The Daily Source of Urban Planning News
Putting the 'Urban' in 'Suburban'
The suburbs are steadily becoming more urban, with denser development, taller buildings, and a greater mix of uses.
FEATURE
Prince Charles vs. the Architects
A dust-up between architects and the Prince of Wales over a speech and a £1b development is bringing the age-old battle between traditional and modern architecture to a head. Managing editor Tim Halbur summarizes the news.
City Pride Fail
A famous beacon atop a building in downtown Pittsburgh has been broadcasting the city's name in Morse code since 1929. The only problem is they spelled it wrong.
Most Sustainable Cities in the U.S.
<em>Grist</em> brings us this list of the top 15 sustainable cities in the U.S.
The Importance of Bicycle and Pedestrian Infrastructure
Pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure is a part of transportation, whether some elected officials like it or not. In this piece from <em>Citiwire</em>, Neal Peirce writes that this fact is becoming increasingly clear.
How Transferable is Holland's Bike Culture?
Cyclists hear a lot about how much better the biking is in Europe. The Brooklyn Paper takes a look at why, and whether or not the lessons of Amsterdam are applicable in the US.
How Does Fuel Fuel American Lifestyles?
Americans will be forced to change their lifestyles as fuel prices rise. NPR's "Talk of the Nation" talks to author Chris Steiner about the good that might result.
China's Urban Policy Leaps While U.S. Lags
China's fast-paced development is making it into a major economic power. Its emphasis on urban policy is leaving the U.S. in the dust, writes Eugenie Birch.
Unearthing Buried Waterways
Cities from San Antonio to Singapore are resuscitating waterways that once lay buried under rivers of concrete.
Taking Tuk-Tuk to Task
Tuk-tuks are mechanized rickshaws - a cheaper alternative to taxis - that can be found throughout the developing world, from Latin America to Africa to southeast Asia and India. Environmental think-tank Enviu is trying to reduce rickshaw emissions.
Denver to El Paso High-Speed Rail?
Colorado, Arizona and Texas have come together to apply for a $5m grant to research a possible high-speed rail link connecting Denver, Albuquerque, and El Paso.
More Ped Plazas On The Way
With the successful launch of the 17th St. park, San Francsico's "Pavement to Parks" project is moving to its next location, the corner of Guerrero and San Jose. Activist Gillian Gillett has been pushing for something to happen there for years.
Randal O'Toole: The Man, The Contrarian
In the wake of his appearance on Capitol Hill, The New York Times delves into what makes Randal O'Toole tick.
R.I.P. Julius Shulman
Julius Shulman, famed popularizing mid-century modern architecture through his photographs, died yesterday at the age of 98. In his honor, The Architect's Journal features some of Shulman's photographs and commentary.
Vancouver's Olympic Village Going Green, Hopefully
Vancouver is hoping to build the greenest Olympic Village yet as it prepares to host the 2010 Winter games. But there are some challenges facing the ambitious plans.
GE's Home of the Future
General Electric has released a design for a Home of the Future, which is planned to be almost completely energy-neutral. As GOOD Magazine notes, the house is almost overloaded with gadgets to get you there.
Dealing With Vacant Mansions in London
In a posh borough of London, empty homes are causing problems for officials, who are tasked with finding the owners of these vacant or abandoned mansions.
Congressmen Propose Water Trust Fund
A group of U.S. representatives has proposed the creation of a national trust fund for water infrastructure in the U.S.
Wayfinding in the City
A review of <em>The Wayfinding Handbook: Information Design for Public Places</em> by David Gibson finds it rich with great ideas for designing new systems, but lacking in ideas for fixing old ones.
BLOG POST
Sorting Out Sonia Sotomayor
<p> According to the <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/06/27/AR2009062702476.html?hpid=topnews">Washington Post</a>, 62% of Americans think Sonia Sotomayor should be confirmed for the U.S Supreme Court because she is “about right” ideologically. The question is, how good will she be for municipal attorneys? </p>
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
Transportation Research & Education Center (TREC) at Portland State University
Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada
Toledo-Lucas County Plan Commissions
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.
