The Daily Source of Urban Planning News

A Tale of Two Towns, And What Makes Them 'Authentic'

Rick Cole, city manager of Azusa and now Ventura, reflects on what 'authenticity' really means for towns struggling to balance identity with new development.

September 26 - newgeography

Industrial Land Eyed For Green Future in L.A.

Officials in Los Angeles are hoping to turn a former brownfield site into the centerpiece of a new downtown green industrial district.

September 26 - Los Angeles Times

Montreal's Bike Sharing Scheme Biggest in North America

Montreal, Quebec is launching a bike sharing service that will eventually see over 2,000 bikes available at 300 stations across the city.

September 26 - Globe and Mail

LNG Terminal Threatens Status of World Heritage Site

The government of Quebec's approval of a massive Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) facility near Quebec City may threaten the city's status as a World Heritage site.

September 26 - Globe and Mail

Cities Embracing Music Festivals

The Austin City Limits music festival, held at the city's major public park, has inspired other cities to invite festivals to their parks, despite the inherent challenges.

September 26 - Austin American-Statesman


Plan Approved to Un-Sprawl Tysons Corner

In an effort to recreate sprawling Tysons Corner into a dense urban environment, county supervisors have unanimously approved a plan to build higher, denser, more transit oriented and more walkable.

September 26 - The Washington Post

Cars, Kids, and a Safer Environment Through Planning

Urban areas are filled with cars, and this creates an unsafe environment for children. This commentary argues that officials need to regain their faith in the power of planning to address the issue.

September 25 - Guardian


Dangerous Pockets of Methane Gas Discovered

Scientists along Russia's northern coast are reporting that methane, a greenhouse gas twenty times more potent than carbon dioxide, is being released into the atmosphere at an alarming new rate.

September 25 - The Independent

Judge To City: Stop The Manhattanization Of Downtown!

In a huge blow to a city already polarized by a ballot-box planning initiative affecting open space on the November ballot, a judge has halted downtown redevelopment by rejecting the Environmental Impact Report in part because of the 'shadow effect'.

September 25 - San Mateo County Times

Cargo Trams in Amsterdam

City Cargo of Amsterdam has developed a fleet of non-polluting vehicles to deliver cargo via the city's unused streetcar tracks. Their aim is to cut the number of trucks going into the city by 50%.

September 25 - Treehugger

On 'Black Urbanism'

Architects and researchers are looking into the influences of African and African-American culture on urbanism.

September 25 - Archinect

No Love for Mayors

Sarah Palin's nomination is an anomaly in American politics- no mayor of a major American city has ever become president. Tony Favro argues that this is a reflection of America's anti-city attitude.

September 25 - Citymayors.com

A Person the Next President Should Listen To

Wired Magazine calls Mitchell Joachim 'a Frederick Law Olmsted for the 21st Century'. Joachim is at the forefront of thinking about the ecological footprint of cities, and one of Wired's 'People the Next President Should Listen To.'

September 25 - Wired

Traffic Lanes Turned Pedestrian Plazas

Public plazas have been cropping up along Broadway and Madison Square in New York, occupying spaces that were once traffic lanes.

September 25 - USA Today

California Planners Discover Saving The World From Climate Change Is Hard!

At last year's statewide conference, California planners were excited about saving the world from climate change. Now they discover it's hard work!

September 25 - California Planning & Development Report

Can Washington Rescue Main Street and Wall Street?

Some economists are arguing that the proposed federal bailout of Wall Street will do little for the economy unless it includes provisions to reinvest in infrastructure and refinance mortgages.

September 25 - The Nation

Health Care Beyond the Hospital

Gail Christopher is hoping that the next president might take the health care conversation out of the hospitals and into the streets.

September 24 - Citiwire.net

Bringing Energy Efficiency to Section 8 Housing

Seven very low-income housing complexes in New Mexico have been renovated to be more energy efficient. The work was made possible by a nonprofit partnership that works in part to put money back in low-income residents' pockets.

September 24 - Albuquerque Journal

A Living Museum in Golden Gate Park

Renzo Piano's new Academy of Sciences building in San Francisco is bursting with green technology and alive with plants.

September 24 - Bloomberg.com

After Andrew, Homestead Bounces Back

Once nearly obliterated by Hurricane Andrew, Homestead, FL, is now a thriving city with a bigger and more diverse population than ever. This article takes a look at how it got there and how it plans to further reinvent itself.

September 24 - The Wall Street Journal

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Top Books

An annual review of books related to planning.

Top Schools

The definitive ranking of graduate planning programs.

100 Most Influential Urbanists

The who's who of urbanism, according to Planetizen readers.

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A short list of voices on social, video, and podcasting platforms.

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.