The Daily Source of Urban Planning News

Army Corps Recommends $1 Billion Overhaul of the Los Angeles River

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is slowly changing its approach to the Los Angeles River. The executive leadership of the Corps took a major step in a new direction yesterday, when it recommended a $1 billion plan to revitalize the river bed.

May 29 - Los Angeles Times

Louisiana Lawmakers Facing Legal Drama Over Shrinking Coasts

Can Louisiana lawmakers succeed in retroactively overthrowing a lawsuit by the Southeast Louisiana Flood Protection Authority against 97 oil and gas companies, all while the state's coastline continues to disappear at alarming rates?

May 29 - PBS NewsHour

Offsetting: A Third Strategy to Fund Federal Transportation Spending

"What program would you cut to continue the same level of transportation spending without raising the gas tax, e.g. cancer treatment programs, Head Start?," asks Streetsblog USA's Tanya Snyder after reading Sen. Bob Corker's (R-Tenn.) recommendation.

May 29 - Streetsblog USA

Are Helicopter Parents Destroying Mobility for Young Americans?

A recent post by Paul Mackie takes inspiration from a new book called "It's Complicated" to explore how parents might be driving teens further into technology-enabled isolation and torpidity.

May 29 - Mobility Lab

A Closer Look at Detroit's Blighted Properties

The New York Times has produced a pair of visualization tools to present the findings of the recent report by Detroit's Blight Removal Task Force.

May 29 - New York Times


Seattle Light Rail Construction

BLOG POST

Responding to Transit Funding Criticism

My recent column, "Evaluating Public Transit Funding Options," described various ways to finance public transit improvements. Such funding is sometimes criticized. This column examines and responds to common criticisms.

May 29 - Todd Litman

New York Bike Lane

How Bikes are Changing the Map of New York City

For New York City's bikers, new bicycle infrastructure has shortened distances between transit stops and raised the value of rentals in out of the way corners of the city.

May 28 - New York Times


Algonquin Site and Capital City for Powhatan Considered as National Park

Algonquian political leader Powhatan called Werowocomoco home when the English arrived at Jamestown in 1607. If a proposal by the Obama Administration is successful, the site will open to the public, managed by the National Park Service.

May 28 - Associated Press via The Washington Post

Hurricane Ike Damage

BLOG POST

New Research: Social Vulnerability Significantly Predicted Storm Damage from Hurricane Ike

Wesley E. Highfield, Walter Gillis Peacock, and Shannon Van Zandt from Texas A&M examine the damage after Hurricane Ike and its relationship to social vulnerability (Available via Open Access, http://goo.gl/K) in a new JPER article.

May 28 - JPER

Meet the Historic Oddities of the Los Angeles Zoning Code's Use List

With the city of Los Angeles amidst its first comprehensive overhaul of its Zoning Code since 1946, the Planning Department's outreach efforts include a new post explaining the regulated land uses of yesteryear.

May 28 - Re:Code LA

Before I die

What is the New American Dream?

The new American Dream is about place, and that brings people and communities together. The 20th Century American Dream tended to pull cities and towns apart.

May 28 - Better! Cities & Towns

FLV California train

California High Speed Rail Update

The San Francisco Planning and Urban Research Center offers good news about California's slow-to-start high speed rail.

May 28 - SPUR Blog

Tough Times Falling on Detroit's Casinos

First floated as a redevelopment strategy in 2007, Detroit's gamble on casinos has yielded a mature market. Now come reports that even a big name investor hasn't been able to turn around the Greektown Casino.

May 28 - The Detroit News

Boston Mayor's Agenda Prioritizes Middle Class Housing Affordability

Boston is experiencing a period of brisk residential construction—most of which will enter the luxury market. New Mayor Martin Walsh has set the creation of middle class housing as a top priority for the city.

May 28 - Boston Globe

EPA to Release 'Cornerstone' of President's Climate Initiative

On June 2, one of the most important and far-reaching programs to reduce carbon emissions will be unveiled by the EPA: a rule to require reduction of carbon emissions from existing power plants using a number of options, including cap and trade.

May 28 - The Wall Street Journal

Wind Turbines Gaining Traction in New York City

With two new wind turbine installations at the tops of buildings in New York and dozens more in the pipeline, will turbines be as ubiquitous as water towers on the New York skyline?

May 28 - New York Times

Supply and Demand: Debating the Blame for Gentrification

Jim Russell and Daniel Kay Hertz are engaged in an ongoing debate about how supply and demand in markets of so-called "superstar metros" influences processes of gentrification.

May 28 - Pacific Standard

Washington D.C. Metro

On the Legacy of the Great Society: the Washington, D.C. Metro

As part of an ongoing celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Great Society, the Washington Post examines the urban focus and mass transit benefits of President Lyndon B. Johnson's unprecedented programs.

May 27 - The Washington Post

Pittsburgh's Mellon Square Reopens this Week

Diane Nelson Jones report that Pittsburgh's famous Mellon Square, called the city's "emerald oasis," will reopen this week after closing for renovations in 2011.

May 27 - Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Deep Flaws Found in California's Water Use Reporting

The special status of "senior rights holders" among California water interests is well documented. Not as well documented is the system which allows errors in water use reports to protect the interests of a fortunate few.

May 27 - Associated Press

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