The Daily Source of Urban Planning News

Global Warming: From Reports To Reality

<p>Rising sea levels are a reality in a country that contributes only a fraction of the world's greenhouse gases.</p>

February 22 - The Los Angeles Times

A Street For Detroiters

<p>In an effort to build community, Jerry Belanger has quietly redeveloped two bars along Detroit's burgeoning Park Street bar district.</p>

February 22 - Model D

What's Needed For True Sustainable Urbanism?

<p>Cities are taking the lead in working towards a sustainable future, yet there's so much left to do. It's time for professionals to take a systems approach, argues Neal Peirce.</p>

February 22 - The American Prospect

Families Are Uprooting In Search Of The Perfect School

<p>Changes in technology -- and many parents' obsessive search for the perfect school -- are enabling families to move further afield to access quality education.</p>

February 22 - The Wall Street Journal

Small Town New Jersey Looks At Big Redevelopment Project

<p>The small New Jersey city of Harrison is considering a massive redevelopment project that could drastically change the character of the city. Some residents worry that the $1 billion redevelopment plan is too ambitious for the small town.</p>

February 22 - The New York Times


The Battle Over 'Billyburg'

<p>The Willamsburg neighborhood in Brooklyn, New York, is the setting for the latest iteration in the modern day gentrification saga.</p>

February 22 - The Washington Post

Is Sustainability Here To Stay?

<p>Thinking and acting green is all the rage these days, but commentator Neal Peirce ponders if it can ultimately be more than just a passing fad?</p>

February 22 - AlterNet


BLOG POST

Public Library in Limbo in Washington, D.C.

<p>As a note of introduction, I am a Master&#39;s student in Community Planning at the University of Maryland. I&#39;m happy to be part of this exciting project. </p><p><img src="/files/u10085/271989110_fe17db8a63_m.jpg" alt="MLK Memorial Library, Washington, D.C." title="MLK Memorial Library, Washington, D.C." hspace="5" vspace="5" width="240" height="189" align="right" />With a series of new urban libraries opening in U.S. cities recent years, its been said we&#39;re living through an &#39;urban library renaissance.&#39; Whether it is the <a href="http://www.planetizen.com/node/13300">enthusiastic reception</a> of the new Seattle library, or lending and attendance <a href="http://www.planetizen.com/node/22494">up in urban Canadian libraries</a>, there seems to be an increased awareness of the critical role libraries play, even in the information age.</p><p>However, no such renaissance has happened here in Washington, D.C. -- at least not yet. Here the former mayor&#39;s plans to build a new library were stalled by what the Washington Post has termed the &#39;<a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/06/15/AR2006061501802.html">Mies Mystique</a>.&#39;</p><p>

February 22 - Robert Goodspeed

University Of Pittsburgh Considers Preservation Degree Program

<p>The university is convening a symposium with experts from around the country to chart a path for the study of historic buildings.</p>

February 22 - Christian Madera

BLOG POST

Planning and Climate Change

<p>This is my first blog post on this network and I&#39;m happy to be here. For 1.5 years, I&#39;ve been blogging by myself at greeneconomics.blogspot.com and this is the first time that I&#39;ve been a &quot;team&quot; player. I&#39;m hoping that debates and discussions on important policy issues take place here and I&#39;ll try to do my part to not be boring!

February 21 - Matthew E. Kahn

BLOG POST

Can Light Rail Save Peachtree Street?

<p>A long time ago in a previous design office, I made the mistake of engaging a light rail fanatic in a debate about whether Peachtree Street in Atlanta should be adorned with a light rail line. The debate turned into a protracted email diatribe about the pros and cons of light rail and whether this specific idea made any sense.

February 21 - Scott Page

24 Lanes Of Traffic Relief For Phoenix

<p>The Mayor of Tempe, Arizona, is advocating widening Interstate 10 from Tempe to East Phoenix to 12 lanes in each direction.</p>

February 21 - Arizona Daily Star

Blair Defends British Road Pricing Schemes

<p>Facing public pressure, Britain's PM stands firm on plans to relieve traffic congestion and improve public transport with motorist user fees.</p>

February 21 - BBC

Home Prices Higher In 71 Metro Areas

<p>Realtors' report shows double-digit increase in housing prices in 14 metro areas, despite national decrease; high values attributed to affordability, job growth.</p>

February 21 - Business Week

Second Home Owners Learn To 'Think Small'

<p>Either for temporary residence or as a second vacation home, small dwellings are becoming increasingly popular.</p>

February 21 - The New York Times

Reacting Before The Disaster

<p>After floods killed more than 700 in 2001, the government in Mozambique has shifted its disaster management from 'response' to 'prevention'. With recent floods swallowing villages whole, the new disaster prevention efforts have saved hundreds.</p>

February 21 - The Christian Science Monitor

Unmanned Cars Ready To Navigate Traffic Within A Few Years?

<p>The winners of last year's Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) artificial intelligence road race claim that they'll have a car ready to navigate urban traffic in less than a year.</p>

February 21 - CNN

BLOG POST

Homelessness In The City Of Angels

<p>It should come as no surprise to anyone who has visited Downtown L.A.&#39;s Skid Row that the city has a serious homelessness problem -- with more people living on the street than any other city in the nation. A <a href="http://www.economist.com/world/na/displaystory.cfm?story_id=8672187">recent article</a> in the <em>Economist</em> focused on the recent crackdown by the city&#39;s police on the homeless population of skid row. With more and more residents moving into the area, and city officials keen to clean up downtown&#39;s streets, police chief William Bratton committed additional police officers to patrol the area to round up criminals (and presumably break up the population of street dwellers).</p>

February 21 - Christian Madera

Top Eco-friendly Office Buildings

<p>Companies are realizing that they can save money with green office buildings.</p>

February 21 - Forbes

Ontario's Long-Term Vision

<p>The future of Ontario is looking a lot greener and much more dense, as local officials tout recent legislative changes that they expect to drastically reshape the city in the next 25 years.</p>

February 21 - The Toronto Star

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