The Daily Source of Urban Planning News
The Darkside Of Building New 'Green' Homes
The waste generated from demolition, and the large floor space of many new eco-mansions, is an environmentally unfriendly result of the new green home trend.
Suburban Subdivision Naming Guide
A conveninent tool for coming up with attractive names for suburban subdivisions.
Building 'Green' Schools
If voters approve a new school construction bond, plans call for eco-friendly school buildings to begin sprouting up all over Portland, Oregon.
America the Beseiged?
Architectural securitization measures around public buildings are going from temporary fixtures to permanent ones, and most are turning once-beautiful cities into military zones. Architecture critic Blair Kamin asks, is all of this necessary?
Cities Still Reaching For The Sky
Despite the security concerns after September 11th, skyscraper construction has continued in cities around the globe.
Planned Tollway Causes Great Divide In Paradise
Surfers and environmentalists are waging war against the planned six-lane roadway through Trestles, considered a Southern California icon, immortalized in 'Surfin' U.S.A.'
FEATURE
How Bad Leadership Spoils Good Planning
In many ways, a successful urban planner is first and foremost a leader, yet far too many professionals lack the ability to lead, and ignore the importance of cultivating good leadership skills.
Filling The Freedom Tower
Both the Federal and State of New York governments have tentatively agreed to occupy 1 million of the Freedom Tower's 2.6 million square feet of office space. The question is, who will fill the rest?
Converting Ocean Motion To Energy
Off Oregon's coast, researchers hope to pump electricity from the ocean.
Toronto Could Learn From Stockholm's Success
Toronto has been planning on redeveloping its waterfront for years, but the process is slow-moving. Across the world, a similar physical layout in Stockholm is boasting quick planning and successful implementation.
Oil Producers Deny 'Peak Oil'
In an effort to counter "peak oil" theory, the oil industry has launched a campaign to educate oil-consuming nations that plenty of crude is available, and alternatives to oil are not necessary. The US Dept. of Energy will also research peak oil.
Siberia: A Global Warming Time Bomb
While carbon dioxide has received the most attention as the primary greenhouse gas, methane, while less prevalent, is far more powerful in its ability to retain heat. The melting permafrost in Siberia represents a major source of methane emissions.
The Disappearing Corporate Citizen
A new paper from the Brookings Institute, "Corporate Citizenship and Urban Problem Solving: The Changing Civic Role of Business Leaders in American Cities," provides insight into the diminishing capacity for the private sector to engage in planning.
California's $20 Billion Transportation Bond
Despite facing no organized opposition and proponents having spent over $5 million to date, support for the $20 billion transportation bond, which will finance new roads and public transit, stands only at 54 percent.
An Interview With New York City's Bike Network Builder
Ryan Russo, New York City Department of Transportation's Director for Street Management and Safety talks about the city's aggressive plans to build out the city's bicycle commuting network.
The Rise And Fall Of The 6-Percent Commission?
Some argue that the 6-percent sales commission is a form price-fixing that is ripe for change while others suggest that lowering this figure would lead to less customer service for the consumer. Either way, the 6-percent commission is under attack.
San Francisco's Eye For Design
Ten homes on the 2006 tour for "Architecture and the City" month in San Francisco highlight what's hot in local residential design.
Veto Won't End Chicago's Living Wage Battle
As Chicago aldermen switch votes to back Mayor Daley's move to allow low wage jobs at big box stores, union officials vow to fight to require higher wages at these stores.
Should The Senate Bail-Out Amtrak?
This editorial from <em>The New York Sun</em> argues that a $1.6 billion bail out from the U.S. Senate is not the right way to fix the nation's perpetually struggling passenger rail system. International examples of success should be considered.
Boston Sidewalks May Go Rubber
The Boston City Council is considering an initiative that would require all new sidewalks in the city to be rubberized, using tiles of recycled tires as the city's walkways. Concrete cracking from tree root growth could become a thing of the past.
City of Moorpark
City of Tustin
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.
