The Daily Source of Urban Planning News
LA Buys its Foreclosed Homes to Refurbish and Resell
Los Angeles has begun using its $33 million in funds from the Neighborhood Stabilization Program to jumpstart neighborhoods blighted by foreclosure. HUD Secretary Shaun Donovan visited a South Los Angeles neighborhood Wednesday.
How to Rekindle America's Love Affair with the Car
The Daily Show's resident "problem solver" John Hodgman offers his advice on renewing America's "love affair with the car": eliminate public transit and bomb foreign auto makers. [Video]
Using Pollution to Fight Global Warming
The Obama administration is entertaining proposals for using 'geoengineering' to fight global warming, including shooting pollution into the upper atmosphere to reflect back the warming rays.
Transportation Reauthorzation Bill Is MAP-21
"Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century", or MAP-21, follows the path of predecessors SAFETEA-LU, TEA -21, and ISTEA. In this press release by the Senate Committee on Environment & Public Works, Chairman Barbara Boxer of CA launches the bill.
The I.O.U. Tollbooth
The Northwest Parkway in Denver has very little traffic in the wee hours, so officials decided to experiment with I.O.U. forms left at the booth.
The Birth of the Map of the Cool
Certain parts of the city generate "buzz" -- through events, parties, or other attractions. Just how much buzz they create is hard to nail down. But a new study focusing on L.A. and New York seeks to quantify the cool factor that makes places pop.
Corn Ethanol Industry In The Tank
Low fuel prices, high corn prices, and a new CA regulation that penalizes the energy intensity necessary to convert corn to fuel are hurting the industry.
A Blueprint for the Arts in Salt Lake
Part of a new master plan for Salt Lake County includes prescriptions for new cultural and arts sites distributed throughout the county, providing a blueprint for creating a network of cultural hubs within and around Salt Lake City.
Documenting the History of L.A.
A citywide documentation project is underway in Los Angeles, where planners and preservationists (and the public) are documenting the city's important historic and cultural sites.
China's Eco-Cities Stumble and Fall
The ambitious green Chinese city of Dongtan was hyped up to be one of the most environmentally friendly cities in the world. But now, like other eco-city plans, work on the project has slowed to a halt.
Tent Cities As 'Informal Urbanism'
High Country News reports on Fresno's infamous Taco Flat in this 4-pager. Seattle's Nickelsville and Portland's Dignity Village are held up as better examples of squatter settlements. Architecture and 'informal urbanism' of tent cities is examined.
BLOG POST
A Twitter in the City
<p> Will the red-hot microblogging platform <a href="http://www.twitter.com" target="_blank">Twitter</a> change the way we live in our cities, how we call for help in an emergency, or even help rally a group to topple the city's government? Or is it a frivolous technology that simply atomizes our thoughts and relationships into 140-character bits? </p>
A Vehicle For The Times
While auto sales are in the toilet, bicycle shops are having a banner year. The Infrastructurist reports on the pedaling revolution.
Linking Health to the Built Environment
This video lecture calls on builders, architects and planners to work with the medical and scientific communities to better explore how the built environment affects public health.
Making Sense of Street Vendor Regulations
The Center for Urban Pedagogy wants to make city codes understandable to the people that are impacted. With that in mind, CUP tackled New York's regulations for street vendors.
A Whole New World
Sara Robinson of the Campaign for America's Future outlines in the first of a series of articles why we simply won't be able to "return to normal."
San Antonio Saves The Trees
Officials in San Antonio say they've closed a legal loophole that allowed developers to clear trees for ranching or farming.
Jobs Sprawling in Metro Areas
Recent research from the Brookings Institution looks at 98 metropolitan areas and finds that fewer people are working close to downtowns, and there are fewer jobs located in those areas.
The New Oregon Wilderness
Oregon has just received a wilderness designation on more than 200,000 acres of land. Environmentalists are welcoming the move, which they hope will protect sensitive lands from development and misuse.
How to Make Pedestrian-Friendly Streets
GOOD Magazine illustrates what makes a street pedestrian-friendly, from bollards to bulb-outs.
City of Clovis
City of Moorpark
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.
