
Do You Have $600 Billion For A New Transportation Bill?
DOT Secretary Ray LaHood is taped while speaking at a community meeting in Manhattan's Chinatown expressing enthusiasm for 'tolling', though it's not clear what roads or bridges would be tolled, which was clarified in a subsequent email.
Transport Revolutions
Lester Brown explores how bus rapid transit systems and other innovations are transforming transportation in cities across the world.
Missing Britain
A new book documents great buildings demolished throughout Britain. Nicolas Lezard points out how many were lost not to German bombs but to poor planning decisions.
Calthorpe, California and Climate Change
Peter Calthorpe sees California Assembly Bill 32, the law mandating a state-wide reduction in carbon emissions, as the key to pushing through great urbanism.
Report: Senate Climate Legislation Good For Economy
In the first major study of how the Senate climate legislation would affect the economy, a non-partisan think tank indicated it would create new jobs and reduce American reliance on oil and coal while increasing usage of both nuclear and renewables.
Opening Data Makes Finding Urban Solutions Easier
Next American City's Christian Madera reports on a series of seminars looking at how the growing open data movement is helping to offer cities solutions to some of their operational problems.
With Transit Funding in the Dumps, Seattle Could Ditch Ride Free Area
A section of downtown Seattle has for decades been a fare-free public transit zone. Those days could be coming to an end.
Inside an Urban Water System
Urban water systems are immense -- and little-understood. Places presents this video from the Center for Urban Pedagogy looking down below the streets to illuminate the mystery city water delivery.
Houston, A Model City for the U.S.
Houston is often the butt of many urban planners' jokes. With no formal zoning, wide roads and huge houses, it's often what urban planners are trying to move American cities away from. Joel Kotkin argues Houston is a model city for the U.S.
Carpooling Falls Out of Favor
In Seattle, parking spaces are reserved for people who carpool into downtown. But in recent years, an increasing amount of those parking spaces are empty.
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.
Smith Gee Studio
City of Charlotte
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
Transportation Research & Education Center (TREC) at Portland State University
US High Speed Rail Association
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
Municipality of Princeton (NJ)
