The Daily Source of Urban Planning News

Life in the Bubble: D.C. Area Becomes "A Megalopolis of Eggheads"

Washington D.C.'s suburbs, where so-called "super zips" of highly educated and highly paid households abound, have become an extreme example of the growing physical segregation of American metros into areas of poverty and affluence.

November 11 - The Washington Post

In China's Model New Town Urbanization Equals Ghettoization

Outside of Tianjin, in northern China, a model new town has become a symbol of something less exemplary - the country's struggles with urbanization. Broken promises and scant opportunities are creating trying conditions for former farmers.

November 11 - The New York Times

Sickened by Site Visit, Feds Want to Halt Drilling at Central L.A. Oil Field

Sen. Barbara Boxer is calling for an oil field owned by the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of L.A. to suspend operations after EPA officials were sickened during a recent site visit. The field has been the subject of hundreds of neighbor complaints.

November 11 - Los Angeles Times

The set of the television show Sesame Street

Did Sesame Street Help Spark America's Urban Revival?

At the height of America's suburban expansion, a children's show premiered that was set in a dense urban environment. Steve Patterson wonders if the young adults now embracing urban lifestyles learned to love cities by watching Sesame Street.

November 11 - UrbanReviewSTL

Will an Attack on Inequality Sway London Voters?

Concerns over growing inequality swept Bill de Blasio into New York City's Mayor's office last week. Could an election campaign based on the same theme help David Lammy become London's first black mayor?

November 11 - The Guardian


A photo of protesters on the front lawn of the Ohio Statehouse during the State of the Union speech by Governer Kasich.

Ohio State Senators Want to Ban LEED

If two Ohio state senators get their way, the Buckeye State will be the latest on the anti-LEED bandwagon.

November 11 - Ecobuilding Pulse

Could Vacant Schools Help Meet Philly's Affordable Housing Needs?

In Philadelphia, and other cities going through demographic changes, shuttered schools provide a challenge and opportunity for redevelopment and reuse. Two board members of the Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency (PHFA) offer a creative solution.

November 11 - philly.com


Gehry and Facebook Together Again in London, Dublin

Facebook has a thing for Frank Gehry—and the feeling, apparently, is mutual.

November 11 - Los Angeles Times

When Will Laws and Attitudes Catch Up With Cycling's Growth?

Cyclist deaths are rising across the U.S., but in most cities and states, drivers are rarely punished. As more people embrace cycling and more cities encourage it; it's time our laws, infrastructure, and attitudes are reformed to make cycling safer.

November 11 - The New York Times

Philippines Devastated by Record Typhoon

Reports of horrific destruction are starting to emerge after one of the strongest storms on record slammed the Philippines over the weekend. The government estimates that 10 percent of the country has been affected.

November 11 - The Washington Post

Urban Politics: Voters Choose Three New Big City Mayors

Emily Badger of The Atlantic Cities and Bruce Katz of the Brookings Institution sit down with The NewsHour's Gwen Ifill for a discussion on the elections of New York Mayor Bill de Blasio, Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan and Boston Mayor Marty Walsh.

November 10 - PBS NewsHour

Could California's Largest Casino Transform the State's Relationship with Gaming?

The $800 million Graton Resort & Casino will soon open in Sonoma County for the Federated Indians of the Graton Rancheria and be the closest tribal casino to San Francisco.

November 10 - Sacramento Bee

Climate Change Deniers, Take Notice

Save your ink if you're writing a letter to the editor of the Los Angeles Times - deniers have now been warned that the paper won't print letters 'that say there's no sign humans have caused climate change'.

November 10 - Los Angeles Times - Opinion

Planning and Public Health's Historic Bond and Disconnection

To meet America's health challenges, planning and public health are becoming reconnected across the country. But a century ago, the fields were "nearly indistinguishable". How did they become disconnected in the first place?

November 10 - AIArchitect

Amsterdam Will Harvest Urine for Green Roofs

As part of a campaign for International Water Week, Amsterdam's water corporation, Waternet, will use struvite from donated urine in order to fertilize the city's green roofs.

November 10 - Future Cities

Is One World Trade America's Tallest Building? Depends Who You Ask

Spire or antenna; what sits atop One World Trade Center in Lower Manhattan? The answer isn't just semantics, it will determine if the building is indeed taller than Chicago's Willis Tower. A decision by the official arbiter could come next week.

November 9 - NPR

To Encourage Cycling, Time is of the Essence

What's the best way to get people to bike? "[M]ake clear the costs of not biking, in minutes saved or dollars not spent," writes Emily Badger. A new tool developed by Zach Rausnitz uses Google Maps data to compare travel times of alternative modes.

November 9 - The Atlantic Cities

Draconian Spending Cuts Threaten Seattle Transit Service

With record ridership stressing Seattle's public transit system, the last thing the city needs is a funding crisis created by political intransigence. Unfortunately, that's what the city seems to be getting, reports Tanya Snyder.

November 9 - DC.Streetsblog

Boston Skyline with Dome

Which U.S. City Gentrified the Most Before the Recession?

A new report from the Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland quantifies the rate at which America's 55 largest cities gentrified between 2000-2007 based on neighborhood home values. The results may surprise you.

November 9 - Next City

Seeking Sustainability Beyond LEED

What does it take to build sustainably? That a question that the USGBC's LEED program hoped to define. A group of developers in New York is trying to go beyond LEED to create "truly sustainable buildings".

November 9 - The New York Times

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