The Daily Source of Urban Planning News

The Formula For Traffic

<p>A team of mathematicians have developed a model that demonstrates how traffic jams form.</p>

December 24 - Physorg.com

Growth In Focus After City Halts Water System Expansion

<p>The desert city of Tucson, Arizona, recently decided to halt the expansion of its municipal water system. This decision has been taken as an oppotunity by planners to discuss the city's future growth.</p>

December 24 - Tucson Citizen

New Urbanism Examined By Time Magazine, Andrés Duany

<p>Time's environmental reporter examines the American neighborhood with help from New Urbanist founder Andres Duany, who comments on suburbia and its carbon footprint, the role of the car, home size, public space, and ratings of green building.</p>

December 24 - Time Magazine

'Fuel Poverty' in America?

<p>A new poll shows that millions of Americans will need to borrow money to pay their heating bills this winter, many of them with credit cards.</p>

December 24 - Yahoo! News

FEATURE

Best of the Worst in Planning for 2007

Keeping track of the weird things that occur in the planning and government world – from rules prohibiting screaming on amusement park rides to “green” cremation techniques – isn't really necessary. But someone should do it anyway.

December 24 - Rick Bishop, AICP


Lack Of Foresight Hung Atlanta Up To Dry

<p>Poor planning has put Atlanta in the drought-stricken position it's in now, and there are few signs that anything is changing on that front, according to this editorial from the <em>Atlanta Journal-Constitution</em>.</p>

December 23 - The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Governors Island Redesign To Focus On Parkspace

<p>A design has been chosen for the redevelopment of Governors Island in New York. The winning proposal plans to convert most of the island into parkspace.</p>

December 23 - The New York Times


San Mateo: First California County To Subdivide Housing Need Allocations

<p>"Regional Housing Needs Allocations" are generally dreaded by California cities who resist state mandates to provide affordable housing. Rather than being assigned the requirement by the regional COG, San Mateo's 20 cities chose to do it themselves.</p>

December 23 - Redwood City Daily News

U.S. Mayor Calls Bush Years 'Disastrous' for America's Cities

<p>Salt Lake City Mayor Rocky Anderson condemns the Bush Administration's disregard for America's cities in this video.</p>

December 23 - AlterNet

Affordable Housing Plans More Achievable In D.C.

<p>This post from <em>The Next American City</em>'s blog looks at plans for building affordable housing in Washington D.C. and how the city is in a much better position to provide for its low income residents than many other major cities.</p>

December 23 - The Next American City

New Orleans Waterfront Revisioned

<p>Plans to redevelop the Mississippi riverfront in New Orleans are being released, including more than 100 acres of parks and pathways.</p>

December 22 - Architectural Record

Intentions Questioned In Salt Lake City Downtown Redevelopment Project

<p>This article looks at a Mormon Church-sponsored project in downtown Salt Lake City that some say is sacrificing the will of local retailers and residents for shareholder profits.</p>

December 22 - Utah Stories

Portland's Streetcar Possibility Affecting Two Major Transportation Projects

<p>Pending plans to extend Portland's streetcar system are causing two current transportation infrastructure projects to cautiously tip-toe forward and not make any moves that would prevent the future option of the streetcar from being included.</p>

December 22 - The Portland Tribune

Developer Sues After City Blocks Tacked-On Big Box Plans

<p>Developers who submitted a plan for a retail development and then added a big box store to the plan after it had been approved have sued the city of Blacksburg, Virginia, for instituting new planning rules that requires extra governmental approval.</p>

December 22 - The Roanoke Times

A Quiet Drive

<p>New types of pavements are being tested in Washington that make highway traffic noticeably quieter.</p>

December 22 - The Seattle Times

Friday Funny: Crumbling Infrastructure Likely Means 'Something'

<p>This article from <em>The Onion</em> looks back at the infrastructure problems that defined 2007, asking what they signify for the country.</p>

December 21 - The Onion

Toy Libraries Critical To Childhood Development

<p>Libraries for toys are popping up in developing countries all over the world, and especially in Africa, giving poor children a glimpse of a less troubled childhood. Many say the simple libraries are making big changes in the children's development.</p>

December 21 - The Christian Science Monitor

'Mr. Open Space' Should Have Been Called 'Mr. Rational'

<p>The late Larry Livingston became known in planning circles and elsewhere as "Mr. Open Space." But, Bill Fulton writes, the tag was based on a misunderstanding of a fiscal analysis he prepared regarding housing development in a particular city.</p>

December 21 - California Planning & Development Report

Miami On The Verge Of Major Downtown Makeover

<p>County officials are moving forward with four mega-projects designed to improve downtown Miami. Critics wonder if they will really benefit the taxpayer.</p>

December 21 - The Miami Herald

NOLA Demolitions: One of 'Greatest Crimes in U.S. Urban Planning'

<p>HUD's arguments for the demolition of thousands of public housing units in New Orleans echoes the worst of the "tabula rasa" approach to urban renewal of the 1960s, writes Nicolai Ouroussoff.</p>

December 21 - The New York Times

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