The Daily Source of Urban Planning News

<p>Leaders of the Universal Design movement call for a built environment that works for all members of society -- young, old, able-bodied or disabled -- an increasingly important issue as the population ages.</p>

March 21 - The Washington Post

<p>San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom, whose city has typically been recognized for its environmental leadership, recently visited Chicago to observe the pioneering work of Mayor Daley in implementing green building principles and gather new ideas.</p>

March 21 - The Chicago Tribune

<p>Developers want to transform downtown L.A.'s warehouses, factories, and grimy commercial buildings to accommodate live-work spaces. Planners and activists want to stay the course -- they say needed jobs are at stake.</p>

March 21 - The Los Angeles Times

BLOG POST

What better way to envision the future of a city than with a cartoon? <div> <br /> <br /> </div> <div> None, I say! </div> <div> <br />

March 21 - Nate Berg

<p>As New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg nears selection of New York City's next transportation commissioner, residents call for a candidate who is interested in moving people, not cars.</p>

March 20 - Streetsblog

<p>Canadians shopping for a new car will get a rebate for purchasing hybrids, and a penalty for purchasing a gas-guzzler.</p>

March 20 - The Globe and Mail

<p>In a Google era -- and for a generation of suburban kids who want to own books and AV -- the local library may be losing its appeal.</p>

March 20 - The Wall Street Journal

<p>The Canada Lands Company refurbishes surplus military bases into New Urbanist neighborhoods.</p>

March 20 - New Urban News

<p>Resurrection of a 1959 plan to construct a freeway along the Sierra Nevada foothills in California's Central Valley is in the works.</p>

March 20 - The Fresno Bee

<p>Although homes sales were down over 20% in some Detroit suburbs last year, the city itself saw a modest increase of 6%, and residential construction is at a 30-year high.</p>

March 20 - The Detroit Free Press

<p>Though only a few towers remain from Chicago's notorious Cabrini Green housing project, new and old problems persist.</p>

March 20 - The New York Times

<p>On a ranch the size of Rhode Island will live 70,000 citizens of California's new town: Centennial.</p>

March 20 - The New York Times

<p>Column McCann laments the loss of Ireland's cultural and environmental heritage as a result of the construction of new motorways.</p>

March 20 - The Los Angeles Times

Outside experts believe the City of Los Angeles is making a density mistake by selling downtown development rights.

March 20 - Los Angeles Times

BLOG POST

<p><img src="/files/u10403/IMG_0039.jpg" alt="" width="266" height="262" align="left" />I drive the Bay Bridge just about every work day. I&#39;m not proud of this fact. I never expected to be one of those dreaded suburban commuters, living off urban sprawl, the sole occupant of a compact car inching through rush hour traffic twice a day.</p><p>So sue me. Or better yet, give me enough money to afford a house in San Francisco. Until then, Berkeley it is.</p><p>But on my morning drive last week I saw a new feature amid the landscape of cargo containers that borders the southern side of the Bay Bridge toll plaza—that&#39;s on the East Bay side. It was a new billboard, depicted above. I have no idea how it works. But damn, is it bright. It&#39;s an active surface—it changes, presumably according to programming, cycling through a bunch of different ads. So what? Well, for one thing, it&#39;s the biggest, brightest one of these kind of signs I&#39;ve ever seen, high resolution and bright enough to be seen in stark California sunlight. And second, it&#39;s just another step in the Blade Runnerfication of our cities.</p><p>Not that there&#39;s anything wrong with that. More after the jump.</p>

March 19 - Anonymous

<p>With median housing prices of more than $1 million, the city of Santa Barbara, California, is looking for ways to retain its diminishing middle-class. The plan is to subsidize middle-income housing for residents making up to $177,000.</p>

March 19 - The New York Times

<p>Big cities pack a punch equal to some national economies. The fraction of high-income families in superstar cities is 43 percent higher than in average cities, and those cities' share of poor families is 11 percent lower.</p>

March 19 - National Bureau Of Economic Research

<p>China grants private individuals to own property. Experts say law recognizes power of growing middle class but does not add protections for farmers.</p>

March 19 - The Los Angeles Times

<p>The European Union's environment commissioner has suggested that speed limits be placed on Germany's autobahn -- one of the last roadways in the world with sections unhindered by speed limits. The EU says limits would help reduce carbon emissions.</p>

March 19 - International Herald Tribune

<p>Just like it's possible to share files using peer-to-peer networking, a German research group envisions enabling cars and bikes to share useful traffic and road condition information with other vehicles.</p>

March 19 - Chris Steins